Conservator

Job description

Location: St Pancras

Hours: Permanent - Full time

Grade: C

Salary: £27,300

We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified conservator to join the British Library Conservation Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work on our unique and diverse collection and participate in all the activities to support the library services.

We are seeking a conservator with recent practical hands-on experience in book and paper-based conservation with a high level of manual dexterity and the ability to treat fragile and delicate materials along with the ability to observe fine detail. The successful candidate will have a degree in conservation studies and demonstrable skills and knowledge; a good understanding of materials chemistry, and the properties, behaviours and interaction of a wide range of organic and inorganic materials. The book conservator will demonstrate the ability to diagnose conservation and structural problems and to develop options for the solutions of those problems, and to evaluate the implications of the treatment options.

The post holder will have familiarity of non-destructive examination and methods of material analysis of works of paper-based items. The role requires participating in Collection Care and Conservation professional and public programmes to represent the work of the studio or department and represent the library and department at conferences, meetings and seminars as appropriate.

Other essential requirements are outlined in the job description.

As one of the world's great libraries, our duty is to preserve the nation's intellectual memory for the future and make it available to all for research, inspiration and enjoyment. At present, we have well over 170 million items, in most known languages, with three million new items added every year. We have manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents. We make our collections and programmes available to all. We operate the world's largest document delivery service providing millions of items a year to customers all over the world. What matters to us is that we preserve the national memory and enable knowledge to be created both now and in the future by anyone, anywhere.

In return, we offer a competitive salary and a number of excellent benefits. Our pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits we offer, as our staff can become members of the Alpha Pension Scheme where the Library contributes a minimum of 26.6% (this may be higher dependant on grade. Another significant benefit the Library provides is the provision of a flexible working hours scheme which could allow you to work your hours flexibly over the week and to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3 month period. This is on top of 25 days holiday from entry and public and privilege holidays.

We have three roles available in the team (Please see details below)

- Permanent - Part time for 21.6 hours (salary: £27,300 pro rata)

- Permanent - Full time

- Temporary - Full time for 18 months

Closing date: 28 April 2024

Interview date: TBC

We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role, as it does not meet the eligibility criteria required for this immigration route