Archives Collections Manager in Hampshire

Step into a leadership role at Hampshire’s Archives, helping to manage 8 miles of archive treasures. As Archives Collections Manager, you’ll help shape how we organise, develop and care for collections that matter – unique records, images, film and born-digital archives that help communities, researchers and decision-makers understand the past and navigate the future.

The Role

You’ll lead an experienced specialist team (including archivists, a digital archivist and a film curator) and bring together paper, audio-visual and digital collections so they’re preserved, discoverable and ready to be used. This is a role for someone who enjoys combining professional rigour with practical problem-solving—and who can inspire others to do their best work.

What you’ll do

• You’ll take the lead on accessioning, cataloguing and storage management, with a particular focus on making the most of strongroom space and ensuring our collections are managed to high professional standards.
• You will contribute to planning and delivering digital preservation activity and steer improvements to our collections management system so staff and users can find what they need quickly and confidently.
• You’ll also contribute to service-wide priorities such as Accreditation readiness, business continuity and health and safety, whilst building positive relationships with depositors, partners and stakeholders.
• The role includes occasional evening and weekend work to support hires and events, and you’ll participate in encouraging wider use of the service through outreach and digital channels.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll be a qualified archives professional (recognised postgraduate qualification or equivalent) with significant experience working at a professional level and the confidence to make sound, well-reasoned decisions.
• You understand what “good” looks like in collections work, including the standards that underpin Archive Service Accreditation, and you bring the leadership skills to manage, motivate and develop a team.
• You’re comfortable in a digital environment, and are familiar with collections management systems and digital preservation tools.
• You can communicate clearly and credibly with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• You’ll bring political awareness, sensitivity and the ability to lead across teams to the role.

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment. Our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

If this sounds like the job for you, please get in touch.

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.