Stonemason

About us

We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment; a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We’re at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impact of climate change on its future. We investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. We have a People Strategy, which is an overarching strategy to ensure we support and develop staff within the organisation.

Our Vision

Our vision is that Scotland’s historic environment is cherished, understood, shared and enjoyed with pride by everyone.

Our Priorities

• The historic environment makes a real difference to people’s lives
• The historic environment is looked after, protected and managed for the generations to come.

Overview of the post and information about the team

• The Blackness Castle Depot Monument Conservation Unit (MCU) currently consists of a 6-person team all of whom carry out conservation and maintenance work on a variety of locations. The team is headed by a Works Manager, Alan Duncan, who has direct line management responsibilities for the whole team. The Stonemason, as part of the Monument Conservation Unit, will have responsibility for the ongoing conservation, maintenance and presentation of other Historic Environment Scotland (HES) monuments within the Blackness District areas. You will train and instruct apprentices in all aspects of the trade and provide information and instruction to support staff as required. You may also be asked to be involved in showing masonry skills at open days.
• From time to time you may be asked to travel using HES transport to other remote sites outwith Blackness Depot area which may include overnight stays.
• You will be expected to work at any location as directed by the Works Manager. Although the depot is situated in Blackness, official transport is provided to and from the various sites within the Blackness district. You are however expected to make your own way to the MCU Depot.

Working Hours

The normal weekly hours of work will vary according to the working season and may be subject to future changes. The working year will cover the calendar year 1 April to 31 March. These annualised hours are calculated based on a 35-hour working week averaged throughout the contract year and are paid as such.

The working year will be divided into 1 spring week and 2 working seasons: namely a longer working hours season (summer) and a shorter working hours season (winter). The length of each working season will be fixed by local management after discussion with the MCU and not later than 1 April of that working year.

The normal working week for the longer summer season will cover a 5-day working week, Monday to Friday inclusive. The normal working week for the spring week and the short season will also be agreed between MCU and local management so as to include a 4-day week (within Monday to Friday of that week); or a 9-day fortnight within the period covered by Monday to Friday inclusive in 2 consecutive weeks.

Key responsibilities, duties and objectives

• To carry out conservation and routine maintenance works to HES monuments in the Blackness Depot area. This involves all forms of traditional masonry including:
• Stone cutting, hewing of various architectural mouldings/stones for the Blackness Castle Depot sites and monuments in other depot areas as required.
• Traditional building/repairs/indenting of stonework.
• Raking out and pointing defective joints and beds.
• Promoting traditional methods of conservation and masonry techniques to carry out challenging and diverse conservation projects/works.
• Operating electrical and petrol-powered hand tools and machinery to facilitate the work including disc saws, mortar mixers, compressors, hoists etc.
• Providing training and mentoring for apprentice stonemasons in traditional conservation skills.
• Complying with and promoting HES Health and Safety Policy.
• From time to time, you will be required to attend training courses identified to assist the work, or to comply with health and safety legislation (this may require overnight stays away from home).
• The winter season may consist of work outwith the normal duties associated with stonemasonry, consisting of fence repairs, grounds works and painting.

What we offer

We welcome applications from all nationalities, assuming that they have the right to work in the UK: applying for a job with us could open the door to a unique work environment. It will give you job satisfaction and excellent development opportunities, plus a competitive salary, 25 days paid holidays (rising to 30 days after 3 years’ service) and 11.5 public holidays a year – pro rata for part time staff.

In addition, we offer a great benefits package to our employees which includes:

• flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• special leave
• maternity/paternity leave
• adoption leave
• reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• support for further education and personal development
• study leave for work related courses
• access to a learning resource centre