Jobs

Thank you for your interest in the post of Stonemason with Historic Environment Scotland. This post is based at our Perth Depot and is a permanent and pensionable appointment.

You will be part of one of nine Monument Conservation Units based throughout Central & West Scotland, tasked with the conservation, maintenance and presentation works at monuments within their areas including Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, Dunkeld Cathedral, Arbroath Abbey and Iona Abbey

The Monument Conservation Units (MCU) are based throughout Central Scotland and consist of stonemasons, joiners, painters, gardeners, labourers and apprentices of varying trades. The teams are headed by Works Managers who have direct line management responsibilities for the whole team. As a Stonemason in our Perth Depot, you will have responsibility for the on-going conservation and maintenance and preservation of masonry at Historic Environment Scotland monuments within your area which include Dunkeld Cathedral, Stanley Mills, Elcho Castle and Huntingtower Castle. You will help 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.

You will be expected to work at any location as directed by the Works Manager within the depot area – official transport is provided to and from the various sites within the Depot areas. Individuals are however expected to make their own way to the MCU Depot.

You will also be asked to travel using HES transport to other remote sites out with your depot area which may include overnight stays.

Working Hours

The normal weekly hours of work will vary according to the working season in the working year. The working year will cover the calendar year 1 April to 31 March.

Currently the working year is divided into 2 working seasons – namely a longer working hours season (summer) and a shorter working hour 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 long season will cover a 5-day working week, Monday to Friday inclusive. The normal working week in the short season will also be agreed between MCU and local management and will normally include a 4-day week, normally Monday to Thursday but not exclusively so.

You will carry out conservation and routine maintenance works to HES monuments in the various depot areas. This involves all forms of traditional masonry including:

• Stone cutting/hewing of various architectural mouldings/stones for the Depot sites and monuments in other depot areas as required.
• Traditional building/repairs/indenting of stonework.
• Raking out and pointing defective joints and beds.
• Promote traditional methods of conservation and masonry techniques to carry out challenging and diverse conservation projects/works.
• Operate hand tools in addition to powered machinery such as disc saws, mortar mixers, compressors hoists etc to facilitate the work when trained to do so.
• The winter season may consist of work out with the normal duties associated with stonemasonry consisting of lime washing, grounds works and cobbles/slabs repair as well as general presentation works.
• Provide training and mentoring for apprentice stonemasons in traditional conservation skills when required.
• Comply with and promote HES Health and Safety Policy

Application Deadline: Wednesday 15/05/2024