Archivist

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days leave

Flexible working

London Living Wage

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Islington Council is recruiting an Archivist to join Islington Archives and the Heritage Service. The post holder will maintain and develop the archive collections and use them to benefit residents through community projects.

You will lead the public engagement programme, work with Learning and Engagement Managers, and collaborate with cultural organisations to deliver partnerships. The role includes developing digital preservation initiatives and supporting staff development.

Qualifications

• Experience as archivist in a heritage setting.
• Strong communication skills for public engagement and schools.
• Ability to manage projects and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop Islington Archives collections.
• Deliver the public engagement programme with schools and community groups.
• Develop the Archives and support the Assistant Archivist.

Skills

Archivist experience

Public engagement

Project coordination

Education

Degree in Archives/History (preferred)

Tools

Archival software

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Archivist to join Islington Archives and the Islington Heritage Service. We are a creative and socially focused team and leaders in community-focused and collaborative forms of heritage practise.

Islington Archives is based in the Finsbury Library complex, in the south of Islington on St John Street. It sits within the Heritage Service which is responsible for Islington Museum, Archives, several historic sites including the Clerks’ Well, and borough wide projects.

As well as the historic Council archives and a large image collection, the Local History Centre has several special collections including: Joe Orton & Kenneth Halliwell collection, Walter Sicker archive, LGBTQ+ archive (a new collection of 4,000+ items collected as part of the NLHF-funded Islington’s Pride project) and the Sadler’s Wells Theatre archive. We also hold several personal collections from politicians connected with the borough.

Islington is well known for its radical social and political heritage, which includes the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt and the building of Finsbury Health Centre, a pioneering free, community health centre, created a decade before the NHS. We use this heritage to help improve residents’ lives and life choices. Every resident has a right to connect meaningfully with Islington’s story and to access the myriad tangible benefits granted by cultural enrichment. Heritage provides an extraordinary opportunity to build community wellbeing, create a shared but diverse local identity, and to promote lifelong learning for all.

The main role of the Archivist is to maintain and develop the archive collections and to use them for the benefit of our residents. You will do this by:

• Managing Islington Archives
  • Manage and improve the day-to-day visitor service, experience, and the reading room
  • Care for and grow the collections via community-based projects
  • Supporting the development of the Assistant Archivist
• Delivering the public engagement programme
  • Work with the Learning and Engagement Managers to devise and deliver the learning programme
  • Devise and develop special projects for target audiences
  • Work with the Museum team on public exhibitions and associated programmes
• Developing the Islington Archives

• Investigate potential TNA Archive Service Accreditation—including developing and delivering our digital preservation strategy
• Input into the care and development of the Clerks’ Well
• Collaborate with cultural organisations in Islington to deliver partnerships

Key working relationships will be with the Curator and the Learning and Engagement Managers. The post holder with work closely with other members of the Heritage Team, including the Heritage Project Managers.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t beclearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the boroughand as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, wehave to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The post is subject to a basic DBS check, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.