About the job

Job summary

The Archives and Records Management team forms part of the Library and Archives department. Archive staff manage Kew’s historic record of activities, as well as collections and other documents relating to the history of botany. 

Job description

The Archives Graduate Trainee will be key in helping to manage the archival and modern records collections and provide access to them. This will, for example, be done through Reading Room duties, document retrievals, or reprographics orders. This role is a fantastic opportunity for someone interested in pursuing a career in archives administration or records management.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have a degree and must not be already professionally qualified in Archives and/or Records Management. They will have some, but not significant, experience of working in an archive or records management service, either in a voluntary or paid capacity. Full training will be provided for all tasks. The candidate should show an interest in the sector and an intention to pursue a career in this field.

Our ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team, as well as independently, and they will be able to plan and prioritise their diverse workload. Additionally, they will have good communication and customer skills and be committed to inclusive archive practice.

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this role, please submit your application through the Kew Gardens website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.