Opportunity ID
693
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Location
IWM London
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Career Level
D
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Salary
£38,000 to £42,500 per annum
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Hours
36
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Department
Conservation
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Position type
Permanent
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Job Summary
What It's Like to Work Here
At IWM, we're driven by a shared purpose: helping people understand conflict and its impact on individuals and society. You'll join a team of conservation and collections specialists who care for nationally important collections held in public trust. Working collaboratively across the museum, you'll help ensure extraordinary objects remain accessible for display, research, learning and public engagement for generations to come. We value expertise, continuous learning, teamwork and responsible stewardship of our collections.
Why This Role Matters
As Conservator (Art), you'll play a key role in preserving and caring for paintings and related collection items across IWM's collections. Your work will directly support exhibitions, loans, research, acquisitions and public engagement activities by ensuring collection items remain stable, safe and accessible.
Using your specialist conservation expertise, you'll help protect nationally significant collections while enabling audiences, researchers and colleagues to engage with authentic objects that tell powerful stories about conflict and its impact on the world.
What You'll Be Doing
Carry out conservation assessments, treatments and condition reporting for paintings and related collection items.
Develop conservation plans and recommend appropriate treatment, preventive conservation or collections care measures.
Provide specialist advice on display, storage, loans, acquisitions, packing and installation of collection objects.
Work with internal and external specialists to identify and deliver the most appropriate conservation solutions.
Produce accurate conservation records, reports, risk assessments and supporting documentation.
Support exhibitions, loans and wider collections care programmes across the organisation.
Train, supervise and support contractors, volunteers, interns, students and technicians to maintain high standards of collections care.
Contribute to public engagement, learning activities and knowledge-sharing that help audiences connect with IWM's collections and mission.
Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge and continuously develop your conservation skills and practice.
What We're Looking For
We'd love to hear from you if you have:
A relevant conservation qualification or equivalent professional experience in a specialist conservation field.
Strong knowledge of conservation principles, ethics and best practice.
Understanding of COSHH requirements and health and safety legislation relevant to conservation work.
Experience working in an accountable, professional environment.
The ability to create and maintain accurate records and documentation.
Experience using IT systems and databases in a workplace setting.
Experience handling museum collections and undertaking collections care activities.
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues and stakeholders.
A commitment to continuous professional development and high professional standards.
Desirable
Knowledge of analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRF, MFT and Oddy testing.
Experience working in a museum, visitor attraction or similar organisation.
Experience working with volunteers and/or supervising contractors.
ICON Accreditation or progress towards accreditation.
An interest in 20th-century history and the collections of IWM.
Experience working at height and/or a clean driving licence.
How You'll Work
You'll work closely with colleagues across Conservation, Collections Care, Curatorial, Exhibitions and Operations teams to support the care, movement and display of collection objects. You'll also collaborate with external specialists, contractors and lenders when delivering conservation treatments and collections projects. The role combines hands-on conservation practice with advisory, documentation and training responsibilities, ensuring collections are preserved while remaining accessible for use across the museum.
What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)
Build strong working relationships with conservation colleagues and key stakeholders across IWM.
Deliver high-quality conservation treatments that meet recognised professional standards.
Become a trusted source of specialist advice on display, storage, loans and preservation requirements.
Contribute successfully to exhibitions, loans and collections care projects.
Maintain accurate conservation records, reports and recommendations that support informed decision-making.
Support training, knowledge-sharing and collaborative conservation activities across teams.
Demonstrate safe working practices and consistent compliance with health and safety and risk management requirements.
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Application closing date
August 10th 2026, 9:00 AM
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Interview Details
Interviews for this post are planned for the week commencing 18th August
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Benefits
The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.
Annual Leave: You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days
Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits: Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.
IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being.
Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)
Free Entry to IWM Air Shows: Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.
Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries: Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.
In-House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
Season Ticket Loan Scheme: Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program.
Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.
Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.
Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges.
Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).
Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.
Staff Events and Networks: Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.
…and more!
Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and become part of IWM!
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Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:
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A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
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Equal Opportunities and Flexible Working
IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.
We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.
Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.
At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.
We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.
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