Moves Conservator, NHM Unlocked

Working with teams across the NHM Unlocked Programme particularly Curatorial staff, Collection Moves Assistants, Digitisation team and Project Managers you will develop conservation-based recommendations for specimen protection. Your role will involve working closely with curatorial staff to identify specimens with complex needs and to develop packaging and transport requirements. You will design and test specimen support systems and assist with the design of more general protection for standardized collection drawers. You will establish and oversee stabilisation and remedial treatment projects for specimens, and will advise on specimen handling protocols and associated equipment required for large, heavy and/or complex specimens.

Main Responsibilities
- Carry out and advise on remedial treatments for complex specimens including condition reporting.
- Develop generic treatment and stabilisation documentation for sign off by curators.
- Line management of up to 4 Conservation Move Assistants
- Manage small project teams including work planning and co-ordination.
- Undertake condition surveys of a wide variety of natural history collections, with a view to prioritising remedial conservation workloads.
- Co-ordinate and supervise Conservation Moves Assistants in surveying and stabilisation techniques.
- Coordinate setting up workspaces within collection or adjacent areas (mini lab spaces) to carry out remedial conservation treatments and stabilisation works essential for safe relocation of specimens.
- Assist with workshops/training and preparation of guidelines.
- Assist with the production of guidelines for collection preparation, hazards and transport.
- Assist with the preparation of guidelines for decanting specimens at TVSP and manage the removal of temporary storage materials ensuring specimens are stored safely in their new collection furniture.
- Liaise with and advise external specialist moving companies to pack and move complex specimens.
- Undertake materials testing.