You will act as the County Council’s lead officer for archive salvage and develop HALS’ disaster management policies, planning and training, including risk assessments.

You will contribute to income generation through delivery of chargeable services, including oversight of reproduction rights for Heritage Services (archives, local studies materials and art works); and identifying sources of external funding for purchase of archives, archive conservation, cataloguing and digitisation. You will manage and deliver archive projects that improve access and preservation.

You will promote the archive collections to a variety of audiences, partners, the media and local groups and societies through talks, visits and other engagement activities and assisting with delivery of customer services when required. This will include occasional events that take place out of hours and at weekends.

Keep up to date with professional developments, advise the Head of Heritage Services on archive issues, deputing for the Head of Service when required. Assist with the recruitment, training and management of staff and undertaking line management of specific posts as the service requires.

About You

Essential:

• Degree level education or equivalent with a recognised postgraduate qualification in archives administration (as accredited by the Archives and Records Association) or equivalent.
• Considerable experience as an archivist, including at a senior level within a local authority archives service. Expert knowledge of current issues relating to archives.
• Excellent knowledge of archive collections management and preservation, archive sector standards and relevant legislation including demonstrable practical application (for example, copyright, Freedom of Information, Data Protection, Public Records Act).
• A demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and making archives accessible to wider audiences.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of records typically found in a county archive service and excellent palaeography skills, to enable you to interpret the full range of documents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to deliver inspiring presentations and community outreach activities; able to communicate specialist information to non-specialist audiences.
• Well-developed interpersonal and leadership skills including excellent negotiation and influencing skills to be able to deal effectively with a wide range of customers, volunteers, staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Strong track record in project management to meet deadlines and make best use of resources.
• Excellent knowledge of the national standards for collection care and the conservation of archives.
• Excellent ICT skills with a good knowledge of applications for archives, including archive collections management and digital preservation systems.
• Thorough knowledge of the professional standards and conventions for the cataloguing of archive collections, metadata and preservation of digital archives and demonstrable skills in their practical application.
• Able to lift and carry awkward and heavy items. Specialist equipment such as trolleys will be provided where necessary.

Desirable:

• Registered Archivist status.
• Knowledge and experience in using Preservica, Axiell CALM, and Orangeleaf CollectionsBase systems.
• A working knowledge of Latin would be an advantage.

This post is an excellent opportunity to develop your career, working at a senior level within a collaborative team environment. We are looking for an archivist who combines professional expertise and a commitment to public service, who is able to embrace the challenge and opportunities of forthcoming changes to play a central role in our collections move and help plan service delivery from a new archive facility, to enable more people to engage with and benefit from Hertfordshire's rich archival collections.

We applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 12. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Julie Gregson, Head of Heritage Services, julie.gregson@hertfordshire.gov.uk by email or on 0300 123 4049 for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: to be confirmed

Benefits of working for us

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional Information

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.