Paper Conservator Touring Exhibitions

About the role

We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for a Paper Conservator to join our Conservation Department at the National Galleries of Scotland.

We are seeking a skilled and collaborative Conservator to help us share our collection with audiences around the world. You must have practical hands-on experience in the conservation of paper within an art gallery, museum or similar cultural or heritage organisation. Ideally, you will have a degree with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification in Paper Conservation or substantial practical experience.

To succeed in this post, you’ll enjoy being resourceful, proactive, testing out new ideas, and providing solutions. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be a clear communicator. With strong organisation skills you will have the ability juggle several projects simultaneously.

Our extensive works on paper collection is often on the move. You’ll be at the heart sharing this collection with the widest possible audience ensuring that works from our rich and varied collection travel safely, sustainably and look their very best when on display. Your work will play a vital role in delivering our wider strategy, supporting our Public Offer, equalities, and environmental priorities.

You’ll help preserve the collection while enabling us to deliver a generous lending programme from our diverse collections, also an ambitious number of exhibitions across our galleries. Through research and outreach, you will deepen knowledge of the collection and help attract new audiences to engage with it.

This is more than just a conservation role. It is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the way we care for, understand and share our collection.

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.

The difference you’ll make

The role sits within our Paper Conservation section within the Conservation Department. You will also work closely with colleagues specialising in frames, preventive conservation, paper, sculpture, and time-based media. Together, we are a collaborative department where everyone strives to keep abreast of recent developments within the wider profession. Knowledge-sharing, research, and innovation are encouraged and celebrated. You will have the chance to develop and embed professional approaches to painting conservation across the collections.

Reporting to the Lead Paper Conservator your core activities will include:
-Assessing the condition of works on paper (including prints, drawings, photographs, books and archival material for our busy touring exhibition and short-term loan programme.
-Preparing works for travel with a focus on preventive conservation measures and rigorous documentation.
-Delivering a variety of interventive paper conservation projects with sensitivity, skill and imagination while undertaking research and exploring new ways of working, where appropriate.
-Developing appropriate methodologies for documenting works on paper including entering information into our collections management database.
-Supporting the other paper conservators with exhibition preparation and delivery.
-Communicating and collaborating frequently with colleagues from across the organisation, for example, other conservators, conservation and art handling technicians, members of collection management and curators.
-Delivering a variety of interventive paper conservation projects with sensitivity, skill and imagination while undertaking research and exploring new ways of working, where appropriate.
-Keeping abreast of developments in the paper conservation sector and undertaking appropriate art historical and heritage science research to enhance our knowledge of the collection and inform working practices.
-Delivering activities to widen our audiences and encourage engagement with conservation.
-Working with and supervising volunteers, placement students, and external conservation specialists.

Who we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience: 
-A recognised qualification in paper conservation with at least two years’ experience post- graduation, ideally within the museums sector.
-Experience of assessing and preparing works for loan and implementing solutions for safe transport and public access.
-A track record of delivering a range of paper conservation projects with the ability to carry out research and devise innovative solutions to new challenges.
-Excellent time-management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure.
-Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate and well-structured documentation.
-The ability to work effectively as part of a team, and the confidence to take on a leading role when required.
-Strong connections within the paper conservation sector, and commitment to continuous professional development.
-Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations.
-Excellent IT skills, including MS Office and image processing software.
-Experience of using a collections management database.
-Professional accreditation through the Institute of Conservation (ICON) PACR scheme, or a clear commitment to work towards this.

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

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday, 12 November 2026.

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