County Archivist

County Archivist

Starting Salary: £48.226 opportunity to progress to £53,460 per annum - pay award pending

Hours: 37 - occasional weekend and evening working.

Location: Hertford
- Fixed Base - some flexible working possible/some travel may be required at times.

Contract Type: Permanent

Directorate:

Resources

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) preserve and promotes resources for the study of Hertfordshire past and present. An integrated archive and local studies service, we care for archive collections that date from 1060.

Our vision is to deliver high‑qualityservicesthat inspire discovery and learning, offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore, understand and enjoy the histories that shape Hertfordshire. We aim to reflect the county’s diverse people,communities and places, strengthening a shared sense of place and supporting creative health and wellbeing and provide access to authentic, trusted information and original records as an Accredited Archive Service.

This is an exciting time to join the service as we move forward with plans for our refreshed ‘Shared Heritage Strategy’ including planning for a future purpose bult archive facility and preparing to move. Alongside this we will exploit technology to improve digital services including new collections management system and full implementation of our digital preservation system; and work in partnership to increase opportunities for access and leaning.

We are looking for someone who shares our ambition to make archives relevant, accessible and inspiring to wider audiences, while ensuring the highest professional standards of collections care and management.

As County Archivist, you will act as senior professional for archives, providing professional expertise in archival practice to manage, preserve and develop the archive collections in accordance with national standards, including Archive Accreditation and relevant legislation.

Reporting to the Head of Service, as a member of the Heritage Services management team, you will work collaboratively with senior colleagues to deliver service priorities and contribute to service planning.

You will directly manage the team of archivists and conservator, working together to high standards of archival practice in delivering archive collections care, cataloguing, conservation and digital preservation. Measuring and improving performance annually.

You will lead the development and implementation of the archive collections management system and its public interface. You will lead change in digital archives, developing and implementing plans, policies and procedures for digital preservation.

You will use your expert knowledge to inform the acquisition and appraisal of new archive collections; negotiate with depositors and stakeholders; and manage legal contracts for the deposit, conservation and storage of archive collections.

You will provide expert archive advice for Heritage Services and communicate with other council officers, including the Records Manager to develop and implement policies relating to the retention and disposal and management of the County Council’s permanent archives.

You will act as the County Council’s lead officer for archive salvage and develop HALS’ disaster management policies, planning and training, including risk assessments.

You will contribute to income generation through delivery of chargeable services, including oversight of reproduction rights for Heritage Services (archives, local studies materials and art works); and identifying sources of external funding for purchase of archives, archive conservation, cataloguing and digitisation. You will manage and deliver archive projects that improve access and preservation.

You will promote the archive collections to a variety of audiences, partners, the media and local groups and societies through talks, visits and other engagement activities and assisting with delivery of customer services when required. This will include occasional events that take place out of hours and at weekends.

Keep up to date with professional developments, advise the Head of Heritage Services on archive issues,…