Hours: 37 Hours Per Week
Interview Date: 21st August 2026
Closing Date: 9th August 2026
Salary: Hay Band A (£34,433 - £39,152 FTE)
**Once you have submitted your application, please email [email protected] with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**
Inspire’s Nottinghamshire Archives is looking for a conservator specialising in paper, parchment, and bookbinding.
We are the record office for both Nottingham and the surrounding county. We are looking for someone with a professional qualification in conservation and plenty of practical experience. Day to day, you’ll undertake condition assessments, technical examination and conservation treatment on historical collections dating from the 12th Century until today. You will provide guidance on mounting, framing, packaging and storage. You will collaborate with colleagues on exhibitions, and manage our commercial conservation service. The post is also the main contact for building maintenance and health and safety.
Interviews will be held 21st August 2026 at Nottinghamshire Archives, County House, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, NG2 1AG
Inspire is committed to applying its Equality Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. The selection process will be carried out without regard to disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, pregnancy and maternity or trade union membership.
For an informal discussion, please contact Ruth Imeson (Heritage Service Manager) on 01159775692 or [email protected]
Job Description
Job Title: Conservator
Hay Band A
Job Purpose
To provide specialist, technical and professional skills for the development and delivery of an effective archive conservation service and to ensure that the service is inclusive of and responsive to the needs of customers and local communities.
To enhance the enjoyment of and access to Nottinghamshire’s heritage.
Key Responsibilities
- To provide professional, technical and specialist conservation advice, guidance and support regarding preservation of non-digital archival material, to colleagues and the public.
- To assess, plan, manage and implement preventative and interventive conservation work on a range of archives and printed books, maps, photographs etc including paper, parchment, leather, wax and other media; producing clear and accurate costings and making treatment decisions.
- To be the professional lead for making treatment decisions.
- To maintain a specialist technical knowledge of developments in archive conservation theory and practice.
- To train and demonstrate archive and book conservation techniques to colleagues, to promote public awareness, and to deliver talks and workshops.
- To monitor the environmental conditions of the archive storage areas, to advise on remedial solutions, and to be the professional lead for responses to emergencies that directly affect the collections.
- To contribute to the development, maintenance and operation of archive systems and procedures.
- To deliver a conservation commercial service.
- To be the nominated property contact for the building, dealing with contractors and reporting any building and operational problems that cannot be resolved locally to appropriate colleagues.
- The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) contractual requirements, and professional best practice
Education and Knowledge Required for the role
- Degree, diploma or certificate in Archive Conservation or equivalent qualification, or equivalent knowledge, skill and experience
- Knowledge of latest developments and techniques in archive conservation theory and practice
- Knowledge of principles of environmental control and monitoring
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office software
Skills and Experience
- Experience of archive conservation work
- Practical skill in archive conservation and preservation techniques
- Experience of supervising staff or volunteers
Role Dimensions
- Professional lead on conservation of archival materials
- Nominated Property Contact for the Archives building
Inspire Competencies
Customer Service (Competency Level 3)
- Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer
- Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague
- Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate
Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 4)
- Advises and promotes the Inspire Service Offer to customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them
- Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively
- Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer
- Leads work to develop, enhance or create new elements of the Inspire service offer and where appropriate ensure there is an integrated customer offer and journey
Communicating well (Competency Level 4)
- Communicates effectively in person, one-one-one, and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation
- Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions/can do approach
- Debates or discusses positively with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others and reaches agreement
- Communicates complex information concisely and clearly, negotiates effectively across teams, services or with external partners and reaches agreement with all affected parties
Working together (Competency Level 4)
- Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others
- Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others
- Makes and implements decisions fairly, using good judgement and with integrity, in line with Inspire values and role modelling Inspire management and leadership behaviours
- Forms and maintains effective internal and external working relationships across the organisation, with partners and stakeholders motivated by achieving the best for our customers and in best interests of all concerned
Managing others (Competency Level 1)
- Effectively supervises and supports the day-to-day activities of a colleague(s) to enable them to perform their duties day-to-day, planning and co-ordinating the activity of colleague(s) to deliver tasks or activities over time to meet service demand effectively and efficiently
Leading the way (Competency Level 3)
- Incorporate the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders
- Articulate and share Inspire’s mission, vision and to enthuse and focus the efforts of colleagues
- Contributes to the decision-making process, stands by decisions made and owns them implementing them
Working efficiently & cost effectively (Competency Level 3)
- Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets
- Plans ahead, making best use if time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits
- Resolves competing or conflicting demand for resources and time effectively to meet the needs of themselves, colleagues and customers
Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 6b)
- Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Degree (service related) or Degree + post grad service specific qualification
**Once you have submitted your application, please email [email protected] with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**
