Job Description
Role: Project Conservator : Lightening the Levels
Project
Reports to: Preventive Conservator (Central)
Location: Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road
Edinburgh, EH11 4DF
October 2014
2010
Business Function: Conservation
Services and Projects
Pay Band/Starting Salary:
Band F: £31,508
Type of Contract: Fixed term for 12
months from start date / full-time
(possible extension for a second 12 month
term with mutual agreement)
Terms and conditions
The post is subject to the standard terms and conditions provided with the application pack.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Trust seeks to appoint a Project Conservator to lead on the delivery of the major initiative to
improve light management in properties with historic material collections. The post holder will
work in accordance with corporate strategic objectives, the Trust’s Conservation Principles and
the Trust’s Collections Conservation Policy.
CONTEXT
The Trust cares for over 50 properties with vulnerable collections on public display. The Trust
has invested significantly in the installation of good daylight management practice; roller blinds
and the fixing of UV-filtration film to windows in areas where historic collections and vulnerable
interior surfaces are on display or stored. There remains a significant number of properties where
UV Film and blinds are still required, and the life of existing measures is finite.
Equally important to having the appropriate physical measures in place is also having the right
protocols to ensure these protective measures are used to best effect. The post holder will be
responsible for initiating a Trustwide programme of putting the correct procedures in place and
giving property staff the knowledge and support they need to implement the necessary changes to
protect the collections from light damage.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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To ensure all properties with collections have an appropriate standard of daylight
management provision;
Accelerate the provision of UV Film and blinds to properties where no protection has yet
been installed, to achieve the core objective of conserving the Trust’s collections –
accelerate to a two year programme rather than the 15-20 years it would take at the
present rate of provision;
Identify suitable suppliers and manage the tender process for potential suppliers of UV film
and blinds;
Draw up a tender spec with the appropriate standards. Negotiate the best deal on price
with the successful tender, using economies of scale;
Raise and manage purchase orders to complete the entire project of installation of new
measures required (see Light Audit);
Oversight for installation of daylight protection measures at each property to agreed
timescales and schedules. Liaise with Property Managers and suppliers to ensure impact
on property staff time is minimised;
Create a cyclical maintenance and replacement UV film and blind programme for all
properties;
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Determine and instigate with contractors appropriate methodologies for removing old
film from historic glass;
Implement and complete an accelerated programme of works, to replace or repair all blinds
and UV film which have been identified as requiring attention in the next 10 years;
Put robust blind drill procedures in place at all properties, which reflect the needs on a
room-by-room basis (e.g. north aspects will have different procedures to south aspects.
Staff capacity, opening hours and time of year to be taken into account);
Raise staff awareness (from Directors to housekeepers) of the need to control light levels
and give them the information, skills or knowledge to do so at their level;
Raise the visitor’s awareness of the deleterious effects of daylight and UV radiation to
collections and advance the profile of the Trust’s ambitious project to protect our
collections with members and in the media;
Work with other Trust stakeholders (property managers, energy advisors, buildings
department and the Buccleugh Innovation Award LED installation project manager) to
share knowledge and experience in finding appropriate, low energy solutions to lamping
historic fittings;
Identify, so far as possible, the significance of window glass in terms of its historic or
original properties.
Working with others:
 Manage and supervise all contractors working on-site throughout the duration of the
project.
 Explain and demonstrate to the contractors on-site the special care and attention required
while working within an historic interior.
 Maintain a close working relationship with the Group Conservators and the property staff
responsible for collections care.
 Develop excellent relations with property staff and train them to use appropriate light
management measures.
Protection for interiors and collections:
 Put in place all necessary in-situ protection for the interiors and collections as required to
prevent any damage during the project.
 Co-ordinate the movement of all collections within the properties to facilitate the project.
Health and Safety:
 Comply with all risk assessments and health and safety requirements of the project and
ensure that all contractors working on-site also comply.
The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be
carried out.
SCOPE OF ROLE
People Management
No direct line-management but supervision of all contractors on-site during the project.
Financial Management
To manage the Lightening the Levels budget in line with Trust procedures and policies.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
The above outlines the key skills the job holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition,
either knowledge of or experience in the following is required:
Essential
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A recognised qualification in remedial or preventive conservation, or equivalent practical
experience, is required;
Relevant post-graduate conservation experience in remedial and / or preventive
conservation, preferably in historic interior environments;
Demonstrable practical experience of project planning and delivery;
Excellent organisational, administrative and time-management skills with the ability to
prioritise and re-prioritise workload to meet changing demands;
Outstanding inter-personal and communication skills;
The ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies.
Desirable
 Accredited (ACR) status is desirable or the post-holder must demonstrate s/he is working
towards Accreditation;
 A knowledge of light management strategies for historic houses including appropriate
lamping options for historic light fittings;
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 November 2014. Interviews are likely to be held at Hermiston Quay on 17-18 November
2014.