Location
London Borough of Islington

Hours
Full Time - 35 hours per week

Salary
£41,637 per annum

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Archivist to join Islington Archives and the Islington Heritage Service. Our team is creative, socially focused, and leaders in community-focused and collaborative heritage practice. Based in the Finsbury Library complex on St John Street, Islington Archives is part of the Heritage Service, which also manages Islington Museum, several historic sites including the Clerks’ Well, and borough-wide projects.

The Local History Centre holds the historic Council archives, a large image collection, and several special collections such as the Joe Orton & Kenneth Halliwell collection, Walter Sickert archive, LGBTQ+ archive (with over 4,000 items from the NLHF-funded Islington’s Pride project), and the Sadler’s Wells Theatre archive. We also preserve personal collections from politicians connected with the borough.

Islington is renowned for its radical social and political heritage, including the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt and the pioneering Finsbury Health Centre, created before the NHS. We use this heritage to improve residents’ lives and promote cultural enrichment, community wellbeing, shared local identity, and lifelong learning.

The main responsibilities include managing and developing the archive collections for the benefit of residents by:
- Managing Islington Archives and improving visitor services and the reading room
- Caring for and expanding collections through community projects
- Supporting the development of the Assistant Archivist

Delivering the public engagement programme by:
- Collaborating with Learning and Engagement Managers to devise and deliver learning programmes
- Developing special projects for target audiences
- Working with the Museum team on public exhibitions and associated programmes

Developing Islington Archives by:
- Investigating potential TNA Archive Service Accreditation and delivering a digital preservation strategy
- Contributing to the care and development of the Clerks’ Well
- Collaborating with cultural organisations in Islington to deliver partnerships

The Archivist will work closely with the Curator, Learning and Engagement Managers, and other Heritage Team members including Heritage Project Managers.

Experience
Proven experience in archive management and public engagement within a heritage or museum context is essential. Experience in developing community-based projects and digital preservation strategies is highly desirable.

About you
You will be passionate about heritage and community engagement, with excellent organisational and communication skills. You should be collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering, embodying the values of Islington Council. A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is essential, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities and colleagues.

Qualifications
A relevant professional qualification in archives, heritage, or a related discipline is required. Knowledge of digital preservation standards and archive accreditation processes is advantageous.

Additional Information
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks including proof of right to work in the UK, references, occupational health clearance, and a basic DBS check. Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and provides support for reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and career.