Conservation Assistant

Waddesdon Manor is a historic house open to the public. Created by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild from 1874, it is home to the Rothschild Collection and was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1957. Today is managed by a Rothschild charitable trust, The Rothschild Foundation. It currently welcomes over 350,000 visitors a year to the property, just over a third of whom visit the house.

The Collection is rich in fine and decorative arts of the 18th century, including English 18thcentury portraits, French 18th-century furniture and porcelain, drawings and works on paper, textiles, 16th and 17th-century objets d’art, Dutch Golden Age painting, sculpture (including a small contemporary collection), books and bindings, manuscripts and metalwork. The collection is displayed within original 19th-century interiors, many incorporating 18th-century French panelling. The Department is responsible for the care and access, research and interpretation of the contents of the House, the sculpture in the Gardens and the historic paper and photographic archive. This includes the annual exhibition programme and the management of an exhibition space at the Stables. It also includes the management of the collections at the Windmill Hill Archive. Sections within the department include the Stewards, Curatorial, Archive and Records and the Education and Learning Team.

Responsibilities:

Collection conservation cleaning, care and maintenance is carried out by the Stewards. As a member of this conservation cleaning team, the Conservation Assistant is responsible for the routine housekeeping care, cleaning and conservation of the Collection and its contents to National Trust principles. This primarily involves the cleaning and care of historic show rooms with a focus on the presentation of the Collection and also to assist with domestic cleaning of staff tea rooms and lavatories within the Collection. From time to time the post holder will be asked to perform other duties or tasks as may be reasonably requested.

Specific Duties Include:

Cleaning and Presentation

As part of the conservation cleaning team be responsible for the care and presentation of the Collection:

• Routine day to day cleaning of the Collection and its contents
• Make sure the Collection is presented to its optimum for daily opening to the visitor, including bulb changes, blind adjustments & rope barrier maintenance
• Work in accordance with the methods laid down in the Manual of Housekeeping
• Bring to the attention of the Stewarding team any signs of wear, damage or deterioration in the fabric or contents of the Collection
• Participate in the deep cleaning programme during the summer and particularly during the winter. This will include cleaning high level areas off ladders and scaffold and include outdoor sculpture and other installations.
• Work in an environmentally friendly manner
• Participate in practical conservation housekeeping training and ensure knowledge is always current with National Trust practice

Conservation and Protection of Contents

Responsible for helping with the long-term care of the items on display and in store: 

• Work with an awareness of the importance of environmental control (e.g. humidity) and the damaging effect of light on contents
• To occasionally assist specialist conservation staff as directed when they are working in the Collection
• Help in the packing/unpacking of contents prior to/after conservation or building works
• Help as necessary with the preparation of the Collection for functions, events, photography and filming, and in the clearing up afterwards.
• Support the installation of displays and exhibitions as required, and work with the Curators as needed.

Safety and Security 

Ensure that Health and Safety procedures are followed when working.

Observe all security practices:

• Follow procedures for lifting and moving objects, working at height and working in dusty environments
• Report all accidents as required by the Health and Safety policy
• Be aware of the risk of theft and the security measures put in place to prevent it – work around these carefully and report any suspected changes to the Stewarding team

Other Duties:

• Attend relevant training courses and meetings as required
• To assist the Stewarding team in running conservation themed demonstrations and events for the public.
• Assist in maintaining conservation records as required to ensure up to date and accurate records of condition, and participate in other documentation as required such as inventory projects and using the Collections Management database.
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be requested of the Conservation Assistant by the Stewarding team including covering for sickness and holidays where needed.
• Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.