Reader Invigilation Officer

• Experience in a customer-facing role dealing directly with members of the public
• Excellent face-to-face communication skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate and engage effectively with a wide range of people
• The ability to remain calm, professional and resilient when working under pressure or in challenging situations

When writing your personal statement, please use specific examples from your experience to show how you meet each criterion. For each example, briefly explain the situation, what you did, how you approached it, and what the outcome was. Strong applications will make clear your personal contribution, the skills you used, and the impact of your actions. You should structure your statement around the criteria above, giving at least one clear example for each.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

ALL essential criteria listed in the job description below will be assessed at interview stage.

Sponsorship

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Job Description

Role and Responsibilities

Main Duties

On any given day the job holder will undertake varied duties within the Reading Room environment, such as managing the entrance points for the Document Reading Room and the Map and Large Document Reading Room, monitoring CCTV and undertaking security patrols of the designated areas.

Undertaking invigilation duties, you will be responsible for ensuring the security of TNA Reading Rooms, managing our visitor’s expectations and the protection of our documents through close invigilation and direct reader interaction. You will interact with the public and staff offering advice to how they should handle rare and unique public records and when required, enforce the rules accordingly. To be efficient, courteous and friendly, helpful and responsive to our customers’ needs at all times. To be able to assist all of our internal/external customers with a ‘can do’ attitude. Monitoring computer based security systems; in particular, CCTV monitoring of the Reading Rooms and other internal public areas. To record any incidents or infringements of the rules on the Invigilation log on a daily basis. To be physically fit so as to be able undertake patrols up to 2km each day. In the event of an incident; you will produce comprehensive and factually based incident and occurrence reports.

Incident Management

Undertake specific duties and procedures in the event of any emergency situation that may arise; including the evacuation and securing of the building.

Working Conditions

• Normal office working environment; though you will be working within large open plan reading rooms or security control rooms. Internally, lone patrols are also undertaken.
• Display Screen Equipment user
• Moving items up to 10kg in weight
• May come into contact with distressing material

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Willingness to undertake a recognised security qualification; SIA CCTV Operator
• Previous experience in a customer facing role dealing directly with the public.
• Excellent face to face communication; including influencing, negotiating and people engagement skills.
• Able to remain calm when under pressure or in a difficult situation.
• Ability to work as part of team, as well as independently.
• Basic IT skills with a working knowledge of the range of MS office packages and knowledge of electronic security systems and CCTV
• To be physically fit with good eyesight and an attention to detail; corrected vision (glasses or contact lenses) are acceptable.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous invigilation experience in a Museum or Gallery.
• A sound working knowledge of security best practice and legislation affecting the security role.
• A First Aid qualification

Other Requirements

• This role requires on site presence and is not suitable for home working.
• The working pattern for a full-time position is Tuesday – Saturday 08:50-17:02, to include regular Tuesday/Thursday working on the 10:50-19:02 roster.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, on-site gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ (opens in new window)

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 ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section 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 pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)

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