Senior Heritage Scientist - Research Infrastructure and Access

Job summary

The National Archives’ Collection Care Department is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Heritage Scientist to play a central role in advancing our research capacity and enhancing access to heritage science facilities for the study of the UK’s written heritage. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and growing heritage science programme within one of the world’s most significant archival institutions.

Written heritage collections span over a millennium and encompass an extraordinary variety of materials, including paper, parchment, photographs, prints, wax seals, films and documents executed in a wide range of historical and modern media. As Senior Heritage Scientist, you will apply advanced analytical, imaging and research skills to deepen our understanding of these materials and support their long term preservation.

Working closely with the Head of Heritage Science and Conservation Research, you will help expand our external partnerships, develop collaborative research initiatives on various collections across the UK, and strengthen The National Archives’ role as an international centre of excellence for heritage science. You will lead and support research projects from conception through delivery, working with colleagues across Collection Care and the wider organisation, as well as national and international partners.

You will take an active role in enhancing our scientific infrastructure, ensuring the effective use of analytical instrumentation within the laboratory, and building research capacity through mentoring and supporting others. You will communicate your findings to diverse audiences, from internal teams to the international professional community, through publications, presentations, workshops and sector engagement.

We are looking for a scientist with strong analytical expertise, excellent problem solving abilities and a passion for the care of written heritage. You will bring substantial experience with non-destructive analytical methods, research design and delivery, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Your creativity, technical insight and commitment to innovation will directly support the preservation of our nation’s documentary heritage for generations to come.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

This role is based mostly onsite with some scope for remote working.

Job description

Full job description attached (see below).

Person specification

Application Process:

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site in Kew week commencing 9th March 2026. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Essential:

• A post-graduate degree from a recognised science, or heritage science programme or appropriate work experience with a high standard of conservation knowledge, skill and practice beyond initial training with a demonstrable expertise in scientific research
• Extensive knowledge of current conservation practice and ethical standards and the ability to develop creative and innovative approaches to heritage science
• Demonstrable skills in solving complex problems, delivering high level academic research projects, and making decisions with a high degree of professional judgement
• Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively and be able to deliver outcomes to an agreed standard and timetable
• Demonstrable ability to work on own initiative, with strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise own workload
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral and a track record of peer reviewed publications
• Very strong analytical skills, particularly with micro- and non-destructive analytical methods such as XRF (point and imaging), FTIR, Raman, multi and hyperspectral imaging, FORS and microfadometry as well as data manipulation and interpretation
• Ability to mentor and manage others

Desirable:

• Experience with funded research network projects, either as participant, research fellow, or lead

Sponsorship:

We may be able to offer sponsorship for this role. Please contact us with any questions at careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,524, The National Archives contributes £12,608 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk;

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : The Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
• Telephone : 02039855979

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

nationalarchives.gov.uk

Attachments

Senior Heritage Scientist - Research Infrastructure and Access Job Description Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)