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Archivist – 5 Month Fixed Term Contract

London

£27,000

Full Time

37.5 hours a week

ASAP start

About the company

Sue Hill Recruitment are delighted to be working with this London based charity client who is looking to recruit an Archivist on a 5-month Fixed Term Contract basis to cover for an employee that is leaving

You will assist in completing the appraisal of an archive of 180 linear metres/c1400 archive boxes and other items of largely, but not exclusively, twentieth-century missionary records; identify material inappropriate for deposit and relocate those records and other items appropriate for permanent preservation and suitable for research purposes mostly to the SOAS Library, University of London (or occasionally another archive or museum collection).

What you’ll be doing

·         Sort, appraise and list systematically, the records of the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS) currently stored on site, according to agreed guidelines ready for transfer to the SOAS Library, to identify those appropriate for permanent preservation and suitable for research purposes.

• Identify, close and make records of boxes containing sensitive or confidential material, including personal data, in line with the guidelines developed for the project.

• Specifically support completing the appraisal and sorting of personnel record series, which has been managed as a separate but parallel project and prepare the records for transfer.

• Collate from these records additions and amendments for the online register of missionaries, as time allows.

• Prepare suitable records for transfer to permanent preservation at the SOAS Library, University of London (or possibly the John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, depending on the origination date of the records.)

• Identify records with preservation requirements and arrange conservation or re-housing as necessary.

• Remove for secure long-term storage and/or disposal any records unsuitable for future research purposes, including duplicates.

• Supervise the removal of the archive from its current location (this will usually be to the SOAS Library, University of London, but may be to off-site storage).

• Evaluate the progress of the project against agreed outcomes and methodologies, supporting the project lead in producing and presenting reports for the management group and Archives & Records Advisory Group/Methodist Heritage Committee.

• Liaise with other internal stakeholders such as the House Administration team and Facilities manager.

• Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Director of Engagement or Head of Mission and appropriate to the grade of the post.

Why you will be hired

To be considered for this role you will require:

• Educated to degree level.

• Postgraduate qualification in archive administration (as recognised by the Archives and Records Association).

• Proven archive experience.

• Ability to appraise and catalogue historic archive of records.

• Good understanding of legislative and regulatory requirements for retention of records.

• Appreciation of issues of confidential and sensitive records, and the relevance of equality, diversity and inclusion, and of safeguarding.

• Practical preservation skills.

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage own time while keeping project plan and meeting deadlines.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills, able to engage and work with staff colleagues and make progress reports, verbally and in writing.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications or equivalent including the following: email (Outlook), word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel) and using the internet. Have a willingness to learn new applications and technology as appropriate.

• Previous experience of using specialist archive management software.

• Physically able to lift boxes and volumes, with demonstrable knowledge of good Health and Safety practices in an archive context.