Conservation Researcher

---

Job description

Conservation Researcher

Location: May be office based in Maidenhead or can adopt a flexible hybrid option of part home/part office working

Contract Type: Fixed Term - up to 12 months

Salary: From £21,499 per annum, depending upon experience

Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week

About the CWGC

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours and cares for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.

Today, over a century after we first began, our work continues through our staff, supporters and volunteers who preserve our unique cultural, horticultural, and architectural heritage and ensure that the stories of those who died are told.

About this Role and You

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Conservation Researcher to join our Estates Department, the central team for providing operational and technical guidance to all Areas in the management of our Historic Estate. The production of Conservation Statements will ensure we take a long-term, holistic, approach to how we preserve or enhance our cemeteries and memorials.

You will be responsible for conducting thorough archival research in our Maidenhead office, creating clear notes on the full history of our cemeteries and memorials. Collating information, along with images and drawings, to produce a Conservation Statement. Although most of this work is done independently you will collaborate with our Operational Staff in Areas to finalise these vital documents.

To be successful within this position you will have demonstratable experience of archival research and familiarity with online sources. Using excellent communication skills, you will be able to distil complex information in a clear and accurate manner.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for researching and producing Conservation Statements, utilising our own Archives and image library, whilst cross-referring other external sources. Accurate records must be kept tracking the progress of these vital documents, along with any Form B submissions that we receive from Area when they plan to make changes to our cemeteries and memorials.

Key Contacts

To successfully fulfil the responsibilities of this role you will need to liaise with our Archive team, your colleagues in the Estates Department (Works, Horticulture, Agency and Drawing Office) and our operational staff in Areas.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• An undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Conservation, Heritage, History, or a similar relevant subject area
• High computer literacy including use of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Extensive experience of undertaking archival research
• Experience of using research sources and inter-departmental collaboration to write case studies and/or reports for operational use

In addition, we are looking for applicants who share our Values of Respect, Excellence, Teamwork, Communication, Professionalism and Commitment.

What We Offer:

• A generous holiday allocation, with 25 days annual leave, rising by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30
• Paid public holidays
• Paid office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous Pension Scheme, with CWGC contributing up to 15%
• Up to six times salary Life Assurance cover
• Employee Assistance Programme
• We offer piece of mind for our employees travelling on business via International SOS

How to Apply

Please visit our careers web page at Careers | CWGC for further details about the role and how to apply.

We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings and are committed to creating a respectful work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and where any unlawful and/or unfair discrimination is eliminated. We will not unlawfully discriminate directly or indirectly in recruitment or employment on grounds of sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, age, sexual orientation or marital status, religion or belief.