Position at Westminster Abbey

Conservation Cleaner
Part time: 3 days a week
Conservation Department
Westminster Abbey, London,
To begin in January/February 2006

Salary: UKP10,519 per annum

We are seeking a conservation cleaner with a good understanding of
conservation housekeeping to join the Conservation Department at
Westminster Abbey. National Trust, English Heritage or Historic
Royal Palaces housekeeping training/experience is desirable if you
are not a trained conservator.

The Abbey is a busy working church and the job involves housekeeping
duties in areas containing fragile medieval painted surfaces as well
as other vulnerably positioned historic material.  Other duties
include basic conservation procedure on a variety of materials plus
continuing and building on the recently implemented environmental
monitoring programmes.

You will work directly under the supervision of the head
conservator. You should be fit and in good health and able to work
at heights, alone or in a small team.

Responsibilities:

    *   Housekeeping duties in the Sanctuary, Shrine and Henry V's
        chapel. These areas contain some of the most art
        historically important tombs of the early medieval period
        along with the famous Cosmati pavements, 15th century
        sculpture and a 15th century Italian Altarpiece. The objects
        in this area are made from diverse materials and many are in
        a fragile condition that demand sensitive handling; the
        upkeep of this area (including weekly vacuuming of the
        modern felt carpets) constitutes the main responsibility of
        the conservation cleaner Other duties include:

    *   Dusting the Coronation Chair

    *   Vacuuming medieval floor tiles in side chapels. Again
        sensitivity is required when using equipment in these areas

    *   Carrying out careful dusting/vacuuming in other historic
        areas within the Abbey.

    *   Continuation of the Integrated Pest Management programme, to
        monitor and control infestations in the Abbey and associated
        buildings

    *   Monitoring cracks and warping marble in various Abbey
        monuments

    *   Basic recording and documentation of work

    *   Other minor jobs as they arise, depending on the particular
        skills of the employee

Who would the job suit?

    *   Someone who--either through training or experience--has
        developed an understanding of historic objects and interiors
        and can handle them in an appropriate manner

    *   Someone looking to progress a career in passive conservation
        within historic buildings

    *   Someone looking for a stable job to complement
        self-employment/ freelance work, particularly since there is
        a degree of flexibility about the days worked.

Conservation housekeeping can be routine, but it is always rewarding
and this posts offer the chance to help care for a very important
collection spanning centuries of both art and British history.

Please contact vanessa.simeoni [at] westminster-abbey__org


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:31
                  Distributed: Friday, January 6, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-19-31-014
                                  ***