The National Trust for Scotland offers this exceptional opportunity for an emerging conservation professional to develop their conservation skills, building on the theory and experience of prior formal training.
As the Preventive Conservation Intern you will develop your knowledge, skills and experience of preventive conservation and collections care under the guidance of the Conservator North East across a portfolio of Trust sites in the North East region including castles, houses, mills and birthplace sites. The role combines on the job learning with organised development, learning and networking opportunities.
About the Role
The Bute Preventive Conservation Intern will develop their knowledge, skills and experience under the guidance of the Conservator North East and other Trust staff.
The internship is for a fixed term of 18 months and will follow a work and learning plan mutually agreed between the intern and intern supervisor to include the following opportunities.
- Work closely with the NE Conservator to provide conservation advice, guidance and training to collection care staff to ensure a good level of collection care throughout the region.
- Contribute to all aspects of preventive conservation in an historic house setting, including environmental monitoring and control, condition assessing, integrated pest management, collection management, emergency planning and collection care and cleaning.
- Build on knowledge and skills learnt during formal conservation qualification, expanding real life experience of conservation issues and solutions.
- Experience the process of recognising the need for, and commissioning remedial conservation of collections.
- Attend training and development opportunities internally and externally where offered to develop knowledge, skills and experience in preventive conservation and develop a network of contacts across the sector.
- Contribute to public engagement activities, sharing conservation stories within the Trust and externally to promote both conservation practices and the Bute internship.
- Contribute to regional and national projects including the Fyvie Masterplan Project and the Environmental Monitoring Replacement Project.
- Manage small conservation projects with the support of the Conservator North East to develop project and time management skills.
12 months of the internship will focus on developing skills and experience. The last 6 months of the internship will involve more independent working on agreed projects.
About You
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Qualified in conservation (or equivalent experience)
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Demonstrable interest in preventive conservation and collection care
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Highly motivated, reliable and resourceful individual
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Willing to promote conservation for the benefit of education and public interest
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Strong communication skills, willing to work alongside others, in a team and with external professionals
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Good time management skills, able to prioritise workloads, meet deadlines and organise own learning and work planning
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Comfortable working across multiple sites and travelling regularly
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Full UK driving licence.
How to Apply
Please visit Work with us | National Trust for Scotland for more information and then submit your completed application form or Curriculum Vitae (CV) to: [email protected] before 23:59 Monday 21st September 2026. Interviews expected to be held on Wednesday 30th September 2026 at Crathes Castle.