Archive Assistant

Findmypast; Dundee; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Thomson seeks an Archive Assistant for its Dundee office, supporting both Dundee and Aberdeen sites with a 5-day office-based model. The role involves cataloguing, digitising, metadata entry, and acting as a point of contact for researchers and internal teams.

The successful candidate will help safeguard archive materials and enhance discoverability across brand, editorial and commercial use. Responsibilities include ensuring data quality, handling artifacts safely, and supporting data-driven

Qualifications

• Experience in archives, records, libraries, museums, heritage collections or similar information resources.
• Experience handling historical material and artifacts.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Safe manual handling capability.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, databases, image editing software and digitisation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Collection Control and Discoverability: accurate accessioning, listing, cataloguing and metadata entry for archive materials.
• Digitisation and Data Quality: produce high-quality digital scans and metadata for reuse across departments.
• Access, Retrieval and User Service: timely retrieval and policy-compliant support for users.
• Collection Care and Operational Resilience: safe handling, packaging, labeling and store optimisation.
• Research, Insight and Commercial Enablement: support basic research and evidence gathering to inform decisions.
• Continuous Improvement and Best Practice: use archive systems and tools to improve workflows and automate repeatable tasks.

Skills

Analytical classification

Methods and tools

Business intelligence

Information and data compliance

AI and data ethics

Stakeholder relationship management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Databases

Image editing software

Digitisation workflows

Job description

Location: Supporting both Dundee & Aberdeen sites (Office based 5 days a week)

Physical demands: Regular manual handling of loads up to 12.5 kg at shoulder height and intermittent work at height from ladders, requiring balance, upper body strength, and safe working practices.

DC Thomson media and publishing company is recruiting for an Archive Assistant in our Dundee, UK office. Our archive team plays a key role in connecting people with our rich collections, working with both internal and external stakeholders to provide access and support for diverse audiences.

This is an opportunity to gain exposure to archive collections, records, metadata, digitisation outputs, routine research enquiries, collection care activity and archive user support. The work completed by the Archive Assistant will be instrumental in facilitating archive material being easier to find, use, evidence and repurpose in ways that strengthen brand value, audience relevance and commercial opportunity.

The Archive Assistant protects, organises and unlocks the commercial, editorial and cultural value of DC Thomson's archive collections. The role supports the accurate management, digitisation, discoverability and safe handling of archive assets so that the business can use its heritage effectively across content, brand, licensing, product, research and audience engagement opportunities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collection Control and Discoverability: Accountable for accurate accessioning, listing, cataloguing and metadata entry for allocated archive materials, improving the reliability, searchability and business usability of archive records.
• Digitisation and Data Quality: Accountable for producing and maintaining high-quality digital scans and associated metadata, enabling archive content to be reused efficiently across research, editorial, brand, commercial and audience-facing opportunities.
• Access, Retrieval and User Service: Accountable for timely retrieval, production, re-filing and routine enquiry support, ensuring users receive accurate, policy-compliant and commercially aware archive support.
• Collection Care and Operational Resilience: Accountable for safe handling, packaging, labelling, boxing, shelf management and store housekeeping, reducing risk to archive assets and maintaining collections in usable condition.
• Research, Insight and Commercial Enablement: Accountable for supporting basic research and evidence gathering that helps teams identify relevant archive material, strengthen storytelling, inform product or brand decisions and create value from heritage assets.
• Continuous Improvement, Automation and Best Practice: Accountable for using archive systems, data and approved tools consistently, identifying opportunities to improve workflows, reduce duplication, automate repeatable tasks where appropriate and share practical best practice across teams.

Requirements

Skills:

• Analytical classification - Applies domain guidance, standards and judgement to classify archive material, assign metadata and create records that support analysis, retrieval and reuse.
• Methods and tools - Uses agreed archive systems, digitisation tools, templates and procedures consistently, helping improve workflow quality and adoption across routine archive activity.
• Business intelligence - Supports the production and maintenance of reliable collection, usage and enquiry information that helps managers understand demand, priorities and value.
• Information and data compliance - Applies information governance, rights, retention and access requirements to archive work, escalating risks where use, disclosure or reuse may require approval.
• Artificial intelligence and data ethics - Uses approved AI, automation or data tools responsibly where introduced, protecting accuracy, provenance, privacy, rights and transparency in archive workflows.
• Stakeholder relationship management - Maintains effective working relationships with internal users and external contacts, clarifying needs, managing expectations and providing reliable routine support.

Experience:

• Experience in archives, records, libraries, museums, heritage collections or similar information resources
• Experience handling historical material and artifacts
• Strong attention to detail
• Safe manual handling capability
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, databases, image editing software and digitisation workflows.

Behaviours that will help this role succeed:

• Being More Curious: Asks good questions about collection context, user need and potential reuse; looks beyond the immediate task to understand why archive material matters to the business and audience.
• Experiment with Purpose: Tests practical improvements to cataloguing, digitisation, templates, data capture or automation in a controlled way, focusing on quality, efficiency and repeatable benefit.
• Owning the Outcomes: Takes responsibility for accuracy, follow-through and safe handling; flags risks early; and ensures commitments to users and colleagues are delivered to the required standard.
• Being More Collaborative: Works openly with archive colleagues and portfolio teams, sharing knowledge, documenting decisions and helping others access and use archive material appropriately.
• Being More Collaborative: Builds trust through consistent service, clear communication and respect for different priorities across the matrix, while maintaining archive standards and governance.

Closing date for applications: 27th August at 12:00noon