The University of Edinburgh
Alumni Archives Enquiry Assistant
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UE04: £26,093.00 - £28,778.00 per annum, pro rata
ISG / Library & University Collections / Heritage Collections (Access & Engagement)
Part-time: 7 hours per week
Fixed term: 1st September 2026 – 31st July 2027
Your next step starts here.
Join the University of Edinburgh and you’ll be making a difference to everything around you. You’ll do meaningful work, grow and progress, be rewarded and recognised, and benefit from our strong commitment to your wellbeing. There are so many reasons to join us. In Professional Services, we support the University’s research and teaching, offering many career and role specialisms.
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a part-time Alumni Archives Enquiry Assistant to join our friendly and welcoming Research Services team within Heritage Collections. This is a fixed-term position for 11 months and is based at the Centre for Research Collections, within the Main University Library, on the central George Square campus.
The Alumni Archives Enquiry Assistant will work 7 hours per week, 9am-5pm, on either a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (to be agreed).
This post is designated for the purposes of student employment; therefore, you must be a matriculated University of Edinburgh student for the duration of your employment.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to providing a positive employment experience for all students. To support students in combining work with studies, we strongly advise you don’t exceed the University’s recommended number of working hours per week;
- 15 hours for undergraduate students (up to 35 hours during vacation)
- 15 hours for postgraduate taught students (all year round)
- 9 hours for postgraduate research students (all year round)
Please note, these recommendations apply to the total number of hours you are employed across all posts.
What the job involves:
- Answering incoming research enquiries from internal and external researchers relating to University of Edinburgh alumni.
- Undertaking research into individual alumni through consulting the University archives and compiling findings into clear written communication to users.
- Developing comprehensive knowledge of the University’s archives, genealogical research resources, and the historical background of the University.
- Using archive and library catalogues to navigate collections and locating items.
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A bit about you:
- Strong research skills.
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into a clear and accessible form.
- A methodical working style with the ability to pay close attention to detail.
- The ability to work well independently and complete a project to a deadline.
- An interest in the University’s heritage collections.
- A commitment to supporting Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace.
Our people are at the centre of the University community and everything we do. We are a place where everyone is welcome and offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support you in building the right meaningful flexibility that works for you.
A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:
- Professional development and subject matter expertise.
- Interesting work.
- Variety every day.
- Contributing to the work and purpose of the University.
View the full job description [https://uoe.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/jobdescriptionlibrary/IQD4qfTA4qZ1R7nPssZW3B5qAfoFxWFfsr09FHeUlQqr8F0]
How to apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
-
CV
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Cover letter
Applications by CV only will not be considered.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page [https://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-reward/staff-benefits](opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
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Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages [https://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/demonstrating-rtw](opens new browser tab)
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 17 August 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
The Library helps people to grow their knowledge and create new connections through open services, collections and environments, sparking ideas that change the world. Library & University Collections teams (approximately 200 staff) provide leadership and oversight for the University's library and museum collections and services, and lead the University's transition to Open Scholarship. Collections comprise over 2 million print volumes, 2 million e-books, 200,000 e-journals and 100 kilometres of Heritage Collections which include rare books, archives, artworks and musical instruments. Library & University Collections deliver highly-regarded services to support teaching, learning and research across the University and wider communities. Services and access to collections are provided online and onsite through the Main Library, site libraries, the Centre for Research Collections, award-winning makerspace services and St Cecilia’s Hall Concert Room & Music Museum.
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