Parliamentary Archives are recruiting an experienced, dynamic and innovative information management professional who will lead on managing and developing the Parliamentary Archives’ collections management system, online services, acquisitions and cataloguing and digitisation activities.
This post sits within the Preservation and Access team, which is one of four teams in the Archives alongside the Information and Records Management Service, Public Services & Outreach and the Archives Accommodation Programme’s Pack & Track Project team.
The Preservation & Access team brings together responsibility for preservation of records in all forms, their cataloguing and digitisation, and the provision of online access to records and finding aids.
Key strategic priorities for the team include:
- the Transforming Archives’ Services Project, which is introducing a new web interface to the Archives catalogue (Orangeleaf’s Collections Base), a range of new online services for users, and a barcode tracking management system (Axiell Move)
- continuing to embed digital preservation as business-as-usual and expanding the range of digital records to be ingested
- continuing to develop our exemplary collection care service
- increasing our digitisation activity by investigating external partnerships and opportunities
The team is also playing a key role in supporting the Archives Accommodation Programme Pack & Track Project team, which is working to eliminate an appraisal and cataloguing backlog, and to barcode and improve the packaging of all the records in the Victoria Tower.
This post is involved in the acquisition, management and accessibility of records in all their formats and will work closely with Records Management and the Senior Digital Archivist on the evolving requirements and processes for managing the selection, acquisition, cataloguing and ingest of digital records.
They will act as the intelligent client and Senior User on the Transforming Archives Services Project, working closely with the Parliamentary Digital Service and the suppliers, Axiell and Orangeleaf and ensuring resource is available from other Archives’ teams.
They will also provide support to the Pack and Track team cataloguers, in terms of cataloguing planning and advice and by delivering the barcode tracking management system.
The successful candidate will have significant experience of working in archives, or other heritage organisations, records management or information management roles, which could be supplemented by a recognised qualification in records, archives, or information management. They will also have substantial experience of archival cataloguing, experience of improving online access to archival information, knowledge of digital preservation principles and techniques, excellent all-round ICT skills, communication and presentation skills, influencing, persuasion and negotiating skills, experience of participating in projects in a supplier, technical or user role, the ability to gather analyse and specify business requirements for complex systems and/or services, problem-solving skills, the ability to work under pressure to achieve targets and to manage competing requirements of multiple stakeholders and experience of inclusively managing, motivating and developing staff.
For an informal chat, please contact Jennie Lynch +44 (0) 20 7219 1718 or at lynchj [at] parliament.uk