Conservator

Are you an experienced Book Conservator who can use your knowledge and skills to make a difference at the National Records of Scotland?

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) collect, preserve and publish information about Scotland's people and history, to inform current and future generations. We are looking for an experience book conservator to join the Archive Conservation team, within the Collections Care branch. The Archive Conservation team delivers a comprehensive programme of archive conservation treatment, with the aims of prolonging the life of the collection while also maximising access to the archival records and enhancing the experience of our customers. This is achieved through a combination of special projects and ongoing programmes, working together with colleagues across the organisation as well as external stakeholders.

The work is varied, and includes archive treatment and rehousing, disaster preparedness and response, collection assessment and surveying, exhibition preparation and contributing to conservation policy development. You will actively engage in teaching and mentoring others and knowledge sharing, and you will promote the work of the Collections Care branch across NRS and to a wider professional community. You will be based in Thomas Thomson House but with some time spent in our other buildings in Edinburgh, and the occasional requirement to work off-site at other heritage organisations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a range of book and archive conservation treatments, in order to ready items for digitisation, make items fit for consultation and prepare items for internal exhibitions and external loans.
• Assess and rehouse or treat as required archives at the point when they enter NRS buildings for the first time or are prepared for a temporary or permanent move out of NRS.
• Collect, interpret, and report on the data required to support decision-making and to assess impact, for example, through collection surveys, condition assessments and technical examination.

Contribute to internal and external stakeholder engagement relating to archive conservation, for example through the provision of training and advice, and with public engagement activities.

Work with colleagues to disseminate and undertake conservation and heritage science research, which may involve developing collaborations with external organisations such as universities.

Participate in understanding, interpreting and applying relevant legislation, regulations and practice, keeping abreast of new developments.

Undertake Staff management and development, including assisting with the supervision of a team of three Preservation Assistants, and occasional placement students and volunteers.

Qualifications

A graduate or postgraduate-level qualification in book/paper conservation, from an institution in the UK or other jurisdiction.

PACR (Professional Accreditation of Conservators - Restorers) accredited membership of Icon or a willingness to pursue such accreditation

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. The Success Profile will include the Professional / Technical skills, Experience and Behaviours.

Technical / Professional Skills

• B15 Assessing the stability and condition of archives and records - Level 3
• B16 Identifying and evaluating conservation options and strategies - Level 3
• B17 Applying interventive conservation measures to archives and records - Level 3
• B18 Developing specialist skills and knowledge - Level 3
  
  

You can find out more about the skills required, here: Competency Frameworks — Archives & Records Association

Experience

• Experience of successfully delivering complex book and archive conservation, including finding innovative approaches for the care and conservation of large archival collections.

Experience of providing training and support for internal and external archive users.

Experience of public engagement activities such as giving tours and talks and writing content for publications and social media.

Behaviours

• Working together - Level 3
• Changing and Improving - Level 3
  
  

Find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How To Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

Vacancy closes at 23:59pm on Monday 18 May 2026.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and portfolio exercise and discussion.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 8th June 2026 however this may be subject to change.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

NRS is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government & and our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. 

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For more information about the role, please contact Isobel Griffin at Isobel.Griffin@nrscotland.gov.uk