Westminster Abbey is looking to recruit a full-time Preventive Conservator to work as part of an experienced multi-disciplinary conservation team and contribute to the long-term preservation of Westminster Abbey.
Preventive Conservation forms the backbone of conservation at the Abbey and this new position will enable the expansion and development of the existing preventive conservation programme.
About Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is first and foremost a church, but also a leading London tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site. Our collection spans over a thousand years and contains objects and monuments of both national and international importance in a variety of materials and many objects are still used for their original purpose.
This working collection is located within a largely uncontrolled environment, in an historic building visited by well over a million people a year, alongside a busy schedule of services and events, and poses many unique and exciting conservation challenges. The opening of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries in 2018 has brought a whole new set of challenges. Situated at triforium level, the galleries contain artefacts from the Abbeys collection both on open display and within museum cases.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain the Integrated Pest Management programme.
- Support the work of the Conservation Housekeeping team.
- Support conservation colleagues with environmental management solutions for the long-term preservation of the historic site and collection.
- Support the Head Conservator in maintaining the Eltek environmental monitoring system.
- Maintenance and management of environmental conditions within display cases.
- Support the Head Conservator in regularly reviewing the in-house conservation guidelines.
- Support the Head Conservator in promoting a collaborative preventive conservation approach across all Abbey departments. Outreach activities include advice, training sessions and short talks for staff and volunteers.
- Be an active member of the Salvage Team. Assist with in-house triage and salvage planning and training sessions.
- Play a full part in the work of the conservation team and the broader Abbey community. To act as an advocate for conservation in churches.
About You
We’re looking for a qualified professional with proven experience in preventive conservation, a deep understanding of conservation principles, and the ability to tackle all agents of decay. If you’re practical, self-motivated, and highly organised, with excellent communication skills and expertise in collections management, environmental monitoring, and display case maintenance, we want to hear from you. Take the next step in your career and make a real impact in conservation.
How to Apply
Application Packs are available from the Westminster Abbey website.
Candidates must send in their completed application form(s) to [email protected] no later than 12:00PM on 21 February 2025.
Safeguarding
Westminster Abbey is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk. To prevent them from harm, we undertake appropriate checks on staff and volunteers and require them to complete relevant safeguarding training and a basic DBS check.
Westminster Abbey is an Equal Opportunities Employer.