Conservator

Conservators ensure the physical material of the ships and objects in the collection can be protected from degradation.

This includes preventive conservation techniques, such as monitoring environmental conditions, insect activity and general wear and tear. This is a constant challenge because HMS Victory and the other ships in NMRN’s care are constantly exposed to the elements and are busy visitor attractions.

Conservators also carry out interventive treatments to deter biological, chemical and physical breakdown, for example from dirt, corrosion, pests and losses. For smaller objects, this can be performed in a lab-based setting, however aboard the ships, treatments have to be applied on an industrial scale.

For more information, visit:

National Careers Service: Conservator – Conservator | Explore careers | National Careers Service

Prospects: Conservator job profile | Prospects.ac.uk

Possible pathways to this job

ICON, the Institute of Conservation, leads all the conservation disciplines in the UK.  All internships and job opportunities in all fields of conservation are advertised on the ICON website.  Training (icon.org.uk)

You would need a degree in Conservation or a first degree in a related field and then a post-graduate degree in Conservation.

Information about the employer

National Museum of the Royal Navy 

On 28th June 1911, The Dockyard Museum opened in Portsmouth, growing and evolving into the Royal Naval Museum, which then became a part of the newly formed National Museum of the Royal Navy in September 2009. The Museum changed its name to The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, as the overall organisation grew to also encompass The Royal Marines Museum, The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower. In 2015, we opened First World War Monitor HMS M.33 to the public, and in 2016 we added HMS Caroline in Belfast, and the Hartlepool Maritime Experience and HMS Trincomalee to the National Museum of the Royal Navy family.

The NMRN has a simple Vision, ‘to be the world’s most inspiring Naval Museum, underpinned by a spirit of enterprise and adventure”, and our goal is to promote the traditions and public understanding of the Royal Navy and its constituent branches, past, present and future’.

Homepage (historicdockyard.co.uk)