Vacancy -- Conservation and Collections Adviser

The purpose of the post is to act as a specialist adviser on collections and conservation issues to local museums, archive services and libraries, many of which do not have access to specialist conservation expertise, and to support and enable them to achieve professional standards. The post holder will also provide expert advice to colleagues within Welsh Government, and contribute to the development of policy and strategy in relation to collections.

• To provide sector support in relation to conservation and collections management to museums, archives and libraries across Wales
• To provide museums and archive services with bespoke advice in relation to applications for Museum and Archive Service Accreditation; and to work with colleagues to review and assess applications for Museum and Archive Service Accreditation
• To work closely with the Workforce and Skills Development Officer to deliver and/or commission specialist training events and activities related to collections care and management for staff and volunteers
• To contribute to the development of future policy and strategy on collections care and management, including commissioning research and evaluation projects and storage solutions
• To manage and administer the Welsh Government and the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust partnership, and advise on other funding issues as required
• To foster and maintain a network of contacts in Wales and beyond and to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing in relation to collections care and management, acting as first point of contact for collections issues within the Welsh Government, and represent Welsh Government on sector bodies and professional working groups
• To support the administration of Government cultural property schemes in Wales e.g. the Government Indemnity Scheme, the Acceptance in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and Cultural Gifts schemes, and Conditional Exemption (training will be provided)
• To prepare ministerial advice, corporate returns, and responses to Ministerial and other correspondence which relate to collections issues, and to attend Ministerial visits
• To undertake appropriate professional development activities  to maintain the status of an  accredited conservator
• To act as a line manager if required and to contribute to team management
• Other duties, as agreed, as required appropriate to this post and grade

This is an interesting, demanding, exciting and rewarding role for a qualified conservator.  It provides the opportunity to work with local libraries, museums and archives services across Wales, many of which do not have access to in-house conservation services, and to support them to achieve high standards of collections care and management, and meet the requirements of professional standards including Museum and Archive Service Accreditation.  The post offers the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of local services each of which hold unique and varied collections, and to gain broad experience of the challenges faced by these organisations in caring for their collections. 

The role also provides the opportunity to contribute to the development of Welsh Government policy in relation to collections for the museums, archives and libraries sector, and to gain experience in managing UK-wide cultural property schemes.

20/01/2020, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.