Project Archivist

East Sussex County Council; Brighton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government body in Brighton is seeking a Project Archivist to catalogue and make accessible the archives of renowned illustrator Raymond Briggs. The ideal candidate will have a background in Archival Science, strong organisational skills, and experience in outreach activities. This role offers the opportunity to work within a supportive team and engage a wide audience with archival materials.

Benefits

Diverse range of benefits

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience cataloguing archive collections to ISAD(G) standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working with volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Appraise and catalogue the archive of Raymond Briggs.
• Supervise volunteers and manage outreach activities.
• Maintain project systems and processes.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Initiative

Attention to detail

Volunteer management

Education

Qualification in Archival Science

Tools

CALM

Job description

Job Description

Are you passionate about preserving archival records for the benefit of current and future generations?

The Keep operates as a partnership between East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Sussex. The East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Record Office (ESBHRO) team runs a busy public service which provides access to the collections we hold, cares for our collections in our stores and through our conservation service, catalogues and answers enquiries on our collections, delivers an engagement and communications programme, digitises documents, and develops digital resources to enhance access to archives.

Following a successful bid for an Archives Revealed grant from The National Archives (TNA), we are now looking for a Project Archivist to deliver a time‑limited project to appraise, catalogue and make accessible the archive of renowned illustrator and author Raymond Briggs.

Reporting to one of the Archivists, you will also work alongside the public service, digital development and communications, and conservation staff.

The post holder will work to agreed timescales and within budget, recruit and supervise/work with volunteers, appraise records for archival value and catalogue records using CALM, maintain systems and processes used to carry out/monitor the project, carry out administrative tasks associated with the project, and work with public engagement colleagues to deliver an outreach and engagement programme, including delivering talks and events.

To successfully realise the project, we are looking for a qualified Archivist with experience of working to deadlines, creating archive catalogues, a keen attention to detail and a passion for engaging audiences with archive collections.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Demonstrate organisational skills and be able to work as part of a team to deliver agreed, time‑specific project outcomes within budget.
• Show an ability to work on their own initiative and prioritise their work effectively, as well as take direction from senior colleagues.
• Be an effective communicator, able to liaise with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Have demonstrable experience of cataloguing archive collections to ISAD(G) standards using relevant archive systems, such as CALM.
• Have proven experience of working with volunteers and delivering outreach activities with archival material.

Manual handling of documents and containers will be required.

Apply for the Role

To apply for the role, please click the apply now button above to submit a current CV and supporting statement, detailing how you meet the criteria outlined above, before the closing date on this advert.

Please download the job description and person specification for more information.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page.

Interviews will be held in person at The Keep in Falmer.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion, please contact Ellie King, Archivist, on [e-mail] .

About Us

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term‑time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.