Archive Assistant

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Annual leave (pro rata)

Flexible working

Job summary

Suffolk County Council’s Suffolk Archives is seeking an Archive Assistant to welcome visitors, answer enquiries and help locate materials. You will retrieve items from climate-controlled stores and assist with on-site shop sales while promoting archival services.

You will ensure safe handling, maintain inventories and follow preservation guidelines, contributing to a positive customer experience in a welcoming environment. This permanent role offers pro rata salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Genuine passion for history and enthusiasm for sharing it with others.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Interest in archival work or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers with enquiries, offering knowledgeable support regarding archives and services.
• Retrieve and produce archive materials from temperature and humidity-controlled strongrooms for customer use.
• Assist with sales in the on-site shop and promote archival services.
• Ensure materials are handled safely and securely, adhering to preservation guidelines.
• Maintain organised records and contribute to accurate archive inventories.
• Collaborate with the team to enhance customer experiences and maintain a welcoming environment.
• Support general administrative tasks related to the archives.

Skills

Customer service

Archival interest

Attention to detail

Safe handling

Ladder work

HUGO lift operation

Job description

• Address: The Hold, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 4LR, on-site working
• Hours:Post 1: 36 hours per week (see working pattern below), Post 2: No guaranteed hours. As and when required

Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: The Hold, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 4LR, on-site working
• Salary:£26,016 per annum(pro rata)
• Hours:Post 1: 36 hours per week (see working pattern below), Post 2: No guaranteed hours. As and when required
• Contract:Post 1:Permanent, Post 2: Zero Hour contract

At Suffolk County Council we’re focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As an Archive Assistantyou’ll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Suffolk County Council’s Suffolk Archives is committed to preserving and sharing important historical records.

Your Role And Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers with enquiries, offering knowledgeable support regarding our archives and services.
• Retrieve and produce archive materials from our temperature and humidity-controlled strongrooms for customer use.
• Assist with sales in our on-site shop and promote our archival services.
• Ensure that materials are handled safely and securely, adhering to preservation guidelines.
• Maintain organised records and contribute to accurate archive inventories.
• Collaborate with the team to enhance customer experiences and maintain a welcoming environment.
• Support general administrative tasks related to the archives.

Your working pattern for post 1

Tuesday: 9.15am to 5.30pm, Wednesday: 9.15am to 5.00pm, Thursday: 9.15am to 5.30pm, except for the 2nd Thursday of each month when the hours are 2.00pm to 10.00pm, Friday: 9.15am to 5.00pm and Saturday: 9.15am to 5.00pm. Please note working Saturdays as part of the contracted rota is a requirement of this role. There is an enhanced payment rate for working on a Saturday and for a Thursday evening after 8pm.

You will need

• a genuine passion for history and enthusiasm for sharing it with others
• excellent customer service and communication skills
• an interest in archival work or a related field
• ability to safely handle, lift, retrieve and transport archive materials, including working at height using ladders and HUGO lift machines
• previous experience in a library, archive, retail, or customer service setting is an advantage.
• strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

The team

Suffolk Archives is a small, flexible, proactive team that is passionate about sharing Suffolk’s local history and heritage with a wider audience. Archive Assistants work as part of our Operations Team, which is responsible for providing public access to the collections housed at The Hold in Ipswich.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

Please contact Hannah Salmon (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can contact her by calling 01473 260071 or emailing [e-mail]

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply?

If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [e-mail] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 8 November 2026.

Interview date: 23-25 November 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .