Conservator - GLA14287

Conservator - GLA14287

Glasgow Full-Time 30000 - 42000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our team to conserve and care for Glasgow's rich museum collections.
  • Company: Glasgow Life, a charity dedicated to improving lives through culture and sport.
  • Benefits: 30 days holiday, pension scheme, discounts, and flexible work policies.
  • Why this job: Make a lasting impact on the community while working with historical treasures.
  • Qualifications: Recognised qualification in Conservation and experience with paper objects.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to equality and personal growth.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.

Job Description

Job Description – Paper Conservator

We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and that starts with the people who work here.

Glasgow Life is a charity like no other. Our vision is to improve the lives of everyone in our city. To help us achieve that, we are looking for a Paper Conservator to join our Museums and Collections Conservation team.

Our teams focus on making a real difference through culture and sport in Glasgow. If you\’re excited by the idea of being part of that, this could be the job for you.

What you need to know

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract type: Full time, Permanent

Location: You\\\’ll work city-wide in our museum venues although your main place of work will be Glasgow Museums Resource Centre which has great links to public transport (Nitshill Railway station is a ten-minute walk) and free parking.

What you\\\’ll do

As an experienced paper conservator, you\\\’ll be joining our in-demand Museums and Collections Conservation team, and you\\\’ll play an essential role in contributing to the conservation and collection care of the city\\\’s extensive museum collection.

You\\\’ll be an integral part of a well-established conservation team, reporting to a Senior Conservator and working alongside a team of conservators skilled in a variety of material specialisms who support the safe access, care, display and lending of Glasgow Museums collections.

You will have experience of working with Pastels, Watercolours, Photographs and Books.

Your work will make a visible and lasting difference. This could be:

  • Supporting our communities
  • Helping people get active
  • Creating cultural experiences
  • Or working behind the scenes to make it all happen

Who you are

We\\\’re looking for someone with the right skills who brings energy to the role. If the following sounds like you, apply today!

We\\\’re looking for someone who has:

  • A recognised qualification in Conservation
  • Experience and understanding of a broad range of conservation procedures to formulate appropriate treatments which require innovative solutions
  • Proven experience of treating paper objects to a high standard, with full consideration of practical, access and ethical issues
  • Experience of carrying out condition assessments, treatment estimates and documentation
  • Demonstrable analytical and problem-solving skills where novel or complex conservation problems arise
  • Demonstrable ability to plan and organise time to achieve deadlines and use resources efficiently

Download the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section on MyJobScotland. Use this to shape your application and show how your experience aligns with the job.

When selecting candidates for interviews, managers will look for candidates who meet all the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification. If there are many candidates, they may also consider desirable skills. So, include those if they apply to you.

What we offer

At Glasgow Life, our work changes lives. As a charity, we bring communities together and support wellbeing through sport, culture, heritage, and learning.

Learn more about Glasgow Life in our 10 Facts video in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.

We support you to live a great life. Inside and outside of work. Some of our benefits include:

Holiday

When you join, you\\\’ll get 30 days\\\’ holiday. Plus 6.5 public holidays if you\\\’re full-time. This increases to 35 days after 5 years of service.

Fancy a bit more time off? You can buy extra holiday too!

Pension

Save for later life and join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Your future self will thank you. Our generous employer contribution will help you plan for the future.

Support

Sometimes we all need support and a listening ear. Our free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme can support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Discounts

As a colleague, you can enjoy discounts on the things you love, from Glasgow Club memberships to our museum shops and our online store. We are also part of the cycle-to-work scheme, helping you stay active.

Flexibility and development

We are proud of our flexible and inclusive work policies, which help you balance work and life. We also offer support for learning, development and career progression.

Please note that Glasgow Life is an Arm\\\’s Length External Organisation to Glasgow City Council. We are currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure. This may impact current salaries quoted in job adverts. To learn more, visit – https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation .

What\\\’s next

To get started, complete our short application form. In this, you\\\’ll fill out:

  • Work history
  • Qualifications/training
  • Key questions like Why are you a good fit for this role?

Use the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section to guide your answers.

Important Dates:

The closing date for this job is 11.59pm on 05 October 2025. Interviews are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 27 October 2025.

Who We Are

Our Museums service, managed by Glasgow Life on behalf of the community, cares for thousands of years of history. We take care of the city\\\’s museum and library special collections, its archives, and operate award-winning museums, keeping them safe for future generations. We run talks, tours, workshops, and events, so people can explore and enjoy the collections. By connecting people with the city\\\’s stories, our museums continue to enrich the lives of local people and visitors. Read more here – https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

Diversity and Fair Work at Glasgow Life

We\\\’re working to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of Glasgow\\\’s communities – where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to be their full, authentic selves at work.

We\\\’re proud to be a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Learn more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer

We\\\’re also committed to Fair Work First principles, including effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for all our staff. Learn more about our approach to Fair Work First here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/fair-work-first

We\\\’re working hard to address underrepresentation in our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.

Ready to apply?

Once you apply, add noreply@myjobscotland.gov.uk to your safe sender list so you don\\\’t miss important emails.

We\\\’re excited to hear from you. Let\\\’s shape a great Glasgow life – together.

Benefits at Glasgow Life

  • 30 days holiday allowance plus 6.5 public holidays (for full-time roles). After 5 years completed service, the entitlement will increase to 35 days from the next annual leave year
  • Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
  • Discounted Glasgow Club membership and money off in our museum shops and online store
  • Option to buy extra annual leave
  • Cycle-to-work scheme
  • And much more!

Diversity matters at Glasgow Life

We\\\’re determined to reflect the extraordinary diversity of Glasgow in our workforce. Glasgow Life is on a journey to develop a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We\\\’re a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer and invite candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Read more about our commitment to equality and diversity on our website. https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer

The following alternative Application Packs can be requested in other format for example, Braille, Audio and other languages. To request an alternative Application Pack please phone 0141 287 1054. Packs will be posted out to you 2nd class within 3 working days of receiving your telephone request. Please note the closing date of the job advert if requesting this to ensure that you give yourself plenty of time to complete your application form and return to us.

Further Information

Please note that Glasgow Life, as an ALEO to Glasgow City Council, is currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure which may impact on current salaries quoted in job adverts, see

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation for more information.

For further information about working for us please refer to our website https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/work-with-us

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Conservator - GLA14287 employer: Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life is an exceptional employer dedicated to enhancing the lives of Glasgow's communities through culture and sport. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer generous benefits such as 30 days of holiday, a supportive work environment, and opportunities for professional development. Our inclusive culture values diversity and encourages staff to bring their authentic selves to work, making it a truly rewarding place to contribute to meaningful change in the city.
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Contact Detail:

Glasgow Life Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Conservator - GLA14287

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow conservators, museum staff, or anyone in the cultural sector. Attend events, workshops, or even online webinars to make connections. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best conservation work. Include before-and-after photos of projects you've tackled. This visual evidence can really impress during interviews and help you stand out from the crowd.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching Glasgow Life and its mission. Understand their values and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your answers to reflect your passion for improving lives through culture and sport in Glasgow.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to the amazing work we do at Glasgow Life.

We think you need these skills to ace Conservator - GLA14287

Paper Conservation
Condition Assessment
Treatment Estimation
Documentation Skills
Analytical Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Time Management
Resource Management
Innovative Solutions
Understanding of Conservation Procedures
Experience with Pastels
Experience with Watercolours
Experience with Photographs
Experience with Books

Some tips for your application 🫡

Know Your Stuff: Make sure you read the job description and person specification thoroughly. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match what we're looking for. This is your chance to show us why you're the perfect fit!

Be Authentic: When answering the key questions, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for conservation and how it aligns with our mission at Glasgow Life.

Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application. Tailor your responses to reflect how your experience specifically relates to the role of Paper Conservator. Use examples from your past work to illustrate your skills and problem-solving abilities.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s straightforward and ensures your application gets to the right place. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our organisation there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Glasgow Life

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of paper conservation techniques and the specific materials mentioned in the job description, like pastels and watercolours. Being able to discuss your experience with these materials will show that you're not just qualified, but genuinely passionate about the role.

✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare examples of complex conservation problems you've tackled in the past. Think about how you approached these challenges and what innovative solutions you implemented. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to think on your feet, which is crucial for a conservator.

✨Align with Their Vision

Glasgow Life is all about improving lives through culture and sport. Be ready to discuss how your work as a conservator can contribute to this mission. Share your thoughts on how preserving collections can enhance community engagement and cultural experiences.

✨Be Organised and Efficient

Since the role requires planning and time management, come prepared with examples of how you've successfully managed multiple projects or deadlines in the past. Highlight your ability to use resources efficiently, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.

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