Conservation Manager in Edinburgh

You will be responsible for the remedial and preventive conservation service for the HES Archive Collections. You will manage a programme delivering projects that focus on key conservation objectives such as improving the condition of the archive to support access, exhibitions or digitisation, managing risk to collections through environmental monitoring and incident preparedness, and managing physical storage and infrastructure in the Strong Rooms. You will work closely with conservator colleagues in the department, to deliver on priorities and programmes of work and to provide a seamless archive service for HES.

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:

• Responsible for all aspects of the care and conservation of the HES Archive including risk management procedures of associated activities.
• Assist with managing a programme of work for a team of professional paper conservators including objective setting, appraisal, performance management, training, development and wellbeing.
• Assist with management of the conservation studio, strong room and off-site programmes of collections care.
• Responsible for the development, progress reporting and delivery of conservation programmes, including occasional commissioning or outsourcing remedial conservation projects.
• Provision of the Incident Planning programme and annual training to key staff in response and recovery procedures.
• Management of risks to the archive through survey, assessment and benchmarking exercises, and programmes of work.
• Management of health and safety and compliance within the Department.
• Prepare and implement Health and Safety risk assessments, including COSHH assessments, and manage procedures for staff required to handle both archive and equipment, often at height, within safe manual handling parameters.
• Contribute to managing a Conservation Service for public orders, digitisation and internal or small-scale displays.
• Contribute to the management and delivery of temporary exhibition programmes, in accordance with current loan agreements and meet agreed conservation standards for display and transit.
• Contribute to procurement, including writing tender documents; procuring services for specific equipment maintenance and looking for sustainable options to deliver on the HES Climate Action Plan.
• Undertake research and development in specialist conservation areas.
• Ensure that the Conservation Service enables public access through improving the condition of objects to be handled in the Search Room or prepared for safe digitisation for online access.
• Contribute to and lead tours of the conservation and strong room facilities as part of engagement with audiences (external and internal).
• Contribute to the development and revision of departmental policies and effective operational processes.
• Responsible for the provision and dissemination of relevant conservation standards and procedures to ensure better care and condition of the archive, and for providing staff training to ensure the standards are communicated and upheld.
• Using your knowledge of the content of the archive, answer enquiries and contribute to and sometimes lead on the development of research, exhibition, writing articles and publications which promote the archive to encourage use and engagement by a wide range of audiences.
• Work both internally and externally to build and manage stakeholder relationships to ensure collections care standards are met.
• Travel to visit off-site locations, external stakeholders or to represent HES at conferences or events.
• As one of the managers in the Department, contribute to the implementation and delivery of organisational plans.
• Work with and manage or supervise contractors and to work with Facilities in matters relating to maintenance of the strong rooms.
• Provide specialist advice and training on all matters of conservation and collections care (including incident response and risk management) to Archive Staff as well as other relevant departments across HES.
• Other duties as requested by the Head or Deputy Head of Archives.

Key requirements of the role:

• A recognised qualification in Paper Conservation or other relevant conservation discipline.
• Significant knowledge and understanding of the ethics, principles, standards and best practice of the conservation profession.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a conservation studio, with strong knowledge and skills in paper, photographic, and preventive conservation.
• People management experience.
• Good knowledge, skills and experience of working in an archive setting, including demonstrable ability to provide support, advice and advocate, in a cultural heritage setting.
• Demonstrable experience of project management, setting up and managing work programmes, as well as including commissioning and overseeing contractors.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent IT skills including email management, word processing (writing high quality reports), good knowledge of Excel and experienced in database documentation.
• Experience of managing and delivering exhibition programmes.
• Experience of implementation of Archive Accreditation Standards.
• Full UK Driving License or if non-UK driving license holder a willingness to convert within first 12 months of employment.
• Knowledge and experience of managing risk management procedures and assessment including COSHH alongside completing manual handling tasks and working at height.

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.

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 recruit@hes.scot or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

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.

To submit your application online, please read our ‘How to Apply’ followed by ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.