Conservator (Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection)

The Strategic Estates team aims to deliver a comfortable, safe and efficient environment for Members, their staff and staff of the House to work in, as well as providing a welcoming and functional environment for all visitors to the House of Commons. The department is also responsible for looking after and managing buildings, capital projects and significant assets on the Parliamentary Estate, which itself forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Conservator for the Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection (HFDA) sits in the Heritage Collections team Strategic Estates. Heritage Collections are responsible for the professional management of three collections of national and international importance: the Parliamentary Art Collection, the HFDA Collection and the Architectural Fabric Collection. This Team provides a bicameral service to the House of Commons and the House of Lords and is responsible for all aspects of strategy, display, collections management, care and conservation, technical and procedural standards, documentation, loans and interpretation.

The post holder will have the appropriate conservation/restoration qualification and background and an understanding and appreciation of historic furniture and decorative arts as held in UK Parliament. Although the majority of the HFDA holdings are furniture, skills in other media would be desirable.

They will recognise that much of the collection is in use on a daily basis in a busy working environment and that any conservation/restoration work will need to ensure its safe use whilst observing conservation industry standard values and ethics.

They will work to the Conservation Manager, HFDA and closely with the Keeper and other members of the HFDA team and the wider Heritage Collections team. They will support the Conservation Manager in providing professional advice and training, liaising with contract conservators who undertake the majority of work, and managing projects which impact on the future condition of Collection items.

The postholder will contribute to the on-going, prioritised conservation plan and develop preventive care initiatives/protocols to reduce the risk of future damage to the Collection arising from its use, display and engagement through projects and events. As well as managing contract conservation/restoration works, it would be desirable if the post holder could undertake some minor remedial work on site, particularly on the historic furniture.

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience
  • Proven and high level of knowledge and practical experience in the conservation/ restoration of historic furniture.
  • An understanding of furniture design and construction.
  • Significant experience of working with heritage collections within a museum, gallery, historic house or working building or working in a conservation company or workshop.

• Specialist knowledge
  • Working knowledge and experience in the conservation of decorative arts objects would be an advantage.
  • Experience of conservation standards, policies and processes and development of new strategies for collection care.

• Decision making and delivering results
  • Proven skills in organisation and prioritisation of workloads with the ability to manage multiple workstreams efficiently in a dynamic and positive way.
  • Manage conservation documentation using collection management systems with the ability to learn other software packages.

• Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Good interpersonal skills with the ability to deal tactfully and confidently with people at all levels upholding the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Experience of working with and managing contract and independent conservators and conservation companies.

• Remedial conservation
  • The ability to undertake minor repairs to the historic furniture such as addressing minor damage to wood and leather, replacing missing metal elements, etc.

• Staff Benefits 

  In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including: 

  • 30 days’ annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year). 
  • Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%. 
  • Access to training and development. 
  • Flexible working. 
  • Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan. 

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk