Records Specialist – Family History

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive.

The Records Specialist (Family History) will be part of the team that provides expert knowledge of The National Archives’ records, advising and inspiring a diverse audience of the public, students, academics and the wider archive and government sectors. They will grow and share their expert knowledge of records relating to family history from 1782 to the present day, including census records, the 1939 Register, birth, death and marriage records and other name-rich sources.

The post holder will use their expert knowledge to contribute to our advisory service, giving research advice to our various audiences and sharing knowledge and expertise internally and externally. They will produce high-quality research into the records within their remit and use this research both for academic outputs and for public engagement. Through collaboration with colleagues across the organisation, they will develop and deliver our public engagement, education, and academic programmes, and contribute to corporate initiatives focusing on activities relating to the family history specialist area.

Family history is one of the most popular areas of research for users at The National Archives. The post holder will be expected to make a key contribution to our public engagement programme, developing and delivering outputs such as webinars, public talks, adult learning, podcasts and web content; they may also be expected to co-curate exhibitions. They will also work closely with colleagues to identify and develop commercial opportunities for licensing name-rich records.

The post holder will be expected to develop strong and productive working relationships with organisations in this field such as the Society of Genealogists. They will also be expected to develop a general knowledge of The National Archives’ records and use this knowledge to contribute broadly to our day-to-day public advisory service, on site and online. As a specialist in one of our most popular areas, their knowledge will be in high demand.

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 for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Role and Responsibilities

• To maintain and deepen specialist knowledge of records from 1782 to the present day relating to family history.
• To improve and share knowledge of your specialist area through the creation and delivery of multiple outputs including innovative research guidance, talks, and training aimed at multiple and diverse audiences including the general public, academics and staff.
• To work with colleagues in public engagement roles to develop and deliver inspiring public programmes, including ways for non-research audiences to experience our collections, for example through public talks, podcasts and co-curated displays and exhibitions.
• To participate in the delivery of Collections Expertise and Engagement’s public information services onsite and online through a variety of channels, and proactively work with colleagues to develop and improve these channels.
• To develop and lead cataloguing and access improvement projects for records in your specialist area, where possible securing external resources (for example volunteers) to deliver the project work.
• To use specialist knowledge to advise and support colleagues working on licensed partnerships, identifying possible records series and advising on all aspects of the potential licensing and commercial presentation of those records.
• To contribute knowledge and expertise internally as required (e.g. input to digitisation projects, service delivery enhancements, press events and media interviews, VIP tours, educational products).
• To develop strong and productive networks with organisations working in the family history field.
• To engage with the academic and research sectors, promoting our collections and enhancing our reputation for high-quality research within your specialist area.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Display Screen Equipment user
• Moving items up to 10kg in weight
• May come into contact with distressing material

Person Specification

Essential

• A higher degree in a relevant field; and/or equivalent experience demonstrating deep knowledge of some aspect of the collections relevant to family history from 1782 to the present day.
• The ability to develop specialist knowledge of all the relevant collections.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, with demonstrable ability to interact well and build effective relationships and networks.
• Experience of communicating complex knowledge effectively, to the non-specialist public, verbally and in writing (e.g through public talks, digital outputs).
• Ability to handle a varied and demanding workload, and to manage own priorities within a supportive team environment.
• Track record of delivering projects delivery to time and to budget.

Desirable

• Membership of relevant professional association (e.g. Society of Genealogists, Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives).
• Experience of delivering high quality training or teaching in an adult learning environment.

Other Requirements

• The role is based at our Kew site though some home working is available. Must be prepared to travel to other Government departments as required.
• The post will require working some evenings and weekends to support engagement activities. Time off will be arranged in compensation for these contributions.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

Contact point for applicants

Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk