County Archivist

Hertfordshire County Council; Northop Hall; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking a County Archivist to lead HALS, managing archives, cataloguing and digital preservation in line with national standards. You will oversee a team of archivists and a conservator, delivering high-quality care, access and innovation for Hertfordshire’s archives.

You will work with the Heritage Services management team to plan services, engage communities and secure external funding while maintaining professional standards and supporting service delivery

Job description

Job Title: County Archivist

Job Introduction

Salary

Starting Salary: £49,817 opportunity to progress to £55,224 per annum

Hours

37 - occasional weekend and evening working.

Location

Hertford - Fixed Base - some flexible working possible/some travel may be required at times.

Contract Type

Permanent

Directorate

Resources

About The Team

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) preserve and promotes resources for the study of Hertfordshire past and present. An integrated archive and local studies service, we care for archive collections that date from 1060.

Our vision is to deliver high quality services that inspire discovery and learning, offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore, understand and enjoy the histories that shape Hertfordshire. We aim to reflect the county’s diverse people, communities and places, strengthening a shared sense of place and supporting creative health and wellbeing and provide access to authentic, trusted information and original records as an Accredited Archive Service.

This is an exciting time to join the service as we move forward with plans for our refreshed 'Shared Heritage Strategy' including planning for a future purpose built archive facility and preparing to move. Alongside this we will exploit technology to improve digital services including new collections management system and full implementation of our digital preservation system; and work in partnership to increase opportunities for access and leaning.

We are looking for someone who shares our ambition to make archives relevant, accessible and inspiring to wider audiences, while ensuring the highest professional standards of collections care and management.

About The Role

As County Archivist, you will act as senior professional for archives, providing professional expertise in archival practice to manage, preserve and develop the archive collections in accordance with national standards, including Archive Accreditation and relevant legislation.

Reporting to the Head of Service, as a member of the Heritage Services management team, you will work collaboratively with senior colleagues to deliver service priorities and contribute to service planning.

You will directly manage the team of archivists and conservator, working together to high standards of archival practice in delivering archive collections care, cataloguing, conservation and digital preservation. Measuring and improving performance annually.

You will lead the development and implementation of the archive collections management system and its public interface. You will lead change in digital archives, developing and implementing plans, policies and procedures for digital preservation.

You will use your expert knowledge to inform the acquisition and appraisal of new archive collections; negotiate with depositors and stakeholders; and manage legal contracts for the deposit, conservation and storage of archive collections.

You will provide expert archive advice for Heritage Services and communicate with other council officers, including the Records Manager to develop and implement policies relating to the retention and disposal and management of the County Council’s permanent archives.

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 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

Interview Date: 8th October 2026 - to be confirmed

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.