Project Conservator Digitisation (Herbarium)
Project Conservator Digitisation (Herbarium)
We require a Project Conservator to assist our Senior Conservator and Herbarium Collection Curators for 9 months, supporting Kew’s digitisation of our Herbarium plant specimens.
Kew’s Science Collections are the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world, including more than 7 million herbarium sheets.
The Project Conservator will work onsite at the Conservation Studio at Kew, assisting Herbarium Collection Curators, to assess, identify and evaluate the condition of Science Collections and leading implementation of preventive or remedial conservation treatments of selected objects. The Project Conservator will explore treatment options, in line with professional standards and best practice, ensuring all condition assessments, planning, treatment and recommendations are accurately documented.
More details
Our ideal candidate will have a qualification in Conservation with a specialist in paper conservation and/or organic material conservation. They must have knowledge and experience of conservation practices and methodologies especially for works on paper and/or botanic material.
Our ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience of preventive and remedial conservation practices, with particular experience and knowledge working with mould-damaged collection objects.
Knowledge and understanding of Botany and experience of conservation of Botanic specimens is desirable.
With excellent written communication skills and attention to detail, our ideal candidate will be able to work collaboratively as part of a team while having a proven ability to plan own time and meet deadlines.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.
The salary for this position is £33,199 per annum (pro rata) [Band C]
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply for this job”.
We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.