Thank you for your interest in the post of
Apprentice Stonemason with Historic
Environment Scotland that will be based at
Dumfries Monument Conservation Unit depot.
This is a 4 year fixed term appointment. While
open to all applicants, we would welcome
applications from school leavers and young
persons.
We will be holding an Open Day at
MacLellan’s Castle on Tuesday 31st March
where some of our stonemasons will be
giving demonstrations and talking about their
roles. Come along to learn more about being
an apprentice stonemason at Historic
Environment Scotland. For more information
contact southrecruitment@HES.scot or call
01315567472.
Operations
Full-time and Fixed Term to 31 March 2030
Salary £37,614 – £41,138 per annum
Plus generous benefits package
On site with flexible working
About the role
We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for an experienced Paintings Conservator to join our Conservation Department at the National Galleries of Scotland.
We are seeking a skilled and collaborative Conservator to help us share our collection with audiences around the world. To succeed in this post, you’ll bring resourcefulness, enthusiasm, and excellent interpersonal skills along with a strong professional network. You will have evidence-based skills as Painting Conservator, and you will be confident in assessing and treating a wide range of materials and formats.
Our extensive painting collection is often on the move. You’ll be at the heart sharing this collection with the widest possible audience ensuring that works from our rich and varied painting collection travel safely, sustainably and look their very best when on display. Your work will play a vital role in delivering our wider strategy, supporting our Public Offer, equalities, and environmental priorities.
You’ll help preserve the collection while enabling us to deliver a generous lending programme from our diverse collections, also an ambitious number of exhibitions across our galleries. Through research and outreach, you will deepen knowledge of the collection and help attract new audiences to engage with it.
This is more than just a conservation role. It is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the way we care for, understand and share our collection.
About the Touring Programme
National Galleries of Scotland is launching an ambitious international touring programme contributing to our aim to make art work for everyone. This new initiative builds on past touring success and increases opportunities for the collection to be shared with audiences across the world. The touring programme is also part of our strategy to grow our income to ensure our future financial sustainability.
Work has already begun and we are now recruiting a number of posts from May 2026 to support taking the touring programme forward. The programme will run initially to 31 March 2030. The success of the initiative will determine next steps for both the programme and the team supporting it.
You will help to deliver this ambitious new initiative. This is an excellent opportunity for a results-driven individual to demonstrate their impact and contribute to shaping the success of the programme.
The difference you’ll make
The role sits within our Painting Conservation section within the Conservation Department. You will also work closely with colleagues specialising in frames, preventive conservation, paper, sculpture, and time-based media. Together, we are a collaborative department where everyone strives to keep abreast of recent developments within the wider profession. Knowledge-sharing, research, and innovation are encouraged and celebrated. You will have the chance to develop and embed professional approaches to painting conservation across the collections.
Reporting to a Senior Paintings Conservator your core activities will include:
-Assessing the condition of paintings for our busy touring exhibition and short-term loan programme.
-Preparing works for travel with a focus on preventive conservation measures and rigorous documentation.
-Delivering a variety of interventive painting conservation projects with sensitivity, skill and imagination while undertaking research and exploring new ways of working, where appropriate.
-Developing appropriate methodologies for documenting paintings including entering information into our collections management database.
-Supporting the other painting conservators with exhibition preparation and delivery
-Communicating and collaborating frequently with colleagues from across the organisation, for example, other conservators, conservation and art handling technicians, members of collection management and curators.
-Delivering a variety of interventive painting conservation projects with sensitivity, skill and imagination while undertaking research and exploring new ways of working, where appropriate.
-Keeping abreast of developments in the paintings conservation sector and undertaking appropriate art historical and heritage science research to enhance our knowledge of the collection and inform working practices.
-Delivering activities to widen our audiences and encourage engagement with conservation.
-Working with and supervising volunteers, placement students, and external conservation specialists.
Who we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:
-A recognised qualification in paintings conservation with at least two years’ experience post- graduation, ideally within the museums sector.
-Experience of assessing and preparing works for loan and implementing solutions for safe transport and public access.
-A track record of delivering a range of painting conservation projects with the ability to carry out research and devise innovative solutions to new challenges.
-Excellent time-management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure.
-Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate and well-structured documentation.
-The ability to work effectively as part of a team, and the confidence to take on a leading role when required.
-Strong connections within the painting conservation sector, and commitment to continuous professional development.
-Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations.
-Excellent IT skills, including MS Office and image processing software.
-Experience of using a collections management database.
-Professional accreditation through the Institute of Conservation (ICON) PACR scheme, or a clear commitment to work towards this.
It would also be great if you have experience of:
-Factoring equalities and environmental sustainability into your work.
-Writing for publications and social media.
-Supervising placement students and volunteers.
Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 06 April 2026.
Full Time and Fixed Term to 31 March 2030
Salary £30,900 – £32,250 per annum
Plus generous benefits package
On site with flexible working
About the role
We are excited to have a new opportunity for a Conservation Technician to join our Conservation team. You may already be working as a Conservation Technician looking for a new opportunity or have relevant experience handling artworks and fitting works into frames. If so, we’d love to hear from you.
In this specialist role you will work closely with Conservators and Senior Conservation Technicians to deliver high-quality technical solutions. You will provide bespoke framing and glass cutting, mounting, packing and transit solutions for a wide variety of objects. You’ll work with both paintings and works on paper, in line with recognised industry standards.
Your main focus will be ensuring that objects from our collection are displayed, stored, and transported safely and appropriately, particularly those travelling as part of our touring exhibitions. You will also contribute to the ongoing care and maintenance of collections on display and in storage.
We are looking for someone with woodworking / machine shop skills, ideally gained in a museum, gallery or with clearly transferrable experience from a commercial setting. This is a practical, hands-on role, requiring confidence in working with tools and machinery, excellent manual dexterity, and a careful, methodical approach.
Initially, the role will focus primarily on paintings, with some time spent supporting paper-based projects. With training and support, your responsibilities will develop to include a broader involvement in both paintings and paper conservation preparation and mounting. While training will be provided, some prior experience of working with either paintings or paper is preferred. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a skilled technician who enjoys problem-solving, working with their hands, and contributing directly to the care, movement and sharing of nationally important collections.
About the Touring Programme
National Galleries of Scotland is launching an ambitious international touring programme contributing to our aim to make art work for everyone. This new initiative builds on past touring success and increases opportunities for the collection to be shared with audiences across the world. The touring programme is also part of our strategy to grow our income to ensure our future financial sustainability.
Work has already begun and we are now recruiting a number of posts from May 2026 to support taking the touring programme forward. The programme will run initially to 31 March 2030. The success of the initiative will determine next steps for both the programme and the team supporting it.
You will help to deliver this ambitious new initiative. This is an excellent opportunity for a results-driven individual to demonstrate their impact and contribute to shaping the success of the programme.
Who we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:
-Proven hands-on experience in woodworking / machine shop, operating and maintaining fixed and hand-held wood working equipment ideally gained in a museum, gallery, or commercial setting.
-Confident use of tools and machinery, with excellent manual dexterity.
-Some experience handling artworks and fitting paintings and works on paper into frames preferably using historic or artists’ own frames.
-Ideally with experience of constructing museum standard frames and designing and making mounts for works on paper.
-Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and accurate documentation.
-Time-management and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
-Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
-Experience of following health and safety practices in the workplace ideally gained in a workshop or studio environment.
-Willingness to continually develop technical skills with regards to new methods and techniques, actively engaging in professional development.
-Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
It would also be great if you have:
-Some experience of working in a museum or gallery in a technical role.
-Some experience or qualification in wood working (e.g. City and Guilds).
-Awareness of conservation issues and environmental risks.
-Experience of cleaning objects on display.
Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 06 April 2026.
Museum Install Technician, Paisley, Full Time 37 hours, Temporary up to 9 months, Grade 4 £30,212.58 – £31,813.89 p.a.
We’re seeking a Museum Install Technician to join our museum team at an exciting time as we prepare to reopen Paisley Museum. You’ll work with colleagues at Paisley Museum and our collections store, The Secret Collection, providing specialist technical support in the handling and installation of the museum collection cared for by the Trust.
This is hands-on, skilled work that directly supports how visitors experience our stories, exhibitions, and the world-class setting created through the Paisley Museum
Re-imagined project. You’ll be part of an expert team responsible for the secure movement, packing, and environmental care of the collection, often working with specialist equipment and contracted partners.
This post is supported with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Closing date: 12 April 2026
Interview date: 23 or 24 April 2026
The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic Disclosure Scotland check.
If you would like further information in relation to the Disclosure Scotland checks, please visit their website.
Applications are welcome from candidates from all backgrounds including those with disabilities and candidates who have ‘care experience’.