Science Museum Group
Conservator (12-month fixed term)
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Are you a conservator who's energized by working across the full spectrum - from vintage film and broadcast equipment to contemporary gaming technology and photography collections?
About us
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives. The museum displays world-famous collections in photography, film, animation, broadcast and sound and gaming technologies.
The Conservation and Collections Care team (C&CC) support all conservation activity across the collection and are responsible for establishing and maintaining conservation and collection care standards. We are looking for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Conservator to join the team at the Science and Media Museum.
About the role
You will be instrumental in the development and delivery of conservation and collection care aspects of exhibitions and masterplan projects at the Science Museum Group. On occasion you may manage short-term staff, students and volunteers.
You will be joining the SMG Conservation and Collections Care team, working with conservators across all SMG sites. In this role you will be covering a diverse range of activities. Working closely with colleagues across departments and sites you will be developing, coordinating and delivering conservation plans for exhibitions, loans, acquisitions and transfers, installations and decants.
This is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, based at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. You'll work 35 hours per week on a hybrid basis - while this is primarily a site-based role, you'll be required on-site for a minimum of 40% of your working hours, with the remainder flexible and agreed with your line manager. The salary is £33,127 full-time, and you'll report to the Conservation and Collections Care Manager.
About you
We're keen to see applications from candidates who bring a relevant conservation qualification or equivalent practical experience and knowledge, with a strong track record of undertaking remedial conservation on both 2D and 3D objects. You'll be someone who demonstrates excellent team-working skills, with a genuinely positive approach and the ability to work independently when time-sensitive situations demand it. We need someone with demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with collections teams to deliver exhibitions, manage loans and acquisitions, and who can juggle competing priorities with clear planning, resourcing and prioritization skills. Strong written and verbal communication is essential - you'll be producing conservation reports, liaising across departments and sites, and occasionally presenting conservation work to colleagues and the public.
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You'll have a solid understanding of current UK Health and Safety practice and how it applies to working with collections and hazardous materials, along with practical IT competence in Word, Excel and collections databases (ideally MIMSY XG), and image manipulation software such as Photoshop. Above all, you should be values-driven and genuinely passionate about contributing to an open, inclusive organisation where everyone's contribution is valued. Ideally, you'll also have experience working with scientific, technical, engineering or modern materials collections, a background in undertaking collections care activities, and awareness of collections-based hazards - but these aren't deal-breakers if you can demonstrate equivalent experience and a keen willingness to learn.
Don't feel you meet all the criteria? We welcome you to apply even if your experience doesn't match directly. With your transferable skills, you could be the right candidate for this, or other opportunities that we have.
Applying
View the Vacancy Information Pack listed under 'Attachments' on the vacancy listing on our website for more details about the role and the application process or click 'Apply Online' to submit an application.
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What we offer
Working with a world-leading museum group that offers access to truly unique environments and collections, you'll benefit from the perks listed below, as well as full support for life events such as parental and adoption leave, sickness, and career breaks.
- Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
- Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
- Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
- Healthcare cash plan. Digital health tools, gym discounts and cashback towards your everyday healthcare costs.
- All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme and other wellbeing support.
- Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialize and build a sense of community.
- Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
- Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
- Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops and cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.
Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.
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