Senior Conservator (Textiles)

Maternity cover, up to 12 months starting from 4th January 2027
The V&A is recruiting for a Senior Conservator (Textiles) to join the Textile Conservation team on a fixed term contract.

The Senior Conservator needs to have an excellent practical knowledge of textiles and related materials, their structure and degradation processes and a broad repertoire of relevant conservation techniques. The successful applicant will undertake all aspects of practical preventive and interventive conservation on textiles from the Museum's collections, including assessment and technical examination, and advise on the best handling, storage, and safe display of textile objects. You will evaluate conservation problems, develop solutions and produce practical work and documentation to high standards. Good experience in forward planning, prioritising, and delivering to deadlines will be necessary for this role. A sound knowledge of scientific analysis and techniques to allow technical examination of objects with the aim of contributing to an understanding of their history and technique is also required.

The successful applicant will support the delivery of the museum's Public Programme, strategic objectives, and the Conservation and Care of Collections workplan. The work will be varied with opportunities to work on a range of different object types and to develop your conservation and project management skills.

Our mission is to be recognised as the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, and to enrich people's lives by promoting research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world to the widest possible audience. We strive to make the V&A matter to more people and in that context we work to the following six strategic objectives:

• To create a world class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections.

• Focus and deepen the relevance of our collections to the UK creative and knowledge economy.

• Expand the V&A's international reach, reputation and impact.

• To operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency.

• Showcase the best of digital design and deliver an outstanding digital experience.

• Diversify and increase private and commercial funding sources.