Senior Digital Archivist (Transfer Lead)

About us:

Archives matter. Without records, we could not hold government to account, carry out pioneering research or learn from the past. Whether they are websites, the evidence heard by inquiries or the algorithms which support official decision-making, the survival of our digital public records is vital.

The National Archives is the archive of UK Government and the courts. We are one of the world’s leading digital archives. Our business strategy, Archives for Everyone, describes our vision to become an inclusive, entrepreneurial, and disruptive archive that harnesses emerging technology to reaffirm and transform our historic mission for the digital age.

The Digital Archiving department’s role is to bring digital records into the archive, preserve them for the future and open up access for diverse audiences. We build and operate a suite of digital products and services to enable this, some of which are used by other archives and heritage organisations internationally.

The department offers a supportive, welcoming, and collegiate working environment. We work in multidisciplinary agile teams, focused on delivering innovative services that ensure the digital Public Record survives, thrives and is useful.

We are based in the beautiful surroundings of Kew, easily accessible by public transport, car and bike. Staff benefits include admission to a range of exhibitions at national museums and galleries; access to nearby Kew Gardens; on-site gym, therapists and wellbeing resources; restaurant, shop and staff bar; discounts with local businesses. Our excellent Civil Service benefits package includes the opportunity to join the defined-benefit Civil Service Alpha Pension Scheme, which offers an average employer contribution rate of 27% of salary.


About the role:

The National Archives collects and secures the future of the public record, preserving it for the nation and making it as accessible and available as possible. Our collection is one of the largest in the world, containing over 11 million historical records from mediæval parchment to modern papers, digital documents, datasets, and tweets. The records we collect are increasingly created, managed, and transferred to us digitally.

The Senior Digital Archivist for Transfer will act as the focal point for all Digital Transfer activities and will take responsibility for ensuring this critical area is positively led and visible.

The role will actively engage with government departments (and other public record bodies), to provide guidance, advice and facilitate required procedures related to the transfer of the digital records sent to The National Archives.

They will ensure the records and their associated metadata are properly documented and prepared for transfer along with supporting the creation and delivery of a high quality and robust digital transfer service to government, which requires keeping abreast of the evolving challenges of transferring increasingly complex born-digital materials.


About you:

You are seeking to develop a career in a world leading institution using your skills and experience to meet the challenges presented by digital records. You are enthusiastic, organised and an excellent communicator who is keen to join the Digital Archiving team and lead on the challenges of transferring the digital public record.

You enjoy the challenge of finding solutions to complex problems and will frequently look for opportunities to do things better. You love to learn and to share knowledge with others.

This is a Fixed Term Maternity cover for 6 months with possibility of extension.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

We would particularly like to encourage applicants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in archives, including those who identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT+), from Black, Asian and minority ethnic cultural backgrounds, those who are neurodivergent, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.


How to apply:

If you are an internal applicant: please do not use the link on this page. Please apply via your employee Workday account.

If you are an external applicant: to submit your application please click the link below.

Museum Website: https://nationalarchives.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers/job/Kew/Senior-Digital-Archivist--Transfer-Lead-_JR200160