Dolmen Conservation & Joinery Ltd
Location: Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent TN26 3RJ
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
About Us
Dolmen Conservation & Joinery Ltd is a specialist conservation and joinery company working predominantly on historic and listed buildings throughout the South East.
Our joinery workshop manufactures and repairs bespoke timber windows, doors and architectural joinery, combining traditional craftsmanship with the requirements of individual historic buildings.
Our work is varied, specialist and often completely bespoke. This is not a volume-production joinery environment.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Senior Bench Joiner / Heritage Joiner to join our workshop team in Woodchurch, Kent.
We need an accomplished craftsperson who can confidently take a project from technical drawing through to completed joinery, working accurately and independently to a high standard.
The successful candidate will have strong setting-out and machining skills and proven experience manufacturing bespoke timber windows, doors and associated architectural joinery.
Experience within heritage conservation or listed buildings would be highly advantageous. However, we are equally interested in hearing from exceptional traditional bench joiners with transferable skills and a genuine interest in heritage work.
Key Responsibilities
- Manufacture bespoke timber windows, doors, frames and architectural joinery
- Read and interpret technical drawings, specifications and schedules
- Set out work accurately from drawings
- Manufacture joinery independently from initial setting out through to completion
- Machine and prepare hardwoods and softwoods
- Undertake traditional joinery techniques, including mortice and tenon construction
- Manufacture traditional sash and casement windows where required
- Carry out repairs and conservation work to existing historic joinery
- Produce one-off and non-standard items for historic buildings
- Ensure completed joinery meets drawings, specifications and required quality standards
- Identify materials, ironmongery and other requirements for allocated work
- Work effectively alongside other joiners and apprentices
- Assist with site installation and investigative works where required
- Maintain high standards of workshop organisation and housekeeping
- Operate woodworking machinery safely and correctly
- Comply with company health and safety procedures at all times
Essential Requirements
- NVQ Level 3 in Bench Joinery, Architectural Joinery, Carpentry & Joinery, City & Guilds equivalent, or substantial equivalent industry experience
- Significant professional bench joinery experience
- Proven experience working on heritage, conservation and/or listed building projects
- Proven experience manufacturing traditional timber sash and casement windows
- Experience repairing and conserving historic timber windows and doors
- Proven experience manufacturing bespoke timber doors, frames and architectural joinery
- Strong understanding of traditional window and door construction
- Ability to confidently read, interpret and work independently from technical drawings and specifications
- Ability to set out and manufacture bespoke joinery independently from drawing through to completion
- Strong machining skills and experience preparing both hardwoods and softwoods
- Competent and experienced in the safe use of professional woodworking machinery
- Strong knowledge of traditional joinery techniques, including mortice and tenon construction
- Excellent attention to detail and consistently high standards of workmanship
- Ability to assess existing historic joinery and understand where repair rather than replacement is appropriate
- Reliable, organised and self-motivated
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small workshop team
- Full UK Driving Licence
Additional Advantageous Experience
- Traditional glazing and putty work
- Specialist conservation repairs and timber splicing
- Working with architects' and conservation professionals' drawings and specifications
- Site installation of traditional windows and doors
- Experience working with hardwood architectural joinery
- Experience working on Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II listed buildings
What We're Looking For
This role would suit an experienced joiner who enjoys proper bespoke joinery and takes genuine pride in producing high-quality work.
You should be comfortable being given a drawing or specification, understanding what is required and progressing the manufacture without requiring continual supervision.
Because of the nature of the buildings we work on, you'll also need a practical approach to problem-solving. Historic buildings rarely provide perfectly square openings or completely standard details, so an ability to understand how traditional joinery works and adapt appropriately is important.
What We Offer
- Full-time, permanent employment
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Company vehicle
- Monday to Friday working
- Interesting and varied bespoke projects
- Opportunity to work on significant historic and listed buildings
- Specialist conservation and traditional joinery work
- Further training and professional development opportunities
- A friendly, skilled and experienced team
How to Apply
Please apply with your current CV, including details of your relevant bench joinery experience.
We would particularly welcome photographs or examples of bespoke windows, doors or architectural joinery that you have personally manufactured.
Applications from experienced traditional joiners without specific heritage experience are welcomed where you can demonstrate strong transferable skills and high-quality bespoke workmanship.
Pay: £15.00-£18.00 per hour
Benefits:
Experience:
- Heritage Joinery: 5 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
