Senior National Conservator, Training & Development

About the company

What it's like to work here Reporting to the Head of Collections, Access, Conservation & Management, you’ll be part of a collaborative national team focused on building capability across all our collections teams and colleagues at the National Trust.

Your tasks

Summary We’re looking for a Senior National Conservator, Training & Development to join us to provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of collections care and collections management training across the National Trust, alongside oversight of collections salvage and hazards management.

In this role, you’ll ensure colleagues have access to high-quality, coordinated training that supports the care, management and protection of our collections. Leading a specialist team, you’ll build capability across the organisation, developing training frameworks, resources and standards that enable properties to deliver safe, effective and sustainable collections care. You’ll influence practice across more than 300 properties, supporting our commitment to caring for nature, beauty and history.

You’ll work closely with the national collections access, conservation and management team, alongside, regional and property colleagues, operational teams, General Managers, Collections & House Managers, property teams, People Development Specialists and the Learning & Development team.

You’ll work with internal and external partners, including conservation and heritage organisations, research partners and professional networks, to help ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to collections training and development across the organisation.

You’ll provide strategic leadership for integrated collections training programmes, developing frameworks, resources and learning opportunities that support effective collections care and management. With specific responsibility for collections care, salvage and hazards training, you’ll help colleagues access the guidance, tools and training needed to manage risk and care for collections with confidence. You’ll also coordinate communities of practice, evaluate programme effectiveness, manage budgets and resources, and lead a small specialist team, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Requirements

Who we're looking for You’ll bring a broad range of the following knowledge, skills and experience, shaped by different roles, sectors or career paths, and the judgment to apply them effectively at scale;

• Hands-on collections care practice across multiple material types or historic interiors.

• Expert knowledge of preventive conservation, collections care and hazards management best practice and climate resilience.

• Proven experience in training programme management.

• Strategic leadership and programme management capabilities.

• Strong communication and influencing abilities.

• Strong people leader who creates a collaborative, inclusive environment where different perspectives are valued.

What we offer

As this is a national role, there is flexibility on your contractual place of work. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Season ticket loan •EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Free parking at most Trust places Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

Other

This position is part-time, 30 hours a week.

The package The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.