Conservator (Engineering) – HMS Belfast

Salary: £30,300 per annum

Location: HMS Belfast – London, UK

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 36 hours per week

Application deadline: 9am, Monday 24th March 2025

Are you passionate about history and skilled in mechanical conservation? Join us aboard one of London’s most iconic attractions on the River Thames – the HMS Belfast – where you will be instrumental in steering a diverse team in the preservation and maintenance of our historic ship, its structure and fittings.

Key responsibilities include spearheading unique restoration and conservation projects, supervising a diverse team of staff and volunteers, ensuring health and safety compliance, and engaging with the public to explain historical significance and enhance visitor experience.

To be considered for this role, you’ll need to be qualified to City and Guilds or NVQ 3 in a relevant engineering discipline OR have demonstrable experience of working in mechanical or marine engineering.

Duties:

Large object restoration and conservation

• Preparing a general outline of work required to complete specific projects.
• Preparing a work plan for the next three months to be updated on a monthly basis.
• Identifying the components required to complete specific projects.
• Placing orders through the Conservation manager for consumables and stock items required.
• Liaising with the Conservation Manager to arrange long term storage for components removed from the exhibits.
• Carrying out condition surveys of object and items as directed by the Conservation Manager.
• Preparing a conservation work plan based on the survey in conjunction with all stakeholders in the project.

Supervision

• Supervising any Technicians, Volunteers and work experience students allocated to work on projects under their control to achieve the agreed plan of work on the exhibit under restoration/conservation.
• Ensuring that work carried out under their control is performed in accordance with the relevant Health and Safety Regulations.
• When necessary instructing Technicians, Volunteers and work experience students under their control in restoration/conservation techniques.
• Ensuring that staff, volunteers and work experience students under their control are authorised to carry out tasks allocated to them in accordance with Engineering orders and competency and health and safety legislation.

Technical areas

• Advising on general health and safety requirements or issues in areas within their responsibility.

Conservation support equipment

• Liaising with the Conservation Manager to advice on future requirements or any short comings.
• Notifying un-serviceability’s to the Conservation Manager.
• Carrying out pre-use inspections on equipment they intend to use.
• Returning equipment to correct storage after use.

Research

• Researching and learning about objects to ensure historical accuracy of your conservation work.
• Maintaining logs and records of your research.

Visitor Experience

• Engage with the public to explain what conservation work is being done and why, whilst maintaining a helpful demeanour.
• Explaining the historical origins of the object, based on your knowledge and research.

Conservation records

• Maintaining comprehensive written and photographic records of restoration/conservation work carried out on projects under their control.
• Liaising with the Conservation Manager to ensure that the records and exhibit files are kept up to date.

For a full list of duties and the person specification (which your application will be marked against) please download and view the Job Description here or below.

About Imperial War Museums (IWM)

IWM tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

Our staff play a crucial role in caring for our unique collections, welcoming our visitors to our five branches and ensuring we continue to preserve and share powerful personal stories for generations to come.

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.