Archive Services Officer

Starting salary: £29,622 per year
Contract type: 12 month fixed term contract
Grade: 2
Location: John Sinclair House, Edinburgh, EH8 9NX

Working Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Interviews: To be held in person at Historic Environment Scotland John Sinclair House

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of dedicated professionals who document, care for, and provide access to one of Scotland’s National Collections. With physical archives dating from the 17th century through to the most recent digital archives, and extensive library collections, it is a remarkable collection focused on the entirety of the historic environment.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years) + 11.5 public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

• Monitor and triage internal and external customer enquiries supporting quality and timely responses, responding directly to archive enquiries and escalating sales and licensing enquiries to the public service Archivists.

• Assist with the preparation and delivery of the archives access and engagement programme, including invigilating the Search Room & Library, group visits to the search room and administration of the Archive Talks programme.

• Develop and maintain knowledge of the archive collections and webservices, and wider Historic Environment Scotland work, to inform responses to user enquiries.

• Following established procedures and handling training, retrieve archive items from the stores for use in enquiries and in the search room, reshelving items afterwards.

• Contribute to discussions regarding continuous service improvement and the content of the engagement programme.

• Assist with building and managing stakeholder relationships (internal and external) to ensure customer satisfaction.

• Assist with research, special initiatives, lectures and exhibitions and other activities within the Archives forward plan.

• Occasional travel to sites across the UK to assist with outreach activities.

• Other duties delegated by the Head or Deputy Head of Archives.
  

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience.

Essential Criteria:

• A demonstrable commitment to heritage access and engagement work (for example archive, library or museum) as a career with experience of working in an heritage setting.
  

• Excellent attention to detail and proven ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and motivation when performing routine and repetitive tasks.
  

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
  

• Experience in delivering quality customer service in a friendly and professional manner.
  

• The ability to be a good team worker and to work with minimal supervision.
  

• A flexible approach and willingness to learn new skills, practices, procedures and to build a knowledge of the HES archives and library.
  

• A high standard of computer literacy and IT skills including using Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  

• A minimum of 3 qualifications at SCQF Level 6, including English and Maths or demonstrable relevant experience

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at recruit@hes.scot or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.