Paper Conservator

ASVA: Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A cultural charity is seeking a Paper Conservator to join its Museums and Collections Conservation team in Glasgow. The ideal candidate will have a recognized qualification in conservation and experience treating paper objects. This role requires excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a team to ensure the preservation of extensive collections. Competitive benefits include flexibility, extensive holidays, and support for personal development.

Benefits

30 days’ holiday plus 6.5 public holidays

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts on memberships and products

Qualifications

• A recognised qualification in Conservation.
• Experience in conservation procedures to formulate treatments.
• Proven experience of treating paper objects to a high standard.

Responsibilities

• Join Museums and Collections Conservation team.
• Contribute to the care of city’s collections.
• Assess and treat paper objects using innovative solutions.

Skills

Recognised qualification in Conservation

Experience with conservation procedures

Proven treatment of paper objects

Condition assessments and documentation

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Time management and resource efficiency

Education

Qualification in Conservation

Job description

Location: Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Glasgow, G53 7NN., and city-wide locations
Ref: GLA14625

Job Description – Paper Conservator

We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and that starts with the people who work here.
Glasgow Life is a charity like no other. Our vision is to improve the lives of everyone in our city. To help us achieve that, we are looking for a Paper Conservator to join our Museums and Collections Conservation team.
Our teams focus on making a real difference through culture and sport in Glasgow. If you’re excited by the idea of being part of that, this could be the job for you.

What you need to know

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract type: Full time, Permanent
Location: You’ll work city-wide in our museum venues although your main place of work will be Glasgow Museums Resource Centre which has great links to public transport (Nitshill Railway station is a ten-minute walk) and free parking.

What you’ll do

As an experienced paper conservator, you’ll be joining our in-demand Museums, Archives and Collections Conservation team, and you’ll play an essential role in contributing to the conservation and collection care of the city’s extensive collections.
You’ll be an integral part of a well-established conservation team, reporting to a Senior Conservator and working alongside a team of conservators skilled in a variety of material specialisms who support the safe access, care, display and lending of Glasgow Museums & Archives collections.
You will have experience of working with a broad range of works on paper ideally including Pastels, Watercolours, Photographs and Books.

Your work will make a visible and lasting difference. This could be:

• Supporting our communities
• Helping people get active
• Creating cultural experiences
• Or working behind the scenes to make it all happen

Who you are

We’re looking for someone with the right skills who brings energy to the role. If the following sounds like you, apply today!

We’re looking for someone who has:

• A recognised qualification in Conservation
• Experience and understanding of a broad range of conservation procedures to formulate appropriate treatments which require innovative solutions
• Proven experience of treating paper objects to a high standard, with full consideration of practical, access, Health and Safety and ethical issues
• Experience of carrying out condition assessments, treatment estimates and documentation
• Demonstrable analytical and problem-solving skills where novel or complex conservation problems arise
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise time to achieve deadlines and use resources efficiently

Download the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section on MyJobScotland. Use this to shape your application and show how your experience aligns with the job.
When selecting candidates for interviews, managers will look for candidates who can demonstrate they meet all the ‘essential’ criteria listed in the Person Specification. If there are many candidates, they may also consider desirable skills. So, include those if they apply to you.

Please note this is a re advertisement and previous applicants should not re-apply.

What we offer

At Glasgow Life, our work changes lives. As a charity, we bring communities together and support wellbeing through sport, culture, heritage, and learning.
Learn more about Glasgow Life in our 10 Facts video in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.

We support you to live a great life. Inside and outside of work. Some of our benefits include:

• Holiday
  When you join, you’ll get 30 days’ holiday. Plus 6.5 public holidays if you’re full-time. This increases to 35 days after 5 years of service.
  Fancy a bit more time off? You can buy extra holiday too!
• Pension
  Save for later life and join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Your future self will thank you. Our generous employer contribution will help you plan for the future.
• Support
  Sometimes we all need support and a listening ear. Our free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme can support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
• Discounts
  As a colleague, you can enjoy discounts on the things you love, from Glasgow Club memberships to our museum shops and our online store. We are also part of the cycle-to-work scheme, helping you stay active.

Flexibility and development
We are proud of our flexible and inclusive work policies, which help you balance work and life. We also offer support for learning, development and career progression.

Please note that Glasgow Life is an Arm’s Length External Organisation to Glasgow City Council. We are currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure. This may impact current salaries quoted in job adverts. To learn more, visit – https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation.

What’s next

To get started, complete our short application form. In this, you’ll fill out:

• Work history
• Qualifications/training
• Key questions like “Why are you a good fit for this role?”

Use the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section to guide your answers.

Important Dates

The closing date for this job is 11.59pm on 1st February 2026 with Interviews provisionally booked for week beginning 23rd February 2026.

Who We Are –

Our Museums service, managed by Glasgow Life on behalf of the community, cares for thousands of years of history. We take care of the city’s museum and library special collections, its archives, and operate award-winning museums, keeping them safe for future generations. We run talks, tours, workshops, and events, so people can explore and enjoy the collections. By connecting people with the city’s stories, our museums continue to enrich the lives of local people and visitors. Read more here – https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

Diversity and Fair Work at Glasgow Life

We’re working to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of Glasgow’s communities — where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to be their full, authentic selves at work.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Learn more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer
We’re also committed to Fair Work First principles, including effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for all our staff. Learn more about our approach to Fair Work First here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/fair-work-first

We’re working hard to address underrepresentation in our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.

Ready to apply?

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To apply for this position please click on: Paper Conservator (Readvertisement) – GLA14625 | Glasgow Life | myjobscotland

We’re excited to hear from you. Let’s shape a great Glasgow life — together.

Closing date is 11.59pm on Sunday 1st February 2026.

Information is available in alternative formats, on request.