How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
What It's Like to Work Here
At IWM, we're driven by a shared purpose: helping people understand conflict and its impact on individuals and society. You'll join a team of conservation and collections specialists who care for nationally important collections held in public trust. Working collaboratively across the museum, you'll help ensure extraordinary objects remain accessible for display, research, learning and public engagement for generations to come. We value expertise, continuous learning, teamwork and responsible stewardship of our collections.
Why This Role Matters
As Conservator (Art), you'll play a key role in preserving and caring for paintings and related collection items across IWM's collections. Your work will directly support exhibitions, loans, research, acquisitions and public engagement activities by ensuring collection items remain stable, safe and accessible.
Using your specialist conservation expertise, you'll help protect nationally significant collections while enabling audiences, researchers and colleagues to engage with authentic objects that tell powerful stories about conflict and its impact on the world.
What You'll Be Doing
- Carry out conservation assessments, treatments and condition reporting for paintings and related collection items.
- Develop conservation plans and recommend appropriate treatment, preventive conservation or collections care measures.
- Provide specialist advice on display, storage, loans, acquisitions, packing and installation of collection objects.
- Work with internal and external specialists to identify and deliver the most appropriate conservation solutions.
- Produce accurate conservation records, reports, risk assessments and supporting documentation.
- Support exhibitions, loans and wider collections care programmes across the organisation.
- Train, supervise and support contractors, volunteers, interns, students and technicians to maintain high standards of collections care.
- Contribute to public engagement, learning activities and knowledge-sharing that help audiences connect with IWM's collections and mission.
- Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge and continuously develop your conservation skills and practice.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What We're Looking For
We'd Love To Hear From You If You Have
- A relevant conservation qualification or equivalent professional experience in a specialist conservation field.
- Strong knowledge of conservation principles, ethics and best practice.
- Understanding of COSHH requirements and health and safety legislation relevant to conservation work.
- Experience working in an accountable, professional environment.
- The ability to create and maintain accurate records and documentation.
- Experience using IT systems and databases in a workplace setting.
- Experience handling museum collections and undertaking collections care activities.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues and stakeholders.
- A commitment to continuous professional development and high professional standards.
Desirable
- Knowledge of analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRF, MFT and Oddy testing.
- Experience working in a museum, visitor attraction or similar organisation.
- Experience working with volunteers and/or supervising contractors.
- ICON Accreditation or progress towards accreditation.
- An interest in 20th-century history and the collections of IWM.
- Experience working at height and/or a clean driving licence.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
How You'll Work
You'll work closely with colleagues across Conservation, Collections Care, Curatorial, Exhibitions and Operations teams to support the care, movement and display of collection objects. You'll also collaborate with external specialists, contractors and lenders when delivering conservation treatments and collections projects. The role combines hands-on conservation practice with advisory, documentation and training responsibilities, ensuring collections are preserved while remaining accessible for use across the museum.
What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)
- Build strong working relationships with conservation colleagues and key stakeholders across IWM.
- Deliver high-quality conservation treatments that meet recognised professional standards.
- Become a trusted source of specialist advice on display, storage, loans and preservation requirements.
- Contribute successfully to exhibitions, loans and collections care projects.
- Maintain accurate conservation records, reports and recommendations that support informed decision-making.
- Support training, knowledge-sharing and collaborative conservation activities across teams.
- Demonstrate safe working practices and consistent compliance with health and safety and risk management requirements.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location