Description Starting salary: £52,150 Contract type: Permanent Grade: 5 Location: South Gyle Conservation Centre, Edinburgh/Regular site work across HES Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week Interviews: To be held in person at Longmore House, Edinburgh on 1, 8 and 9 April 2026 The National Applied Conservation Manager provides leadership and direction for a team of specialist conservators and the resources that support their work. The role offers both strategic and operational oversight of applied conservation activity across the Historic Environment Scotland estate and its associated Collections, ensuring that all conservation work is effectively planned, prioritised and delivered to appropriate professional standards. The role also provides oversight of the conservation facility to ensure health and safety requirements, statutory compliance and operational standards are met, maintaining a safe and fit-for-purpose workspace that supports specialist conservation activity. For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser. Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) 11.5 public holidays Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions Support for further education and personal development Study leave for work related courses Flexible working hours (where appropriate) Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests) Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties Key Responsibilities of this role Line Management You will manage a team of nine specialist staff, with six Senior Conservators as your direct reports. You will provide leadership and management support, including conducting performance reviews, maintaining consistent standards of practice, and ensuring a cohesive approach to service delivery across the team. You will take a lead role in the recruitment of team members when required. You will hold overall responsibility for the delivery of all specialist conservation services provided by the Applied Conservation team, including planning, programming and reprioritising workloads in line with project approvals and organisational needs. You will ensure that staff have the skills, training and professional support necessary to deliver high-quality conservation services efficiently and to the required standards. Facilities Management and Health & Safety You will work closely with two administrative support staff who assist with the maintenance and day-to-day operation of the South Gyle Conservation Centre and its specialist facilities and equipment. You will provide oversight of facilities management activities, including inspection and maintenance of specialist equipment to ensure safe and effective operation. You will contribute to the upkeep of the South Gyle Conservation Centre, including planning and supporting housekeeping, space organisation and audit processes. You will ensure that statutory health and safety requirements are adhered to and that all conservation work is carried out in line with professional ethical standards. You will ensure your own statutory compliance training remains up to date and will work with your Line Manager to schedule and complete required training when needed. Project Planning & Strategy As part of the Collections & Applied Conservation management team, you will contribute to and coordinate your team’s delivery against the 5-year departmental strategy and associated delivery plans. You will manage and regularly update planning and management trackers to ensure they accurately reflect progress and support effective programme coordination. You will delegate and oversee enquiries as required to ensure timely and appropriate responses. Financial Management You will manage and monitor all budgets within your remit, tracking expenditure and providing regular updates to support informed decision-making. You will lead your team through the annual budget-bidding process, working with the Head of Collections & Applied Conservation to agree priority projects and planned deliverables. You will identify budgetary and resource needs for the Applied Conservation team and ensure that all expenditure is managed in accordance with HES financial procedures. You will support sustainable procurement by identifying environmentally responsible purchasing options where appropriate, helping to embed good sustainable practice in line with HES’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Conservation You will be actively involved in key conservation projects, taking the lead where appropriate and providing senior technical input to ensure high standards of practice. You may be required to work at any of our sites across Scotland to support conservation activity, including occasional overnight stays in rural or remote locations. Key Relationships and Customers You will provide specialist conservation advice to internal colleagues and external partners, supporting decision-making and promoting best practice across HES and the wider heritage sector. You will foster and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders, including national institutions and relevant professional bodies. You will represent the Applied Conservation team and act as an ambassador for HES at internal and external meetings, events and sector forums. You will support advocacy and public engagement by contributing to digital content, delivering site tours, and presenting at seminars and conferences. You will participate in relevant professional networks to stay informed of current best practice. Improvement of Quality Processes & Experiences within the Organisation You will work with colleagues and stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement in conservation-related processes and play an active role in delivering agreed conservation priorities. You will participate in cross-organisational working groups as required to support departmental commitments and improve organisational practice. You will lead on, and contribute to, the development of policies, procedures and technical guidance within your conservation discipline. You will apply strong problem-solving skills to address challenges, implementing positive changes to team workflows, procedures and approaches. Team Orientation You will work closely with colleagues across the Collections & Applied Conservation Department and the wider organisation to support the delivery of a wide range of conservation projects and programmes. You will contribute to, or lead, cross-organisational projects involving staff at different levels, ranging from routine operational work to high-profile projects of national or international significance. You will attend project meetings, regional meetings and other group discussions as required to support coordinated planning and delivery. You will work in an environment where teams may have competing priorities, requiring you to negotiate, influence and collaborate effectively to ensure successful project outcomes. You will support the hosting of interns, trainees and other placements, overseeing the delivery of planned training and development opportunities within the team. Work Environment You will work both independently and as part of the team across a variety of environments, including home working, the South Gyle Conservation Centre and regular site work across the HES estate. You will be required to balance and deliver multiple projects concurrently while responding to team and organisational priorities. This will involve making clear, timely decisions, working effectively under pressure and meeting strict deadlines. You will manage a team operating across a diverse estate, requiring confidence in handling difficult conversations and a strong focus on constructive, solutions-based leadership. The role involves a range of physical activities, including manual handling, which may be physically demanding and requires a good level of fitness. You will work with chemicals and materials associated with conservation treatments and must be aware of relevant COSHH requirements. You may occasionally use specialist equipment or machinery (e.g., forklift, overhead cranes, abrasive wheels), with full training provided as needed. You may be required to work at height, on scaffolded structures, and in remote or exposed locations and in varying weather conditions. You will transport tools, materials and equipment to sites as part of conservation project delivery, which may require driving HES cars or vans and occasional long-distance travel. Key requirements of the role: In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met these criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Essential: You will have extensive demonstrable experience within a conservation discipline, underpinned by a strong professional ethic and a thorough understanding of current conservation principles, standards and best practice. Demonstrable project management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver multiple concurrent projects while balancing business‑as‑usual activity with high‑profile projects. Budget and resource management experience, including procurement in line with organisational procedures. People management experience, including leading teams, performance management and supporting professional development. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear specialist advice and to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Strong collaborative skills and the ability to negotiate and influence in environments with competing priorities. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and confident handling reports, trackers and management information. Proven problem-solving ability with a constructive, solutions-focused approach. Physically able to carry out aspects of the role, including manual handling and working at height (reasonable adjustments considered). Good understanding of Health & Safety requirements with evidence of relevant training. Full driving licence to support travel across the estate, including to remote sites where equipment transport is required. Degree in a conservation-related discipline (or equivalent experience demonstrating the above capabilities). Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description. We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers. We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at recruit@hes.scot or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team. Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post. To submit your application online, please read our ‘How to Apply’ followed by ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.