Art Handling Technician Touring Exhibitions

About the role

We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for an experienced Art Handling Technician to be part of our talented team. This role will play an important part in helping with the delivery of our ambitious international touring exhibitions programme, enabling works from Scotland’s national collection to be shared with audiences around the world.

To succeed in this post, you must have proven skills and experience in the safe handling and movement of works of art within a museum or gallery environment.

Your work will play a vital role in delivering our wider strategy, supporting our Public Offer, equalities, and environmental priorities. Along with installing exciting exhibitions in our galleries, you will ensure art works travel both safely and sustainably.

You’ll work across all three of our stunning Galleries based in the heart of Edinburgh as well as our arts store at Granton Art Centre handling our incredible art. The Art Movement Team works to national standards supporting complex national and international programming in the handling, packing, movement, installation, and location tracking of a wide variety of artworks, including those from our collection and those on loan to us.

In this role you will ensure the safe movement, transportation, and installation of all artworks within the National Galleries of Scotland, and to other organisations globally as part of our loan and touring exhibition programme. You will also assist in maintaining the upkeep of the storage areas, exhibits, tools, and equipment.

About the Touring Programme

National Galleries of Scotland is launching an ambitious international touring programme contributing to our aim to make art work for everyone. This new initiative builds on past touring success and increases opportunities for the collection to be shared with audiences across the world. The touring programme is also part of our strategy to grow our income to ensure our future financial sustainability.

Work has already begun and we are now recruiting a number of posts from May 2026 to support taking the touring programme forward. The programme will run initially to 31 March 2030. The success of the initiative will determine next steps for both the programme and the team supporting it.

You will help to deliver this ambitious new initiative. This is an excellent opportunity for a results-driven individual to demonstrate their impact and contribute to shaping the success of the programme.

The difference you’ll make

In all that you do you will be part of a small, dedicated team of Art Handling Technicians who are supported by the Senior Art Handling Technicians. Reporting to the Art Movement Manager your responsibilities will include:

-Providing safe and efficient movement of art works and other objects within the organisation and to other institutions, including risk assessments and method statements as required.
-Contributing to resource and planning discussions as required in line with skills and experience.
-Leading on individual project elements as requested.
-Maintaining location records and relevant paperwork following our procedures.
-Packing and unpacking objects and checking conservation condition reports.
-Undertaking courier duties.
-Sharing responsibility for the care and maintenance of equipment, including highlighting any concerns as appropriate.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

-You must have proven skills and experience in the safe handling and movement of works of art within a museum or gallery environment.
-Awareness of and commitment to health and safety compliance and best practice.
-High standards of accuracy and attention to detail as well as an excellent manual dexterity.
-With the ability to work calmly and carefully under pressure you will actively anticipate and plan for potential problems.
-Can demonstrate sound, timely and appropriate decision-making skills taking responsibility and using initiative.
-You will have a helpful manner and flexible approach, great communication skills and enjoy working flexibly as part of a team with the ability to work alone and committed to getting the job done.
-Apply sound judgement with regards to maintaining confidentiality.
-Good IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
-Demonstrable commitment to updating skills and knowledge.
-Current driving licence.

It would also be great if you have:

-Willingness if required to train towards a category C (formerly known as HGV) driving licence if not already held.
-Experience in completing risk assessments and method statements, working at heights and heavy lifting operations.
-Experience with modern or complex installations.
-Familiarity with a collections management database.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 30 March 2026.

Museum Website: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/careers