About the job

Job summary

We are looking for 2 Assistant Archivists to join the Parliamentary Archives based in the House of Lords. This is a position where you will undertake a full range of Collections Management activities, including accessioning and cataloguing, alongside supporting public access to the Parliamentary Archives through  participating in outreach activities, answering enquiries, and searchroom supervision.

Please note the post involves working  extensively with Axiell CALM and Preservica, as well as Orangeleaf, CollectionsBase, and Microsoft Excel.

It will also involve handling historic documents; manual handling (lifting, carrying, using a trolley); use of ladders; some working in confined spaces and some lone working. Many tasks involve working in the Victoria Tower (up to the 12th floor) so candidates must be comfortable using a small lift and also be able to use a spiral staircase in the event of a drill or evacuation.

This is an opportunity to work on a hybrid basis depending on business need. This is an exciting opportunity to prepare for one of the biggest changes in our history. The post would suit a methodical, accurate and logical individual, who enjoys working with digital systems and is familiar with working with large amounts of data and archive collections, whatever their format. 

Job description

You’ll be accountable for/to:

• Support the tracking and management of record locations during moves and offsite storage retrievals.
• Critical re-cataloguing of legacy catalogue entries which are no longer fit for purpose.
• Cataloguing and ingesting a backlog of digitised collections to provide increased public access.
• Undertaking regular uploads of catalogue data to the online catalogue, and deletion of superseded records.
• Accession and catalogue records transferred by Parliamentary departments.
• Contribute to the cataloguing and data cleansing of the circa 300,000 born-digital records exported from Parliament's now decommissioned Electronic Document Records Management System (EDRMS).

Person specification

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working in archives.
• Excellent digital skills as working with physical and digital archives.
• Excellent Organisational skills.

It would be even better if you had or if you’re willing to learn…

• A recognised qualification in Archives and Records Management.

Benefits

Details of our employee benefits can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/lordshro/employee-benefits/

What you’ll get in return:

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service).
• Generous pension scheme.
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers.
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact HLRecruitment@parliament.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.