County Archivist

The Digital Asset Management Consortium, Inc.; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking a County Archivist to lead and develop HALS while safeguarding archive collections in line with national standards. The role combines professional expertise, team leadership, and strategic development of digital archival systems.

You will guide acquisitions, conservation, cataloguing, and public access, with responsibilities for policy creation, risk management, and collaboration with stakeholders and other council officers.

Qualifications

• Degree-level or higher with professional archive accreditation.
• Senior-level archivist experience within a local authority.
• Strong knowledge of archive collections management and preservation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the county archive collections; ensure compliance with national standards.
• Lead the archive team including archivists and conservator; drive performance improvements.
• Develop and implement the archive management system and digital preservation policies.
• Advise on acquisitions, appraisals, contracts, and legalities for deposits and storage.
• Oversee income generation and external funding for archives projects.
• Represent HALS in public engagement and outreach activities; coordinate training and recruitment.

Skills

Archives management

Preservation

Copyright knowledge

Data Protection

FOI / Freedom of Information

Palaeography

Public speaking

Leadership

Project management

Digital preservation

Metadata

Cataloguing standards

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Postgraduate qualification in archives administration

Degree level education or equivalent

Tools

Preservica

Axiell CALM

Orangeleaf CollectionsBase

Job description

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 deliverhigh‑qualityservicesthat 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,communitiesand 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 bult 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.

Visit Job Website

Employer: Hertfordshire County Council

Location: Hertford, UK

Type: Full-Time

Categories: Librarian / Collections / Digitisation / Archivist, Project Manager

Ref: DN-JB-3049