Vaults Assistant

Box; Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

BFI seeks a Vaults Assistant to retrieve, transport and re-file archive assets, with strict adherence to nitrate handling procedures and safety regulations.

You will support the Stories in Motion project, helping deliver digitisation objectives and ensure secure preservation of the national collection. Initial interviews 6 October 2026; closing date 21 September 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience working with archive collections or film/video materials.
• Experience driving vans and handling heavy materials.
• Ability to lift and maneuver heavy loads safely.
• Experience working at height and using ladders safely.
• Clean UK manual driving licence and safe driving record.

Responsibilities

• Retrieve archive assets from storage using cataloguing/tracking systems.
• Ensure safe, secure, timely delivery of archive holdings to internal and external clients.
• Re-file assets with accuracy, maintaining precise location control.
• Accurately barcode, label and track archive materials.
• Drive BFI vans as required to transport archive holdings.

Skills

Archive experience

Van driving

Material handling

Health & safety

Ladder work

Tools

Asset cataloguing systems

Tracking systems

Job description

Fixed-Term (until 31 January 2029), full time (41 hours a week).

To retrieve, transport, and accurately re-file film, video, and digital assets within the holdings of the BFI National Archive, always ensuring the highest standards of collections care. The Vaults Assistant will handle all collection materials – particularly nitrate film – with exceptional care, strictly adhering to the BFI’s nitrate handling procedures and safety regulations. While maintaining the security, integrity, and long-term preservation of all holdings throughout the retrieval, transportation, and storage processes.

This rolewillsupportthe collections review, insightand digitisation objectivesand deliverables of the National Lottery-funded project ‘Stories in Motion’ supported by the BFI Screen Heritage National Lottery Fund.

‘Stories in Motion’ is athree-year programme designed to open the BFI National Archive to wider and diverse audiences, discover new collections, secure the UK’s at-risk videotape screen heritage, and build a resilient, specialist, skilled and diverse workforce for the future.

The project aims to:

• Increaseequitablepublic engagement with the UK’s screen heritage
• Embed inclusive, community-ledand collaborative practice across the BFI National Archive,
• Strengthen understanding, improving transparency and discoverability of the national collection
• Build sector resilience through partnershipsand long-term workforce development

What you’ll do

• Accurately retrieve archive assets from storage using the appropriate cataloguing and tracking systems provided.
• Ensure the safe, secure and timely delivery of archive holdings to internal and external clients.
• Re-file all assets with complete accuracy, always maintaining precise location control.
• Accurately barcode, label and track archive materials in accordance with established procedures.
• Drive BFI vans as required to transport archive holdings safely and efficiently.

What you’ll bring

• Previous relevant experience working in an archive and/or with collections materials.
• Demonstrable experience driving vans and regularly loading/unloading heavy materials.
• Ability to lift and manoeuvre heavy loads and equipment safely.
• Experience working at height, including climbing ladders safely.
• Valid UK manual driving licence with a safe driving record.

First interviews will be held on Tuesday 6 October 2026

BFI supports diversity and inclusion and, as an organisation, recognises the need to address under-representation within its teams. As such, BFI strongly welcome and encourages applicants from our under-represented groups who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are ethnically diverse.

#LI-DNI

The closing date for this position is 21/09/2026 at 23:59