Preventive Conservator (Hazards)

Opportunity ID

635

Location

Salary

Hours

Department

Position type

Length of employment

Job Summary

We are seeking a dedicated Preventive Conservator (Hazards) to join our team and play a key role in delivering vital preservation work, with a focus on hazardous and licensed collections. This role primarily supports the Visual Documentation Project, ensuring the safety, longevity, and accessibility of our collections through expert risk management, conservation treatments, and stakeholder collaboration.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead preservation activities for hazardous and licensed collections, including risk assessments, hazard checks, and workflow development.
• Implement and oversee control measures for hazardous materials, ensuring safe working practices.
• Conduct condition assessments, sample-based surveys, and analysis to inform preservation priorities.
• Carry out interventive conservation treatments where necessary to reduce risks.
• Recommend and implement improvements to storage and preservation environments.
• Monitor dust and environmental conditions in storage areas to guide cleaning programmes.
• Collaborate with Radiation Protection Supervisors to ensure compliance with radioactive material regulations.
• Train, supervise, and quality assure the work of staff and contractors.
• Maintain disaster response equipment and contribute to emergency response planning.
• Deliver training and advice to internal and external stakeholders on the care and handling of hazardous collections.
• Support exhibitions, storage projects, and the wider IWM masterplan.
• Maintain accurate records of preservation activities and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Who We Are Looking For

• A relevant qualification in conservation or museum studies, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience working with hazardous and licensed collections, including risk assessments and safe handling.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including COSHH and health and safety regulations.
• A proactive and safety-first approach to managing risks in a heritage environment.
• The ability to work flexibly, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience supervising others or working with volunteers.
• Familiarity with museum collection management systems.
• Willingness to travel to other IWM branches when required.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about preservation and safety in heritage environments and want to make a meaningful impact on the care of our collections, we’d love to hear from you.

For a full list of duties and the person specification which your application will be marked against, please view the Job Description.

Application closing date

November 24th 2025, 9:00 AM

Interview Details

Interviews for this post are planned for the week commencing 8 December 2025

The benefits listed below are discretionary and IWM reserves the right, with due notice, to vary or withdraw them at any time. All such benefits apply during the course of your employment only.

• Annual Leave:You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days

• Company Group Pension Plan:Our commitment to your financial well-being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits:Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.

• IWM4me:Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well-being.

• Free Sanitary Products:We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.

• Retail Discounts:25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on-site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)

• Free Entry to IWM Air Shows:Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.

• Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries:Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.

• In-House Training Programmes:Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.

• Season Ticket Loan Scheme:Simplify your daily commute with our interest-free loan program.

• Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire:Promote well-being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.

• Eye Tests:Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.

• Employee Assistance Programme:Access confidential support for personal or work-related challenges.

• Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance:Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).

• Civil Service Sports Club Membership:Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.

• Staff Events and Networks:Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.

…and more!

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Apply now and become part of IWM!

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to:

A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.
We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone.
Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public.
At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds.
We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.