File Format Analyst National Archives

• Vacancy for File Format Analyst at The National Archives

4 July 2021

Richmond upon Thames, London

Fixed Term

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Within The National Archives, the Digital Archiving team has a crucial role in safeguarding the Digital Public Record for future generations. We have the ambition to collect, preserve and provide access to a diversity of born digital formats, ranging from documents and datasets to algorithms and complex systems.

In order to know how to preserve records we must first understand what we have. We created PRONOM, a database of detailed file format information, in 2001 and have continued to support it since. PRONOM and the related file format identification tool, DROID, are used by archives and cultural heritage organisations around the world to identify their file formats so that they can plan for the future and ensure the preservation of this vial digital data.

As our File Format Analyst, you will provide essential support to the digital preservation team at The National Archives and your work will also benefit the global digital archiving community. You will carry out detailed analysis of digital files, help support other institutions by answering enquiries, and build and share your expertise. There will be opportunities to develop ideas to make our tools better.

You will work with a diverse, highly skilled team including digital archivists and data engineers.

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.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site.