About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Collections and Cultural Property Team in Archive Sector Leadership at The National Archives. It is an exciting time for our work, as we look to deliver against Archives Unlocked, the government’s strategic vison for the archives sector, which is due to be refreshed.

About the team

The Collections and Cultural Property Team's works to gather data from across the archives sector the availability of collections information, and the use and reuse of archival collections. This data provides intelligence on collecting practices and movement of archive collections between institutions and allows The National Archives to strategically influence collections development. The team is responsible for delivering Our Digital Century Programme our second digital capacity building strategy, which will be delivered between 2023-2026, and builds on the work of Plugged In, Powered Up.

We are a friendly and supportive team, working collaboratively and flexibly to link those working with archives with the expertise and opportunities offered by The National Archives and across networks. Post holders typically find the role rewarding on a professional level, with plenty of opportunities to learn and develop professional competence in a number of key areas.

About the role

You will play a critical role in delivering our sector leadership role through Our Digital Century Programme. Confidently represent the needs of the archive sector in the development of digital archival practice: digital preservation, access, engagement, and workforce skills, with an overview of the digital development landscape and identifying opportunities for investment, while recognising the various constraints faced by the archives sector. In addition, you will lead on building relationships with key strategic partners at both national and regional levels. The post requires knowledge of digital preservation and experience of drafting both guidance and delivering training programme on digital preservation

Job description

Full job description attached (see below).

Person specification

About you

As someone who will be leading engagement with the sector and stakeholders you will have strong relationship building skills, with both individuals and organisations, to lead to partnership working and concrete impacts. You will have detailed knowledge of online resource discovery and the impact of digital technology on archives or similar information-seeking environments. Experience of working in a digital development environment, excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills, including the ability to influence effectively at a senior level, and proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical requirements to a non-expert audience. You will have a track record of managing a demanding workload and prioritising effectively to achieve maximum impact.

The post is based at Kew and will involve some travel within the UK with associated overnight stays as necessary, expenses are reimbursed in accordance with official policies. Currently there are 5 members of the Collections and Cultural Property Team, consisting of Head of Team, Cultural Property Manager, two Digital Development Officers, and Collections and Manorial Records Manager who are based at Kew. Working patterns including hybrid working at home and at Kew are flexible to accommodate the need to travel outside the office.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

We would particularly like to encourage applicants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in archives, including those who identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT+), from Black, Asian and minority ethnic cultural backgrounds, those who are neurodivergent, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

How to apply:

To submit your application please click the 'Apply now' button on this page. You will be asked to complete a CV section and write a personal statement. In your personal statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria below. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section so please make full use of the 1250 word count.

Essential criteria:

• Detailed knowledge of resource discovery and the impact of digital technology on the galleries, libraries, archives and museum sector.
• Experience of working in a digital development environment with a good understanding of Agile working practices and digital preservation

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills, including the ability to influence effectively at a senior level.

• Proven written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical requirements in plain English and to enable understanding of technical developments to a non-expert audience.

• Good research, data analysis and interpretation skills, able to adapt and present findings in an appropriate way, mindful of the impact on the intended audience.

• Strong project management skills and experience of monitoring budgets.
• Proven track record in designing, scoping and delivering on complex projects or products.
• Experience of working in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,000, The National Archives contributes £12,150 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.