About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Preventive Conservator to join our Parliamentary Archives Office at House of Lords. This is a position where you will report to the Collection Care Manager and will develop and deliver preventive conservation activities to support Collection Care Team.

This is an interesting time to join the team, as we work to ensure resilience and capability for essential business-as-usual activities and the management of backlogs, whilst preparing for the huge changes being brought by Archives Relocation Project (ARP).

This is an opportunity to work on a hybrid basis depending on Business need. This is an exciting opportunity to prepare for one of the biggest changes in our history. You will be working in an UNESCO heritage site and monitoring the environment whilst transporting the collection to the new facility at The National Archives.

Job description

You’ll be accountable for:

• Managing monitoring, and reporting on environment, lighting, pollutants and pest control for collection storage areas and displayed exhibitions to support environmental management.
• Collaborating with colleagues in Estates, Facilities and Programmes, and supervising aspects of their work. Reviewing risk assessments and method statements to ensure best conservation standard in the course of their work.
• Offering specialist advice and support to the House of Lords Library and the House of Commons Library on environmental, pest, and housekeeping activities always demonstrating best practice to the staff and members.
• Assisting with the development and review of preventive conservation policies and procedures.
• Providing advice and guidance on all aspects concerning appropriate storage, packing, handling and movement of collections during the decant of Victoria Tower.
• Supporting activities in the Conservation Studios, maintaining best practice in the Quarantine Room and storage supply areas.
• Communicating preservation and collection care work by giving presentations and informative talks to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assisting in the training of new recruits, interns and staff on techniques for the care of collections.

Person specification

 What we’re looking for:

• A degree in preventive conservation, or other conservation discipline.
• Experience working in museums or a historical environment.
• Excellent communication and reporting capabilities.

Benefits

Details of our employee benefits can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/lordshro/employee-benefits/

What you’ll get in return:

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service).
• Generous pension scheme.
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers.
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact HLRecruitment@parliament.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.