National Galleries of Scotland is looking to recruit a Lead Sculpture Conservator to join their Conservation team, providing the opportunity to establish sculpture conservation as a discipline within the organisation. This position is integral to the department, complementing existing conservation specialisms in preventive, paper, paintings, frames, and time-based media.
The ideal candidate will already have extensive work experience in the museums sector with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification or equivalent training/experience. To succeed, you’ll need to be resourceful, enthusiastic, and possess excellent interpersonal skills, alongside a strong network of professional contacts both in the UK and internationally.
Our sculpture collection is diverse, encompassing everything from classical marble busts to contemporary installations. It also involves collaborations such as the Artist Rooms collection, jointly owned with Tate. While you must be confident working across the collection, it’s expected that you will bring or develop expertise in a particular area, likely focusing on modern or contemporary sculpture.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Conservation your core activities will include:
- Delivering sculpture conservation projects including interventive conservation treatments, potentially involving outsourcing work; managing larger conservation projects and initiatives; and providing conservation input into major cross-organisational projects.
- Delivering conservation input for exhibitions involving sculpture, sometimes acting as the conservation lead for the exhibition.
- Providing conservation advice for new acquisitions of sculpture and for sculptures included within our loans and digitisation programmes.
- Leading the programme of ongoing maintenance of the outdoor sculpture; working with Collections Care and Visitor Services colleagues to ensure high standards of collections care in the gallery spaces and stores; and implementing preventive measures to safeguard the collection during transit.
- Developing appropriate methodologies for documenting sculpture conservation work and completing documentation, including entering information into the collections management database.
- Liaising frequently with other colleagues within the organisation; providing updates for the NGS Trustees; collaborating with living artists, artist foundations and trusts; responding to external enquiries; and actively participating in relevant external networks.
- Keeping abreast of sector developments, and undertaking appropriate art historical and heritage science research, in order to enhance our knowledge of our collection and inform working practices. Delivering activities to widen our audiences and encourage engagement with conservation.
- Recruiting and supervising interns and volunteers.
About You - Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level with a recognised post-graduate conservation qualification or equivalent training/experience.
- Extensive work experience in the museums sector (post-education/training).
- Professional accreditation through the Institute of Conservation (ICON) scheme, or actively working towards this.
- Considerable experience of delivering preventive and interventive sculpture conservation across a wide range of formats and material types, with the ability to devise innovative solutions to unprecedented challenges.
- Ability to undertake research, including using analytical equipment, and experience of writing for publications and social media.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience of public engagement.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team, often in a leading role.
- Experience of line managing and supervising interns and volunteers.
- Project management and planning skills, with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.
- Strong connections within the sculpture conservation sector both nationally and internationally, and commitment to continuous professional development.
- Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations.
- Good IT skills, including MS Office and image processing software.
- Experience of using a collections management database.
Additional Skills (Preffered)
- Experience of factoring equalities and environmental sustainability into your work.
- Driving licence.
How to Apply
Please apply directly at National Galleries of Scotland Vacancies Site
The deadline for applications is on 6 January 2025 at 12:00
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to Basic Disclosure Scotland security clearance.