Collections care and preservation

• Establish and maintain appropriate standards of preventive conservation and archival storage.
• Monitor collection condition and storage environments, recommending remedial action where required.
• Develop priorities for archival packaging, cleaning, conservation, and emergency response.
• Promote appropriate handling and storage practices among staff and users.

Collection development

• Advise the Librarian on acquisitions and transfers of archival material and appraise material offered to the institution.
• Maintain appropriate accession, deposit, and donation documentation.
• Contribute to the development of a coherent and sustainable collecting strategy for the archives.

Access, research, and academic use

• Facilitate appropriate access to the archives and respond to enquiries from members of the institution and external researchers.
• Establish procedures for the production, consultation, and supervision of original material and assess access restrictions where necessary.
• Support the use of archival collections in teaching, learning, and research, working with academic colleagues to encourage their appropriate use.

New archive storage facility and collection move

• Act as the Library’s professional archival adviser on the planning and development of the new archive storage room.
• Advise on environmental conditions, shelving and storage, security, fire and flood protection, lighting, pest management, and safe collection handling.
• Liaise with the Librarian, Estates staff, architects, contractors, and other specialists as required.
• Plan and oversee the preparation, documentation, packing, transfer, and reshelving of collections, ensuring accurate location control throughout the move.

Engagement and promotion

• Promote awareness and use of the archives within the institution and, where appropriate, externally.
• Contribute archival material and expertise to exhibitions.

Planning and development

• Agree priorities and realistic work programmes with the Librarian.
• Maintain appropriate records and report on progress, priorities, risks, and resource requirements.
• Identify opportunities for externally funded cataloguing, conservation, or digitisation projects and maintain appropriate professional development and networks.

General

• Work collaboratively with Library colleagues and provide guidance to staff, volunteers, or project workers undertaking archival work where appropriate.
• Ensure safe working practices in the handling and movement of archival material.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the nature and grade of the post as reasonably required by the Librarian.

Person specification

It is required that in your application you give proven examples to demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria listed below:

Essential

• A good undergraduate degree with an ARA-accredited postgraduate qualification in archives.
• A minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience in an archive repository.
• Experience of arranging, describing, and cataloguing archive collections to recognised professional standards.
• Sound knowledge of archival principles, standards, and current professional practice, including collections care, preservation, and appropriate storage.
• Experience of developing, implementing, or reviewing archival policies, procedures, and working practices.
• Knowledge of collections development, care, security, conservation, and reprographic issues.
• Ability to work effectively without direct supervision, as well as to work effectively as part of a small team to enable the successful accomplishment of Library & Archives team objectives.
• Good IT skills with experience of using databases, Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel), and archival cataloguing software.
• Strong organisational and project-planning skills, written and verbal communication skills, and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to undertake the physical requirements of archival work, with reasonable adjustments where required.
• A good understanding of GDPR requirements and awareness of the legal and ethical issues of working with modern and digital records.
• An ongoing commitment to professional development and to maintaining and developing an up-to-date skill set.

Desirable

• Experience of working with born-digital archive materials and/or successful completion of an appropriate digital preservation course.
• Proven project management skills.
• Experience of working in a university, college, research library, or comparable academic environment or some familiarity with the Oxford collegiate environment.
• Experience of advising on archive storage, refurbishment, new-build projects, or collection moves.
• Knowledge or experience of born-digital archives, digitisation, or digital preservation.
• Experience of using archival collections to support teaching, learning, exhibitions, or outreach.