Location
Archives Centre, 10 St. Ann's Street, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£50,778 per annum

About the Role
As a Senior Archivist providing maternity cover at Westminster City Archives, you will play a key role in managing, caring for, and developing our extensive collections. You will ensure compliance with sector standards while delivering an inclusive, engaging, and high-quality service that empowers communities to read, learn, and connect. Leading and supporting the Westminster City Archives team, you will participate in a people leaders forum and manage the acquisition of new collections alongside providing expert advice.
Your responsibilities will include reviewing collection and customer service policies, improving service performance, monitoring resources, and working with neighbourhood groups and local communities to build networks and attract new collections. You will lead on access, acquisition, and management of collections, encourage customer engagement through digital platforms, and ensure environmental conditions meet preservation standards.
Additionally, you will identify opportunities to further utilise the collections, develop new income streams with support from the Archives Manager, apply for external funding, and oversee the efficient running of the public search room and enquiry service. Representing Westminster City Archives within the archive sector, you will nurture an inclusive team culture, respond positively to new challenges, and ensure business continuity and a safe working environment.
Committed to delivering an inclusive, customer-focused service, you will advocate for placing the archive at the heart of its community and identify opportunities for a more collaborative and holistic offer.

Experience
Well-developed experience engaging communities with heritage collections and leading a committed team of specialist professionals. Practical knowledge of performance management, income generation, financial processes in public service and cultural organisations, and relevant legislation including GDPR, FOI, and Copyright. Experience managing competing workloads in a busy, customer-facing environment and working within a political organisation.

About you
Empathetic communicator with strong listening skills, capable of interacting with diverse colleagues, stakeholders, and audiences. Enthusiastic and approachable with a genuine passion for public libraries and archives. Strong awareness of health and safety and maintaining a safe environment. Skilled at building trust, providing constructive feedback, setting clear expectations, and holding people accountable. Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Able to motivate and guide teams through change and deliver high-quality, inclusive services aligned with council priorities.

Qualifications
Recognised qualification in archives or a related information management discipline. Extensive post-qualification, hands-on experience with collections. Good understanding of annual business planning and the ability to build partnerships within a large organisation.

Additional Information
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers who meet the essential criteria will be automatically invited to interview under our scheme.