Job Title: Searchroom & Engagement Assistant Location: Hackney Archives, Dalston E8 Rate: £150 per day PAYE Hours 7 hours per day: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM - 2 Days a Week Length: 6 Weeks Reporting To: Archives Manager Department: Libraries, Culture & Heritage About the Role Hackney Archives is seeking a dedicated Searchroom & Engagement Assistant to deliver exceptional, customer-focused front-line service. You will play a vital role in helping visitors explore, discover, and celebrate Hackney's rich and diverse history while ensuring our unique, irreplaceable collections are protected and preserved. This role coincides with the Black History season. You will actively support events and initiatives focused on Hackney's African and African-Caribbean communities and historic collections. Candidates with research/events experience and lived experience of this community are strongly encouraged to apply. Key Responsibilities Collections Access & Care Invigilate the searchroom, ensuring the security, safe handling, and preservation of fragile historical archives and library collections. Assist with book stock maintenance, accession preparation, retrieval, re-shelving, and organizing open-access materials. Respond to public and internal inquiries via email, phone, letter, or in person. Facilitate reprographics/digitized copy requests to improve collection accessibility and support revenue generation. Support archival cataloging and data improvement processes. Handle low-level cashless payment transactions in the searchroom.Community & Customer Engagement Deliver welcoming, high-quality, and inclusive customer service to all searchroom visitors. Greet visiting groups and lead engaging, informative tours to showcase the archives and services. Create engaging historical content, research guides, and promotional materials for both physical and digital platforms (including social media). Assist in organizing and delivering public engagement events, with a focus on African and African-Caribbean heritage projects. Maintain accurate online information and distribute promotional literature. Key Requirements & Skills Experience Proven experience in a customer-facing role, ideally within an archive, museum, or heritage environment. Hands-on experience working with historical collections, catalogue databases, search engines, and indices. Experience using historic collections for research and translating findings into compelling content or narratives. Experience or strong interest in community engagement, events delivery, and promotional marketing (including social media).Knowledge & Capabilities A strong interest in or lived experience of African/African-Caribbean histories. Understanding of information legislation affecting access and heritage management (Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, and Copyright law). Awareness of searchroom health and safety regulations and standards for historic collection care.Personal Attributes Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a patient, empathetic, and professional approach. Excellent written English skills for answering inquiries and drafting clear collection materials. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and pick up operational processes quickly. Excellent teamwork skills and a commitment to delivering fair, accessible services to all community members. Commercial Services Trading Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy
Searchroom & Engagement Assistant in London employer: Connect2Hackney
Hackney Education is an exceptional employer that prioritises the professional development of its staff while fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. As an Early Years/Child Care Trainer, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's education in Hackney, supported by a dedicated team and access to continuous training and resources. Join us to be part of a community that values diversity, inclusion, and the growth of every individual.
