Prize Papers Project Conservator

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We're an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it's where we go next that makes things really interesting.

In our strategic vision:
Archives for Everyone,
we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won't become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.

That's where you come in. Because we can't do this without you.

Job Overview
Salary: £33,784 per annum

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 27/03/2026

Band: E / Higher Executive Officer

Closing date: Sunday 18th January 2026 at midnight

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Collection Care Department at the National Archives in Kew and to lead on one of the most vast and unique troves of documents and artifacts that track the daily lives of people around the globe in the time of the European colonial expansion and resistance.

The Prize Papers Project Conservator will work exclusively on this externally funded Digitisation project and will be responsible for the preservation of this physical collection through interventive and preventive means. The aim of this role is to prepare this collection for imaging while also maximising access to these archival records to enhance the experience of our users. This will be achieved through a combination of project planning, day to day conservation bench work and isolated research practitioner led treatment projects. This role will take the lead as required and work together with colleagues across the organisation as well as external visitors and stakeholders to enable the success of this project.

You will have an extensive knowledge of paper conservation practice, with a specialism in assessing and preparing records for Digitisation, bringing excellent project management skills as well as an informed approach to the delivery of conservation treatments in line with current conservation standards for the Digitisation of archival documents.

This post will sit within the Conservation for Imaging team and you will take an active role in the on-going development of the team within The Collection Care Department by actively engaging in data collecting of all conservation treatments for the Digitisation process, knowledge sharing, teaching and mentoring others, planning and organising whilst actively promoting the work of the department across The National Archives and to a wider professional community.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Application Process

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site in Kew week commencing 2nd February 2026. Candidates invited to interview will be required to prepare a 10 minute presentation.
• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.

Selection for interview will be based on the 'essential' requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

Sponsorship
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Job Description
Role and Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the Prize Papers project as set out in the departmental annual business plan, being responsible for the development, planning and delivery of this project to agreed targets and professional standards
• Contribute to on-going Collection Care/ Commercial Delivery programs, including support for public services and internal projects at The National Archives
• Independently solve complex problems regarding the care of the collection, applying a high degree of expertise, judgment, innovation and adaptability and, where applicable, negotiate the resulting decisions with peers and customers within and beyond The National Archives
• Proactively collect, interpret and report the facts and evidence to support decision-making and to assess impact, for example, through collection surveys, condition assessment and technical examination
• Supervision of external contractors to deliver this research led Digitisation agenda. You will ensure that high standards of document handling and sensitivity to the original material are maintained, both in terms of physical handling and the equipment and methods used.
• Work together with colleagues within The National Archives, building and maintaining relationships to encourage best preservation practice at all levels across the organisation
• Assess and manage risks to The National Archives' collections in accordance with the profession's code of ethics
• Contribute significantly to the overall improvement of knowledge and skills within the department by developing and implementing new thinking and approaches to caring for archival collections
• Keep abreast of conservation trends to inform projects and treatments, taking a proactive part in personal and professional development
• Supervise and support new staff, student placements and volunteers and formally manage staff, if required
• Provide professional advice and guidance on the care and conservation of archival collections
• Proactively contribute to Collection Care's Public and Academic Engagement agenda

Working Conditions

• Conservation Studio
• Display Screen Equipment user
• Moving items up to 10kg in weight
• May encounter distressing material

Person Specification

Essential

• A graduate from a recognised conservation or heritage science programme or appropriate work experience with a high standard of conservation knowledge, skill and practice beyond initial training with a demonstrable expertise in the conservation of paper and archive materials
• Extensive knowledge of current conservation practice and ethical standards and the ability to develop creative and innovative approaches to the care and conservation of large archival collections
• Demonstrable skills in solving complex problems and making decisions with a high degree of professional judgement
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively to deliver outcomes to an agreed standard and timetable
• Demonstrable ability to work on own initiative, with strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise own workload while under pressure in order to meet strict deadlines and targets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills; the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within the organisation and with a wide range of external customers
• Proficiency with IT systems including MS office products and collections management systems

Desirable

• PACR (Professional Accreditation of Conservators - Restorers) accredited membership of Icon or a willingness to pursue such accreditation
• Excellent IT and numeracy skills, and experience of working with large data sets
• Excellent presentation skills
• Published professional papers

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is

found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service

D&I Strategy.

Benefits
Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at  (opens in new window)

Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the 'Reasonable Adjustments' section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)

Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code  (opens in new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. (opens in new window)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window)

Contact Point For Applicants

• Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
• Email:

Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at (opens in new window)