Senior Archivist WCC625224

As a Senior Archivist providing Maternity Cover at Westminster City Archives you can make your own powerful contribution to our success. Responsible for the management, care and development of our extensive collections, you'll ensure we meet sector standards while delivering an inclusive, engaging and high-quality service that empowers our communities to read, learn and connect. Leading and supporting the Westminster City Archives team, and participating in a people leaders forum, you'll also manage the acquisition of new collections and the provision of expert advice.

Your day-to-day tasks will include reviewing our collection and customer service related policies, improving the archive's service performance and resource monitoring, and working with neighbourhood groups and local communities to build effective networks and attract new collections. Other vital tasks will include leading on the access, acquisition and management of collections, encouraging customer engagement through our website, social media and other platforms, and helping to ensure that the correct systems provide the environmental conditions necessary for the collection's care and preservation.

You'll also identify ways in which we can further utilise the collections, with support from the Archives Manager develop new income streams and apply for external funding, and be responsible for the efficient running of the public search room and enquiry service. Representing our organisation across the archive sector, nurturing an inclusive culture within your team, and helping them to respond positively to new challenges, we'll also expect you to be responsible for ensuring business continuity and a safe working environment. Committed to delivering an inclusive, high-quality customer focused service, you'll be a strong advocate for placing the archive at the heart of its community, and identify opportunities to provide a more collaborative and holistic offer.

To be a success in this important role you should have well developed experience of engaging communities with heritage collections, be capable of leading and managing a committed team of specialist professionals, and be ready to take responsibility for guiding them through change. With practical knowledge of performance management and the ability to build trust and provide constructive feedback as you encourage and develop your team, your empathetic communication and listening skills will enable you to interact with a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and audiences.

It's important that you have a thorough understanding of income generation and financial processes in public service and cultural organisations, good working knowledge of relevant legislation, government guidance and professional standards, and an awareness of the purpose of annual business planning and how to motivate other people. Enthusiastic and approachable, and with a genuine passion for the role of public libraries and archives, you should also have a strong awareness of the importance of health and safety and the maintenance of a safe environment for your colleagues and customers.

You must have a recognised qualification in archives or a related information management discipline, plenty of post-qualification, hands‑on experience with collections, and well developed knowledge of relevant legislation such as GDPR, FOI and Copyright. Capable of prioritising and managing competing workloads in a busy, customer facing role, and ready to use insights and feedback to continuously develop our service, you should have a good understanding of council priorities, the nature of working in a political environment, and ability to build partnerships within a large organisation. With this in mind, we'll expect you to have a strong commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, be skilled at setting clear expectations and direction, and be capable of holding people to account for delivery.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is Our Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.

#J-18808-Ljbffr