JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: Head of Collections Conservation Services
Reports to: Director of Conservation Services & Projects
Location: Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh,
EH11 4DF
April 2013
Business Function:
Conservation Services & Projects
A summary of Terms & Conditions is available on request.
Pay Band/Starting Salary: Band H, £45,637
Type of Contract: Permanent, full time
KEY PURPOSE
The Head of the Trust’s Collections Conservation Services drives the strategy and delivery of the conservation of
the Trust’s historic interiors and collections, in line with corporate strategic objectives and the Trust’s
Collections Conservation Policy (in the process of revision) and Conservation Principles.
CONTEXT
The National Trust for Scotland is Scotland’s leading conservation charity managing a wide-ranging portfolio of
historic sites which includes castles, country houses, cottages and modern museum facilities with both mainland
and island locations. The Trust’s Collections Conservation Service is responsible for the conservation and care
of historic interiors and collections at these properties, most of which are on open display.
The Collections Conservation Service is one of six specialist conservation services reporting to the Director of
Conservation Services & Projects.
The conservation of the Trust’s collections is delivered through a strategic approach encompassing core
preventive conservation measures, prioritised remedial conservation and the implementation of Trust standards
of care for routine maintenance at properties. Advocacy, skills development and the continuous raising of
standards of care of the Trust’s collections underpin Collections Conservation Service activities.
The Collections Conservation Service is a dispersed team of six members of staff, led by the post-holder from the
Trust’s head offices in Edinburgh. Three preventive conservators support and advise properties on a regional
basis, and a fourth preventive conservator is centrally-based and leads on the research and implementation of core
preventive conservation activities.
The Trust benefits from having its own Conservation Workshop which is based in Sighthill near the Trust’s head
offices. The Workshop Technician is managed by the Head of Collections Conservation Services. An Edinburghbased Collections Care Officer post also sits within the departmental structure. The Trust hosts and supervises
post-graduate preventive conservation internships through the Collections Conservation Service.
KEY RESPONSIBILIITES
 Management and Strategic guidance
o Oversee Collection Conservation activities including staff and budget management; operational plans
and guidelines; and coordination of activity across the Trust’s structure and properties;
o Input in Trust’s matrix management for property-based Collection Conservation staff (such as
Conservation Housekeepers) in line with other departments;
o Support development of Departmental and Whole Trust strategies and corporate planning;
o Input into other Departmental plans and programmes as and when required.
 Preventive conservation:
o put in place across the Trust programmes of planned core cyclical preventive collections conservation
activities, in line with the Trust’s corporate strategy, the Trust’s Conservation Principles and Collections
Conservation Policy;
o such activities to include environmental monitoring and control, IPM, daylight control and management,
collections care regimes, emergency planning and response for collections;
o through a planned strategic approach address key gaps in the provision of such core preventive
collections conservation activities.
 Remedial conservation:


o develop a prioritised strategic approach to tackle the backlog of remedial conservation of the Trust’s
historic collections.
Skills and knowledge:
o ensure the Collections Conservation Service improves skills and knowledge of Trust staff and volunteers
through appropriate training to further embed and continuously raise standards of collections care;
o to further develop the Trust’s post-graduate preventive conservation internship programme hosted by
the Collections Conservation Service.
Advocacy:
o act as lead advocate within the Trust for a conservation activity at the centre of the organisation’s
purposes;
o represent the Trust externally as the lead advocate for the care and conservation of the Trust’s historic
interiors and collections.
SCOPE OF ROLE
People Management
 Provide strategic direction, clear leadership and supportive management of a team based at several locations;
 Actively develop external networks and contacts within the sector and act as the Trust’s ambassador for
collections conservation;
 Foster close working relationships with Group Managers and Property Managers to ensure the delivery of
Collections Conservation meets the requirements of this key client group;
 Foster close working relationships with other sections, notably other Heads of Conservation Service;
 Lead on procurement of contractual arrangements with external suppliers of key services, e.g., the annual
reporting and calibration of the Trust’s environmental monitoring systems;
 Ensure appropriate contributions are made by the Collections Conservation Service to the planning and
delivery of Trust projects as required, whether as sponsor, manager or project team member;
 Support the continuing professional development of the Trust’s conservators, notably progression towards
professional accreditation (PACR).
Financial Management
 To manage the Collections Conservation Services budget in line with Trust procedures and policies;
 To manage the Collections Conservation Services discretionary project budget (currently c.£100k), to
including delegated prioritised planned expenditure as agreed with Director;
 Contribute to the work of the Development Department through delivery of technical sessions for fundraising purposes, as well as identifying appropriate projects and activities for donors;
 Support Trust-wide financial management protocols as is fitting for a Head of Service.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential:
 Recognised qualification in remedial or preventive conservation with considerable demonstrable industry
experience;
 Accredited conservator-restorer status;
 Recognised leadership in the field of collections conservation;
 Highly-developed and proven team management skills and experience;
 Sound understanding of preventive conservation principles and practice, with a flexible dynamic approach to
achieving end results;
 Outstanding inter-personal skills with track record of high level of advocacy;
 In-depth technical knowledge of a specialist area of collections conservation;
 Commissioning and working with wide range of external contractors;
 Sound management of an allocated budget and wider financial responsibilities;
 Strong UK and international professional networks and contacts within the sector;
 Project management, and familiarity with industry-standard processes;
 Enthusiasm for working in a fast-moving multi-disciplinary environment with competing priorities;
 A passion for, and knowledge of, Scotland’s heritage;
 Competent user of Microsoft Office products;
 Current driving licence valid for driving in the UK and ability to travel throughout Scotland when required.
The successful candidate will have the right to work in the UK.
Desirable:
 Experience of Adlib collections management systems;
 Knowledge of and contacts with funding agencies, trusts and individuals.
The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the
requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate
consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within
the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Applications
Interested applicants should forward a completed application form to Human Resources Department
(Applications), The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh, EH11 4DF, by
mail or by email via workforus@nts.org.uk, by first post (i.e. 10.00am) on 3 May 2013. Interviews are likely to be
held at Hermiston Quay during mid May 2013.