At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and digitise the Baripen Roma Archive, preserving vital cultural heritage.
- Company: Compas Charity, a community-focused organisation in Peterborough.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, contribute to cultural preservation, and engage with diverse communities.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with volunteers and academic partners in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by safeguarding Roma heritage and empowering local communities.
- Qualifications: Professional archive training or equivalent experience; knowledge of archival standards.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
About Compas Charity
Compas Charity is a community-based organisation based in Peterborough, working to support communities through advice provision, education, cultural activities, heritage projects and community engagement.
Compas runs the Peterborough Cultural Centre and delivers projects focused on inclusion, empowerment and preservation of cultural heritage.
The Baripen Archive & Cultural Centre project aims to preserve, digitise and share Roma heritage materials, oral histories and community stories that are currently at risk of being lost.
Overview of the Commission - Lead the professional management, digitisation, cataloguing and long-term preservation of the Baripen Roma Archive, ensuring compliance with archival standards and the Heritage Fund digital and ethical requirements.
Key responsibilities
- Develop an archival preservation plan and catalogue structure
- Oversee digitisation workflow, metadata standards and digital storage
- Implement open-access standards (with sensitive materials protocols)
- Handle accessioning, conservation, and secure storage of materials
- Train volunteers and Roma community trainees in archival methods
- Work with academic partners on research & interpretation
- Ensure data security, copyright compliance and accessibility
- Produce preservation policies, cataloguing guides, and archive finding aids
- Support exhibitions and public engagement where appropriate
Person specification
Essential
- Professional archive training or equivalent experience
- Knowledge of archival metadata standards (e. g., Dublin Core)
- Experience handling sensitive collections / oral history materials
- Understanding of digital preservation and ethics
- Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
Desirable
- Experience with community heritage projects
- Knowledge of Roma history or migration/holocaust collections
- Outputs
- Fully catalogued digital archive
- Archive policies & workflows
- Volunteer training materials
- Accessible public digital interface
Project Archivist in Peterborough employer: Compas Charity
As a Project Archivist with us, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the Baripen Roma Archive. We offer a supportive work culture that values professional development and community engagement, providing opportunities for training and collaboration with academic partners. Located in a vibrant area, our organisation prioritises ethical practices and open-access standards, making it an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and impactful work in heritage and digital preservation.
