Stonemason - Blackness Depot

Historic Environment Scotland; Blackness; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension scheme 28%

25 days annual leave plus holidays

Subscriptions reimbursement

Study leave for courses

Flexible working hours

Free entry to properties

Gaelic language plan support

Job summary

Historic Environment Scotland is seeking a skilled Stonemason for Blackness Depot, permanent and pensionable. You will plan, organise and conduct masonry repairs across HES sites, including pointing, dressing stone, and conservation works.

This role involves training apprentices and working with traditional methods. Essential requirements include time-served status with advanced Craft SCQF 6, knowledge of lime mortars, and strong health & safety practice.

Qualifications

• Time served stonemason with building trade qualification at advanced level.
• Knowledge of traditional building crafts and conservation practices for historic buildings and monuments.
• Experience in conservation, presentation and repair of historic monuments and/or listed buildings.
• Experience using lime mortars.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety at Work.

Responsibilities

• Carry out conservation and routine maintenance of HES monuments in Blackness area.
• Stone cutting and hewing of architectural mouldings and stones for Blackness Depot and other sites.
• Traditional building repairs and stonework indentation as required.
• Rake out and point defective joints and beds.
• Promote traditional conservation techniques on diverse projects.

Skills

Time served stonemason

Traditional building crafts knowledge

Conservation of historic monuments

Lime mortars

Health & Safety at Work

Education

Advanced Craft Level SVQ 4 or SCQF Level 6

Job description

Starting salary:£29,622
Contract type:Permanent
Grade:2
Location:Blackness Depot
Working Hours:Summer (April-October) Monday - Thursday 07:30-16:15 Friday 07.30-14:20, Winter (October-March) Monday - Thursday 07:30-14:20
Interviews:To be held in person at Blackness Castle on Week Commencing 9th November 2026

Thank you for your interest in the post of Stonemason with Historic Environment Scotland at Blackness Depot. This is a permanent and pensionable appointment.
You will be involved in planning, organising and conducting masonry repairs within Blackness Depot and the wider remit of HES sites. This could range from pointing and conservation works to dressing stone in the workshops ready for upcoming projects.

For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) + 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

• To carry out conservation and routine maintenance works to HES monuments in the Blackness area. This involves all forms of traditional building maintenance for the sites local to Blackness as well as monuments in other areas as and when required.
• Stone cutting and hewing of various architectural mouldings / stones for Blackness Depot and monuments in other areas as required.
• Traditional building / repairs / indenting of stonework
• Raking out and pointing defective joints and beds
• Promote traditional methods of conservation techniques to carry out challenging and diverse conservation projects / works.
• Operation of electrical and petrol-powered hand tools and machinery to facilitate work including disc saws, mortar mixers, compressors, hoists etc. The winter season may consist of work out with the normal duties associated with stonemasonry such as fence repairs, grounds works and painting.
• Provide training and mentoring for apprentice stonemasons in traditional conservation skills, which you are trained in.
• Comply with and promote HS Health and Safety Policy.
• Throughout your employment with HES you will be required to attend training courses identified to assist the work, or to comply with health and safety legislation, Including First Aid (training as required, this may require overnight stays away from home).
  

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential:

• You must be a time served stonemason with relevant building trade qualified to advanced Craft Level SVQ level 4 or SCQF level 6

• You should have a proven knowledge of traditional building crafts. In particular an understanding and knowledge of current conservation practises and techniques relating to historic buildings and monuments.

• Good understanding and practical experience of the conservation, presentation and repair of historic monuments and/or listed buildings.
• Good all-round understanding and practical experience of using lime mortars.
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety at Work (Responsibilities & Practises).
  

Find out more aboutdesirable skills and experience in our full job description.

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at [e-mail] or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.