Location: Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG
The Conservation and Heritage Science Department at the Bodleian Libraries is pleased to offer a nine-month, post-graduate fellowship in conservation, which aims to help the development of professional skills of emerging conservators.
About the role
This will be the fourth of a series of five fellowships, which are generously funded by American writer of fantasy literature and philanthropist T. A. Barron. The fellowship will focus on the treatment of the collection, preventive conservation, and a research project that will lead to a publishable paper. This year’s fellowship will have a focus on the preservation of the Bodleian’s collection of early photography. The successful candidate will be based at our conservation workshops at the Weston Library.
You will plan and carry out conservation treatments, condition assessments and preventive conservation activities as agreed with the relevant curator and conservation manager. You will produce documentation and reports, and record your work on the department’s collection management database (Adlib).
This is a full-time, fixed-term contract, working 36.5 hours per week for 9 months. You will work onsite at the Weston Library from Monday to Friday, 7.5 hours per day. You will have the same holiday entitlement as new staff members.
This role requires lifting and carrying boxes of library materials, pushing trolleys, climbing ladders and kick-stools in order to access some of the library’s bookshelves and to re-shelve materials.
About you
You should be a graduate of a recognised book and/or paper conservation training programme and should have no more than two years of work experience after graduation. You will have a detailed knowledge and some experience of conservation treatments of books, paper and related materials, and the materials and techniques used in their production.
We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Alex Walker, Preventative Conservator, who can be contacted with inquiries relating to the role (alexandra.walker@bodleian.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).
Only applications received online by 12.00 midday on Monday 14th July 2025 can be considered. You will be required to upload a CV and a supporting statement (or a supporting evidence form using the template provided) as part of your online application. Your supporting statement/evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.
Interviews are expected to take place on 23rd and 24th July 2025.
£31,459 to £36,616 per annum. Grade 5
