Digital Collections Officer

Manchester City Council; Manchester; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 26 days’ annual leave

Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave

Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave

35-hour work week for full-time roles

UK’s largest local government pension—

Good Employment Charter member

Employee discounts and perks

Inclusion and wellbeing focus

Job summary

Manchester City Council is seeking a Digital Collections Officer to lead the digital version of the Manchester Together Archive, a significant collection of over 10,000 items. The role focuses on digitisation, data quality, and collaborative project delivery with universities and NHS partners.

The post requires experience in archives or related heritage sectors, strong IT skills, and the ability to work with software developers and volunteers. On-site, part-time, until approx.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in managing projects within an archive/library/heritage/academic environment.
• Knowledge of collections documentation standards, GDPR, and copyright requirements.
• Experience digitising heritage collections to professional standards with CMS and data imports/exports.
• Experience working with partners, volunteers, and delivering public engagement.
• Strong IT skills and experience with web-based technologies and data migration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support high-volume digitisation activities for the Manchester Together Archive.
• Maintain and enhance the quality of collection data, metadata, and digital systems.
• Manage collections management processes, including data migration, imports, exports, and records maintenance.
• Work with project partners, software developers, volunteers, and archive colleagues to deliver outcomes.
• Support workshops, public surveys, and development of an accessible digital archive and website.

Skills

Project management

Digitisation

Collections data

Stakeholder engagement

IT skills

Education

Relevant degree in Archives/Library Science

Tools

Collections management software

Data migration tools

Job description

Working Hours: 14 Hours Per Week
Contract Type: Part-Time, Temporary (until 20 months)
Working style: On-Site
Closing date: 11:59pm, 10 November 2026
Interview Method: Face to Face (tentatively on 18 November)
You must already have a valid right to work in the UK documentation, as we cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role.
As a Digital Collections Officer, you'll lead the development and delivery of a digital version of the Manchester Together Archive (MTA), a collection of more than 10,000 items gathered following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
You'll help Manchester Libraries preserve and provide access to this nationally significant collection, ensuring it is accessible, sustainable, and developed to professional archival standards. Your work will contribute to a major partnership project involving the University of Manchester, University for Continuing Education Krems, Manchester Archives, and NHS Pennine Care Foundation Trust, supporting international learning in digital memorialisation and trauma-informed practice

In This Role You Will

• Lead and support high-volume digitisation activities for the Manchester Together Archive
• Maintain and enhance the quality of collection data, metadata, and associated digital systems.
• Manage collections management processes, including data migration, imports, exports, and records maintenance
• Work with project partners, software developers, volunteers, and archive colleagues to deliver project outcomes.
• Support workshops, focus groups, public surveys, and the development of a fully accessible digital archive and website.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Alison Gill at 07940588814 or email: [e-mail] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

Pre-employment checks

If You Are Successful, Your Appointment Will Be Subject To Completing The Relevant Pre-employment Checks. These Checks Will Be Carried Out As Part Of Our Recruitment Process And Includes

• Satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks where applicable.

For more information on these checks, please visit checks page

We're looking for an experienced and motivated professional with a strong background in collections management, digitisation, and project delivery. You will be able to manage competing priorities, work effectively with a range of stakeholders, and contribute positively to a collaborative partnership project. Experience working within archives, libraries, museums, heritage, or academic environments will be particularly valuable.

We'll Use The Following Essential Criteria To Decide Which Candidates To Invite To Assessment. Use Your Personal Statement To Provide Evidence Of How You Meet Each One, Supported By Relevant Examples

• Significant experience of managing projects or workstreams within an archive, library, museum, heritage, academic, or similar environment
• Demonstrable knowledge of collections documentation standards, heritage collections management, and relevant legal requirements including GDPR and copyright.
• Experience of digitising heritage collections to professional standards and using collections management systems, including complex searches, bulk data imports and exports, and record management.
• Experience of working collaboratively with partners, recruiting and supporting volunteers, and delivering public engagement activities.
• Strong communication, organisational, and IT skills, including experience of working with web-based technologies, software developers, and data migration activities

Desirable criteria

• Experience of influencing and engaging a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience of working across complex partnership projects involving academic and public service organisations.
• Flexibility to undertake occasional evening and weekend work where required.

Use of AI

You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Applicants who meet the essential shortlisting criteria and are eligible under the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme will be progressed to the assessment stage.

Support and Adjustments

If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Find out more about our inclusion and wellbeing.

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits We Offer

• Up to 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years’ service
• Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave
• Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• The UK’s largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts and perks
• Good Employment Charter member

For more information about working for Manchester Council, please visit Careers - Manchester City Council

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

Requirements

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What We Will Need From You If You're Successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Other Relevant Information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate( Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Accessible Formats

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