Principal Rigger
Salary (Grade 7): £48,185 – £54,185 per annum (dependent upon experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week – Permanent
Location: National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Linking Navy to Nation with inspiring stories and experiences. Here you can come aboard the most famous ships, planes, and submarines of the Royal Navy and experience them through the stories of the people who served on them. As well as being truly captivated by the thousands of unique, emotional, and sometimes quirky stories that have shaped the Royal Navy into what it proudly stands for today.
You are pivotal in achieving our vision, and to support this we embrace diversity and want everyone to feel valued and have a sense of belonging.
Responsibilities
- Lead a team of Lead Riggers and Riggers in the maintenance and upkeep of our historic ship rigs.
- Oversee the planning and execution of programmes of work on HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and HMS M33 in Portsmouth, as well as HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool and HMS Caroline in Belfast.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Conservation Team and the HMS Victory: The Big Repair project team, to uphold the highest standards of conservation in all our work.
- Lead the design, reinstatement and ongoing care of HMS Victory’s rigging as part of the current conservation programme.
- Commission, procure and manage specialist contractor support where required.
- Work closely with colleagues in the Collections and Visitor Experience teams, offering rigging advice, guidance and practical assistance as appropriate.
Qualifications
Managing safe work procedures and programmes is a key element of this role, and the successful candidate will be an experienced leader in the field of traditional rigging and rope access.
- Professional qualification, IRATA level 3 preferred.
- Knowledge of LOLER and H&S legislation and requirements.
- Demonstrable experience of leading rigging works aloft, traditional rigging and rope access work.
- Confidence managing a team of riggers.
- Specialist knowledge of maintaining masts, yards and rigging of historic ships.
- Experience of working at height.
- Knowledge of best practice approaches to conservation of historic ships, within static contexts.
- A positive attitude and passion for communicating the principles of conservation to different audiences.
What we offer
- Opportunity to be part of a friendly and diverse workplace within a unique heritage environment.
- Group pension plan with Royal London (6% employer contributions, 2% employee contributions and death in service benefit).
- 25 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) pro rata for part time employees, increasing to 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) after 5 years’ service, pro rata for part time employees, with the option to purchase additional annual leave.
- Enhanced maternity/adoption and paternity pay.
- Flexible working.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Free admission to other national museums and attractions within the reciprocal agreement.
- Discounts at our shops and cafes.
- Free and discounted tickets for family and friends.
- A range of other benefits including cycle to work.
- Paid reservist leave.
Contact
If you would like to have an informal discussion regarding the role, or ask any questions, please contact Stuart Sheldon, Lead Rigger, on email Stuart.Sheldon@nmrn.org.uk.
Application
All applicants are asked to apply via https://jobs.nmrn.org.uk/ by midnight on 29th March 2026. We may look to interview throughout the period of the advert being live, if not the selection processes will be held on site in Portsmouth shortly after the closing date.
This post requires a DBS check as a requirement of working on a naval base.
This role has the opportunity for VISA sponsorship.
If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to the application process because of a disability, please contact the People team on recruitment@nmrn.org.uk for support.
National Museum Directors’ Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
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