Conservator (FTC until October 2027)

Are you a conservator who'd relish working on everything from historic textile machinery to modern materials and scientific instruments?

About us

The Science Museum Group is the world's leading group of science museums - home to the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, Locomotion in Shildon and the National Railway Museum in York. Together we share a mission to inspire futures, caring for world-class collections and welcoming millions of visitors every year.



About the role

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 Industry Museum.

You will be joining the Science and Industry Museum at an exciting time as we are changing and developing the site and galleries. You will be instrumental in the development and delivery of conservation and collection care aspects of exhibitions and masterplan projects at the Science Museum. 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 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 until October 2027, working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday and based at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.



About you

We're keen to see applications from candidates who have worked in a heritage environment and bring practical experience of delivering and installing exhibitions You'll bring a suitable conservation qualification or comparable practical experience, plus experience in remedial conservation of 3D objects across a diverse mix of materials. Working closely with colleagues in Collections Services, Exhibitions and Curatorial teams, you'll be a collaborative colleague with effective stakeholder management skills, comfortable building effective working relationships across departments and sites while also working on your own initiative to meet deadlines calmly and effectively.

Good health and safety awareness is essential in this role. You'll bring knowledge and practical application of current UK Health and Safety practice, along with an awareness of hazards found in collections and the procedures to follow when working with them. You'll be well organised, with demonstrable planning and prioritisation skills, and comfortable using IT including collections database systems such as MIMSY XG. Above all, you'll share our commitment to the collection and for contributing to an open and inclusive organisation.

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.



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, socialise 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.

Museum Website: https://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=aHJzZXJ2aWNlLjA4NDA4LjExMTkzQHNjaWVuY2VtdXNldW0uYXBsaXRyYWsuY29t