Plowden & Smith are looking to recruit a Conservation Manager to join their conservation team.
About the Role
The Conservation Manager oversees the day to day running of the conservation team and reports to Head of Operations and the Managing Director. To be hands on and discuss complex and in-depth treatment proposals with lead handlers and conservators. To ensure that treatments are ethical and effective. To work with the Head of Operations to ensure that studios are running in a clean, compliant, and efficient way. Providing support to on-site jobs and equipping conservators with the tools and guidance they need.
Key Responsibilities
Conservator HR and Management
- Line manager for on-site conservators and freelancers, to include managing timesheets, hours of work, expenses, holiday requests and leave, new starter inductions, performance management and developing engagement through CPD (Continuing Professional Development). The Head of Operations will support these elements.
- Supporting subcontractors.
Conservation Operations Management
- Review conservator estimates for complex and involved treatments and offer guidance.
- Manage quality control for completed treatments.
- Review conservator reports (mainly via Articheck) to ensure clarity, appropriate content, and objectivity.
- Oversee large collection conservation often across multi-disciplines by creating a job specific operating procedure, briefing conservators, and communicating clearly with the client services/project handler.
- With Head of Operations manage any hazardous materials conservation.
- Manage with support of Head of Operations handling and storage of any fragile, condition specific or at-risk objects and ensure best practice.
- Contribute to the weekly Operations meetings to ensure treatments and projects are on track.
- Carryout weekly walk arounds to check in with all conservators.
- Be in charge of conservation consultancy and advice, relating to environmental conditions, pest management, limitations of materials and treatments.
- Planning and coordination for site work or specific projects.
- Offer ethical guidance to ensure all work conducted maintains adherence with the Icon UK's professional conservation standards and ethical practice.
- Chair a quarterly conservator meeting for all company staff.
Conservation Health and Safety
- Ensure all conservators have essential health & safety equipment to carryout treatments safely.
- Keep records and ensure that conservators are trained and qualified to use specialist equipment and are confident in working in specialised conditions.
- Provide RAMS packs for site-based work.
- Ensure each studio is COSHH compliant and prepare for Health & Safety audits.
- Attend health & safety meetings with the Office Manager, Studio Manager and Head of Operations.
- Ensure hazardous waste from conservation activity is handled and dealt with appropriately.
About you:
- To have experience of managing at least five people.
- To approach tasks in a calm, careful, methodical, detail-conscious way.
- To enjoy and be comfortable with problem-solving.
- To be positive in choice making.
- To be able to multitask and pay attention to detail.
- To act with discretion and professionalism.
- To have experience in managing COSHH, RAMS packs and general health & safety knowledge (training will be provided).
Essential:
- To have a conservation degree.
- To have 8 to 10 years’ experience in conservation at a senior level and knowledge of conservation on a wide variety of materials.
How to Apply
To find out more and apply to this role, please visit the Plowden & Smith Careers Page before the role deadline on Friday 6 February 2026 23:59.