Vacancy for Conservation Manager - Digitisation at The National Archives

Digital Preservation Coalition; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading archival institution in London seeks an experienced Conservation Manager to oversee digitisation projects. You will manage a team, plan projects, and ensure the preservation of documents while maintaining quality standards. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of paper conservation and project management experience. This role plays a vital part in fostering large-scale digitisation operations.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of paper conservation practices.
• Experience in project management of digitisation operations.
• Skills in managing a team and coaching conservation professionals.

Responsibilities

• Manage a digitisation preparation team for document conservation.
• Lead project planning and guide on conservation treatments.
• Supervise external contractors and maintain quality standards.

Skills

Paper conservation practice

Project management

Financial data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Job description

• Vacancy for Conservation Manager - Digitisation at The National Archives

Vacancy for Conservation Manager - Digitisation at The National Archives

4 September 2022

London

Fixed Term

Summary

The National Archives (TNA), home to over 11 million records and one of the largest archival collections in the world, constantly pushes the boundaries of access to its collections. Digitisation projects at an unprecedented scale allow for digital access to our collections in the hundreds of millions of documents per year.

Digitisation projects are a key part of The National Archives business, access and preservation strategies. They involve multiple departments working interdependently to bring a project together, and allow us to build valuable partnerships with external clients and companies. This role has an impact on the ability of the organisation to deliver large scale digitisation projects, many of which have a strong commercial benefit. Maintaining the balance between the preservation needs of the collection and the commercial aspects of the project, this role is crucial in facilitating the smooth running of these projects to ensure timely delivery while upholding the professional reputation of TNA.

Responsibilities

About you:

You will manage a digitisation preparation team to deliver the conservation and document preparation requirements of The National Archives’ digitisation agenda. You will also take the lead on end to end project planning of digitisation operations in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, providing guidance on conservation treatments, timescales and appropriate scanning equipment and processes. You will have awareness of budgetary implications and impacts of decisions or recommendations. You will assist in collating and assessing financial/operational data in order to support the Senior Conservation Manager - Digitisation.

You will have an extensive knowledge of paper conservation practice, and a specialism in the preparation of materials for digitisation, bringing excellent practical skills and an informed approach to delivery of large scale, repetitive and minimal interventive conservation treatments in line with current conservation standards.

The role requires supervision of external contractors to deliver the digitisation agenda in a commercial environment. You will ensure that high standards of document handling and sensitivity to the original material are maintained, both in terms of physical handling and the equipment and methods used.

You will have proven skills in managing a team of conservation professionals in accordance with The National Archives’ Human Resources policies, bringing excellent interpersonal, communication and coaching skills and an informed approach to staff development and performance management.

You will bring the highest professional standards to all aspects of the role and will be expected to make a significant contribution to the development of collection care at The National Archives through best practice and innovation.