Senior Archivist (Military Records Project)
Job Overview
* Salary: £39,567 per annum
* Contract type: Permanent
* Band: F / Senior Executive Officer
* Closing date: Sunday 25th January 2026 at midnight
About Us
As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. Our strategic vision, "Archives for Everyone", sets us the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive – an inclusive, entrepreneurial, and disruptive institution. This transformation will take time, focus, effort, and daring.
About The Role
The National Archives is receiving a vast historic collection of 9 million plus military personnel service records. This role involves leading the work that the Cataloguing, Taxonomy and Data department is delivering as part of an organisational‑wide project to process these records and make them accessible.
Responsibilities include governance of the wider project, anticipating and communicating problems and risks, maintaining oversight and day‑to‑day processing of the service records’ metadata, co‑ordinating with internal and external stakeholders, line managing staff and devising bespoke processes and new technologies to support project goals.
About You
You are enthusiastic, organised, excellent at communicating and building relationships, and keen to develop your career in a leading institution. You have experience working with archives, records and data, can think creatively for improvement, and have an eye for detail without losing the big picture.
Role and Responsibilities
* Lead the Cataloguing, Taxonomy and Data department’s work on the MoD Service Records project and devise, implement and document bespoke processes to support the project’s goals.
* Identify and address data quality issues, anticipate problems and risks and work with the broader team to set mitigation mechanisms.
* Maintain oversight of day‑to‑day data processing operations, managing workflow and cataloguing rates for service personnel records.
* Work with experts to develop parameters for using new technologies, lead trials of new technologies and integrate findings into future operations for born‑digital record transfers.
* Co‑ordinate with internal and external stakeholders to support project delivery, negotiate use of shared resources, provide training and agree standards for metadata supplied to digitisation partners.
* Attend steering committee and other project sub‑groups, explaining operational realities and expanding possibilities with the wider team.
* Line‑manage staff, including performance management, development and recruitment.
Working Conditions
* Normal office environment
* Display Screen Equipment user
Person Specification
Essential
* Professional qualification in archives and records management (or a related subject) or equivalent experience, with a passion for cataloguing, metadata and applying digital technologies to archival resources.
* Significant experience of data management using digital tools and demonstrable ability to use Excel functions to manipulate and analyse data at scale.
* Strong understanding of content sensitivity and information security in relation to historical records and data.
* Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to explain and communicate complex or technical issues to diverse stakeholders, including senior leaders.
* Ability to envision new ways of working in response to novel challenges and changing expectations.
* Ability to take tasks and projects to completion, manage competing priorities, and demonstrate strong professional motivation and commitment to personal development.
* Demonstrable ability to work to a high degree of accuracy, attention to detail and consistency.
Desirable
* Interest in the application of new technologies for preserving and providing access to archives.
* Experience of working with EAD or another XML schema.
* Awareness of or interest in Python or another programming language.
Other Requirements
* Combination of onsite and home working is available; applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60 % of their work time.
* Some manual handling of historic collections required.
Benefits
Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, on‑site gym, discounted rates at our on‑site café, and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.
Move from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers but may be eligible for other government schemes such as Tax‑Free Childcare. Determine eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non‑disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
To request an adjustment, contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk before the closing date. Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application to inform us of any needed changes.
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Nationality Requirements
* UK nationals
* Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
* Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit and open competition. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates who meet minimum criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants at risk of redundancy who meet the minimum requirements for this vacancy. This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Contact Point For Applicants
* Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
* Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, contact The National Archives via email at careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/.
Seniority level
* Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
* Full‑time
Job function
* Education and Training
Industries
* Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
The National Archives is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found.
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