Archivist

Hours: 37 Hours Per Week

Interview Date: 7th May 2026

Closing Date: 27th April 2026

Salary: Hay Band A (£34,433 - £39,152 FTE)

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**

Inspire is seeking an archivist to join the team at Nottinghamshire Archives.

It is an exciting time to join as we embark upon a significant programme of digitisation and increased digital access. At Inspire we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone can engage with the Nottinghamshire story. We deliver the service on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council. Holding over 5 million archives dating back over 800 years we are the record office for both the county and the city of Nottingham, and for the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Your work will be varied and will involve supporting customers and our team of archive officers. This role has line management responsibilities for an archive officer. You will also contribute to our youth volunteer engagement programme, our digital programme and to our records management service, particularly the appraisal of council records.

You will have good communication, organisation and teamworking skills. The ideal candidate will be capable of working on their own initiative and have experience of supervision. This post is based between our archives base in the city of Nottingham and our records centres in Nottingham and Ollerton. Therefore, a driving licence and access to a car is essential. This post is not suitable for home working.

We are looking for someone with a qualification in archives management and experience of working in an archive. Current students on a relevant archive course are welcome to apply.

Inspire is committed to applying its Equality Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. The selection process will be carried out without regard to disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, pregnancy and maternity or trade union membership.

For more information, please contact ruth.imeson@inspireculture.org.uk.

Job Description

Job Title: Archivist

Hay Band A

Job Purpose

To provide specialist, technical and professional skills for the development and delivery of an effective archives service and to ensure that the service is inclusive and responsive to the needs of customers and local communities.

To enhance the enjoyment of and access to Nottinghamshire’s heritage.

Key Responsibilities

1. To provide professional and specialist archives, records management, and heritage advice, guidance and support to colleagues and the public.
2. To lead, manage, motivate, organise and coordinate the activities of archive officers to deliver a consistent high-quality service.
3. To manage the duty rotas, enquiry, research, reprographics and document production elements of the archive service. 
4. To identify and engage with customers, community groups, organisations, volunteers, partners and stakeholders to increase their use of and influence upon archives.
5. To develop and deliver high quality programmes of exhibitions, events and activities at Nottinghamshire Archives, libraries and other venues
6. To contribute to the development, maintenance and operation of archive, arts, library and learning systems and procedures.
7. To supervise and train staff and volunteers where required.
8. To contribute to collection management, cataloguing, indexing and promotion of archive and records management resources.
9. The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) contractual requirements, and professional best practice.
   
   

Education and Knowledge Required for the role

1. Postgraduate diploma in archive administration or Master’s Degree (MA,MSc,MPhil)
2.  Knowledge of Microsoft Office software
3. Knowledge of statutory, legislative and archive sector standards.
   
   

Skills and Experience

1. Experience of archival cataloguing software, such as CALM.
2. Experience of working in an archive.
3. Experience of supervising staff or volunteers.

Role Dimensions

1. Service delivery in Nottinghamshire Archives alongside outreach across the county.
2. Frontline delivery of services including the support and supervision of frontline staff and volunteers.

Inspire Competencies

Customer Service (Competency Level 3)

1. Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer
2. Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague
3. Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate

Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 4)

1. Advises and promotes the Inspire Service Offer to customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them
2. Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively
3. Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer
4. Leads work to develop, enhance or create new elements of the Inspire service offer and where appropriate ensure there is an integrated customer offer and journey
   
   

Communicating well (Competency Level 4)

1. Communicates effectively in person, one-one-one, and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation
2. Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions / can do approach
3. Debates or discusses positively with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others and reaches agreement
4. Communicates complex information concisely and clearly, negotiates effectively across teams, services or with external partners and reaches agreement with all affected parties
   
   

Working together (Competency Level 4)

1. Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others
2. Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others
3. Makes and implements decisions fairly, using good judgement and with integrity, in line with Inspire values and role modelling Inspire management and leadership behaviours
4. Forms and maintains effective internal and external working relationships across the organisation, with partners and stakeholders motivated by achieving the best for our customers and in best interests of all concerned

Managing others (Competency Level 2)

1. Effectively supervises and supports the day-to-day activities of a colleague(s) to enable them to perform their duties day-to-day, planning and co-ordinating the activity of colleague(s) to deliver tasks or activities over time to meet service demand effectively and efficiently
2. Manages and reviews performance and attendance of individuals effectively, setting goals, agreeing targets and organisations training as needed, tackling poor performance or attendance if required using Inspire policies

Leading the way (Competency Level 3)

1. Incorporate the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders
2. Articulate and share Inspire’s mission, vision and to enthuse and focus the efforts of colleagues
3. Contributes to the decision-making process, stands by decisions made and owns them implementing them
   
   

Working efficiently and cost effectively (Competency Level 3)

1. Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets
2. Plans ahead, making best use if time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits
3. Contributes to the decision-making process, stands by decisions made and owns them implementing them

Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 6b)

1. Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Degree (service related) or Degree + post grad service specific qualification

**Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**