Position at Westminster Abbey

Conservation Cleaner
Conservation Department
Westminster Abbey

Part time: 3 days a week.
Salary: c. UKP10,500 plus final salary pension scheme and excellent
benefits.

To begin in April 2006
Previous applicants should not apply
Closing date: 3 April 2006

We are seeking someone with experience and a good understanding of
conservation housekeeping to join a small team in 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
helping to develop the various environmental monitoring schemes.

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, Edward the
        Confessor's 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 demanding
        sensitive handling; the upkeep of this area constitutes the
        main responsibility of the conservation cleaner.

Other duties include:

    *   Carrying out careful dusting/vacuuming in other historic
        areas within the Abbey including the Coronation Chair and
        medieval floor tiles.

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

    *   Monitoring movement in monuments

    *   Environmental monitoring

    *   Basic recording and documentation

    *   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 continue a career in preventive
        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 post offers the chance to not only care for a very
important collection spanning centuries of both art and British
history but to help establish housekeeping guidelines for the future
care of Westminster Abbey.

Please send CV and covering letter to

    Vanessa Simeoni
    Conservation Department
    vanessa.simeoni [at] westminster-abbey__org

Westminster Abbey is an equal opportunities employer.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:46
                 Distributed: Wednesday, March 22, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-19-46-022
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