Collections and Castle Manager

Purpose of post

Cadw’s mission is to care for Wales’ historic places, inspiring current and future generations. As part of this mission, we care for a nationally important collection of monuments, including Castell Coch, a site of international significance renowned for its richly decorated interiors, which stand apart from the roofless ruins typical of other sites.

This role is central to delivering Cadw’s conservation objectives, most significantly at Castell Coch. The postholder will lead the strategic care and conservation of the site’s unique interiors and collections, which include wall paintings, wallpaper, textiles, furniture, stained glass and other heritage assets.

To ensure that these collections are cared for, the post holder will utilise effective conservation planning, environmental monitoring, research, cleaning, and storage while still enabling meaningful public access. This role will ensure that heritage is experienced as living and relevant, presenting collections and interiors in ways that resonate with today’s audiences and celebrating their significance.

In tandem with caring for the site and its collections, the post holder will also oversee visitor operations at Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle, ensuring high-quality visitor experience that aligns with Cadw’s conservation priorities. The postholder will line manage the Head Custodian and support them to ensure that the site team of staff and volunteers are well managed and high functioning. In this capacity, the post holder will also work collaboratively with Cadw’s conservation and capital project teams to support any development activity planned at either monument.

Beyond site-specific responsibilities, the role also contributes to Cadw’s wider strategic goals by advising on collections care, practical conservation, loans and collections acquisition and disposal across the estate and shaping collections management policy and practice.

Key tasks

• Develop and implement long-term conservation plans for Castell Coch and its collections.
• Ensure preventive and remedial conservation practices are put in place.
• Maintain and enhance documentation for interiors and collections including, but not limited to, a comprehensive asset list and salvage plan.
• Conduct research as needed, condition check collection items and employ conservation measures as needed.
• Design and deliver remedial treatment plans.
• Integrate conservation with presentation and live visitor experience.
• Manage the Head Custodian and oversee site operations and visitor experience, balancing conservation with public access.
• Develop and deliver training plans for conservation practices.
• Advising on collections care, loans and collections acquisition and disposal across the estate and shaping collections management policy and practice (there is limited collection across the rest of Cadw).

Development opportunities

This post offers the opportunity to hone your existing people management skills and gain experience managing historic sites and associated collections. The post holder will help conserve nationally significant historic assets for future generations while working from two of Wales’s most iconic scheduled monuments.

We offer 5 days of learning and development every year and support Continuous Professional Development, encouraging staff to develop their professional skills through training and participation in conferences and events.

Other vacancy related information

Required Qualification

A relevant undergraduate degree in a field such as Museum Studies, Conservation, History of Art or Archaeology or equivalent sector experience.

CV

The CV should focus on demonstrating professional experience, qualifications and training relevant to the management and conservation of a historic site and its collection. It could also include membership of relevant professional organisations and other pertinent evidence showcasing suitability for the role.

CVs will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.

Location - Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle

This role will require travel to Welsh Government offices or other sites in other parts of Wales to attend meetings.

Some site duty management weekend working may be required for which time off in lieu is given.

Interview

If your application is successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview at Castell Coch.

A test on Technical Skills will be required at ‘interview stage’. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

Pay and benefits

As part of the Welsh Government, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work life balance, and career development.

Merit Order

If after interview stage, there are successful candidates with the same score in order to determine merit order, the panel will first review interview score for:

Technical

Demonstrate an understanding of applying preventive conservation and collections care, familiarity with Museum Accreditation standards and knowledge of documentation standards and record management.

And then

Managing a Quality Service

Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money.                                                     

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.