This job was advertised in yesterday's Guardian and will be in the next
Society of Archivists' Newsletter
HEAD OF ARCHIVE INSPECTION SERVICES
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE - KEW
The Public Record Office (PRO) is seeking an experienced archivist with an
in-depth knowledge of the UK archival scene in general, and of the local
authority archives sector in particular, to act as the Head of Archive
Inspection Services.
Background
Archive Inspection Services, comprising three professionally qualified
archivists, acts as a centre of expertise on archival practice and archives
management. As head of the unit you will have responsibility for planning
its work and for ensuring delivery of all business plan targets.
The essence of the unit's work is to formulate policy and standards and to
monitor, through a programme of inspection visits, storage conditions and
access facilities in 240 places of deposit for public records throughout
England and Wales. Places of deposit are appointed by the Keeper of Public
Records, exercising powers delegated to her by the Lord Chancellor under the
Public Records Act 1958 s.4(1). It is on the basis of your recommendations
that the Keeper will decide whether a record office is suitable for
appointment as a place of deposit: in practice, the decision will usually
rest with you.
Responsibilities
PRO inspections, which are carried out by all three members of the unit, are
comprehensive in character, covering records storage, public access
facilities, finding aids, conservation, ICT applications, and record office
management. Inspections also consider provisions for records management,
including electronic records. The written report of an inspection visit,
which needs both to keep a clear focus on the main issues and to highlight
important points of detail, is frequently circulated to the relevant
Committee of elected Councillors.
The inspection work forms the platform for the unit's strategic objective of
ensuring that appropriate conditions of storage and access to public records
are provided in places of deposit. Inspections also support the PRO's work
to advise places of deposit in applying for funding from the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) and other bodies. Archive Inspection Services has
compiled, managed and carried out three detailed assessments of need (known
as the Archival Mapping Projects), covering over 150 archival institutions
in England and Wales, with the head of the unit acting as the Mapping
Project Manager. This work has involved careful diplomacy with leading
professional bodies, such as the National Council on Archives (NCA), the
Society of Archivists and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local
Government (ACALG). You will take on a key role in presenting the findings
of the second phase and in moving forward into the third phase of the
English Archival Mapping Project.
The Head of Archive Inspection Services has general responsibility for the
PRO's relations with ACALG (most of whom manage places of deposit), the
Society of Archivists, and other professional bodies such as the British
Records Association. You will need to have an in-depth knowledge of the UK
archival scene (the main record offices and leading professional
associations) essential for the diplomatic aspects of the role, and will be
required to attend the main professional conferences to keep up to date with
the latest technical developments. You may also be required to give
presentations at professional seminars and conferences and at Regional
Archives Councils and cross-sectoral cultural forums. You will need to
possess or develop an understanding of cross-sectoral and cultural heritage
issues.
You will be required to represent the PRO on the BSI Committee which has
recently produced the new version of the British Standard on archival
storage (BS 5454) and which is now working on a follow-up guide. You will
have a place on the Public Services Quality Group Steering Committee and you
will liaise closely with the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts on
developing a checklist of public access facilities and services for use on
inspection visits.
In the area of policy/strategy, you will be required to advise places of
deposit on the implications of freedom of information, ensuring they are
equipped to meet their future statutory requirements. You may be asked to
help with the drafting of correspondence at ministerial level. The advent
of PFI projects, involving the construction of new places of deposit and the
provision of associated services by private sector providers, requires the
PRO to make clear rulings on the key functions which must be carried out by
the public sector, and you will play a significant role in giving this
advice.
Person Specification:
Essential
1. A track record of successfully managing elements of an archive
service and delivering results to targets
2. A professional qualification in archive administration or,
exceptionally, equivalent experience
3. Knowledge of the archive sector in general and of places of deposit
4. Excellent written communication skills and a high standard of
presentational skills
5. A good track record of managing staff and of deploying resources
effectively
6. Sound judgement and a high level of influencing/diplomatic skills
Desirable:
1. Project management skills
2. Understanding of freedom of information and its implications
3. Knowledge and experience of cross sectoral issues
4. Experience in survey methodologies
Salary: £29,208 to £35,093 pa
Contact: Dawn Robinson in the Personnel Department, PRO, Kew,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU or telephone on 020-8392-5335 (24 hour answer
phone) or e-mail [log in to unmask]
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