Lead Borough Archivist: Community History & Digital Access

RBKC Careers; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking a Borough Archivist to lead the Archives & Local Studies service on a fixed-term maternity cover through December 2027. Based in the Borough, you will oversee day‑to‑day collections care, cataloguing physical and digital materials, and ensure compliance with information rights and sector standards.

You will drive projects with the Bi‑Borough Archives Manager, manage a small team, support outreach to communities, and guide certification and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Archives or Collections Management or substantial equivalent experience.
• Thorough knowledge of ISAD(G) and cataloguing standards.
• Experience managing a public-facing archive service with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day collections care, cataloguing physical and digital materials, and ensure statutory compliance.
• Direct searchroom operations and handle complex research enquiries.
• Drive accreditation and project work with the Bi-Borough Archives Manager.
• Foster community partnerships and deliver outreach to empower residents to document lived histories.

Skills

Communication

Team management

Budget oversight

ISAD(G) knowledge

Public-facing archives

Education

Master’s degree in Archives or Collections Management

Tools

CALM cataloguing system

Job description

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking a Borough Archivist to lead the Archives & Local Studies service on a fixed-term maternity cover through December 2027. Based in the Borough, you will oversee day‑to‑day collections care, cataloguing physical and digital materials, and ensure compliance with information rights and sector standards.

You will drive projects with the Bi‑Borough Archives Manager, manage a small team, support outreach to communities, and guide certification and