T.A. Barron Fellow in Conservation

About the role

The Conservation and Heritage Science Department at the Bodleian Libraries is pleased to offer a 14-month post-graduate fellowship in conservation, designed to support the development of emerging conservators by strengthening their practical expertise and professional skills. This fellowship forms part of a series generously funded by American fantasy writer and philanthropist T. A. Barron.

This is an exceptional opportunity to gain hands on experience within a prestigious institution, working alongside leading conservators. The fellowship will focus on the treatment of the collection as well as preventive conservation. The successful candidate will be based in the conservation workshops at the Weston Library.

This is a full-time, fixed term contract, working 36.5 hours per week for 14 months. You will work onsite at the Weston Library from Monday – Friday, 7.3 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.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) due to working on the library’s Special Collections material and have unaccompanied access to the library’s book stack.

About You

Applicants should have a recognised qualification in Book and/or Paper Conservation and have no more than two years of professional experience after graduation.

We are seeking a motivated and adaptable conservator who can work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and who is willing to adjust working patterns to meet the evolving needs of the department.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk.

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a Supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your Supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

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 Robert Minte, Senior Paper Conservator, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (Robert.Minte@bodleian.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the GLAM Recruitment team (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Monday 15th June 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday, 7th July and Wednesday, 8th July 2026.

Location: Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG

Salary: £32,108 – £37,338 per annum

Vacancy ID: 186021