Archives Service Officer Full Time

This is an exciting opportunity to work at Dorset History Centre and help expand access to heritage and archives for all. Dorset History Centre is the principal archive repository and local studies collection for the county of Dorset, preserving over 1,000 years of history. We are ambitious to grow both our physical storage capacity (now at over 96% capacity) and our audiences for the future. Dorset History Centre has received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Past Lives, Future Proofed project. Thanks to National Lottery players this project aims to provide new and expanded storage for Dorset’s archives to keep them safe for the future, and to improve access to archives through a programme of activities and public engagement. This project will help widen and diversify our holdings, ensuring that our collections are more representative of communities in Dorset today. We aim to increase knowledge and skills relating to archives across the county, raising standards in the acquisition and preservation of oral histories and in digital preservation, ensuring that heritage at risk of being lost forever is preserved for the future. We have received just over £603,000 from the Heritage Fund for the initial development phase, which will help us progress our plans to apply for a full grant of £3.8 million, with the delivery or second stage project predicted to run from 2028-2031. There will be a gap in the funding between the development and delivery stages but there will be a project archivist role within both stages. The project archivist role is crucial to the success of the overall project.

What’s in it for you?

This is an exciting time to join Dorset History Centre at the start of the Past Lives, Future Proofed project. You will work with a range of colleagues to deepen your knowledge and understanding of Dorset’s rich history. You will gain valuable experience for a career in archives, including helping to revise and update Dorset History Centre’s acquisition and collections’ development policies. You will also gain valuable experience in accessioning and cataloguing using Epexio software which is widely used in the archive sector and conforms to ISAD (G). There will also be opportunities to gain practical experience of volunteer and staff supervision.

What you can expect to be doing?

You will work closely with the Principal Archivist and our existing team of 3 FTE archivists to support the successful delivery of the Past Lives, Future Proofed project. You will accession and catalogue digital and hard copy archives using Epexio software. You will supervise volunteers working to list collections including the Poole Lighthouse Arts Centre archive, and a sample from the Dorset Quarter Sessions rolls. You will collaborate with museums and community history organisations to help with knowledge and skills’ sharing activities around looking after archives in their collections. You will ensure that appropriate statistics and feedback are collated to facilitate evaluation of and reporting on the project to the Heritage Fund. You will also help with marketing and promotion of the History Centre and this project, for example writing blogs and social media posts or delivering talks about your work.

About You

The post holder will ideally have experience of cataloguing large, complex archive collections and will be familiar with using archival cataloguing software, such as Epexio. Knowledge of Quarter Session archives would be an advantage but is not essential. This position has no significant travel requirement although occasional travel, for example to other heritage organisations in Dorset, or to the Lighthouse, Poole, will be required. Please see the job description and context statement for further information.

Further Information

For further discussion about the role please contact Claire Skinner, Principal Archivist, [email protected] or telephone 01305 250550. This role is full-time (37 hours a week) fixed term for eighteen months. Dorset Council operates a flexible working policy. You may be required to work occasional weekends and evenings. There will be limited opportunities for working from home by prior arrangement with your line manager, but the majority of work will be on site either at Dorset History Centre or at sites where archives may be being held and surveyed prior to transfer to the History Centre.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it’s not just about the work we do, it’s about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You Will

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.