Archives Manager

Please quote ref no: BAS 35/13
Closing date for applications: 14 Apr 2013

Main Description

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs.

We are currently seeking an archives manager to work at our modern complex of offices on the outskirts of Cambridge. Your main role will be to manage and develop the Archives Service to meet the scientific and business needs of BAS and to satisfy the requirements of BAS staff and external users. This will involve improving access, promoting awareness, enquiry service provision, cataloguing duties and management of staff, projects and budgets.

You will have a recognised qualification in archives or records management or equivalent experience of archives management from a previous role. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to provide guidance and training to both scientific and non-scientific users. Advances in information delivery and the potential to unlock scientifically important information mean this is an exciting time to be involved in shaping the future of the BAS Archives Service and we are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead.

The archives manager role sits within the BAS Information Services group which undertakes data management, library services, records management, web development and archiving activities. You will be expected to contribute to cross-cutting projects within this group such as linking archival material with scientific datasets.

Qualifications: Degree, with postgraduate qualification in archives and/or records management
Or
Degree in archives and/or records management
Or
Over 5 years experience of working in a senior role in an Archives Service

Duration: The post is an open-ended, full-time appointment (37 hours per week).

Salary: Salary will be in the range of £26,450 to £29,710 per annum. We offer a generous benefits package including a defined salary pension scheme, free car parking, flexible working hours and 30 days annual leave.

On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at www.antarctica.ac.uk/employment

These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.

Please quote reference: BAS 35/13
Closing date for receipt of application forms is 14th April 2013
Interviews are scheduled to be held w/c 29th April 2013

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.

Formal Description

Archives Manager
Ref No.: BAS 35/13
Closing Date: 14 Apr 2013

1.	Job Title:	Archives Manager
	Reference No:	BAS 35/13
	Department:	Information Services
	Line Manager:	Head of Information Services
	Contract Type:	Open Ended

2.	Location: Cambridge

3.	Purpose: To manage and develop the Archives Service to meet the scientific and business needs of BAS and to satisfy its external obligations.

Duties:
• To manage and develop the Archives Service to fulfil its role within the Information Services group and to satisfy the requirements of BAS staff and external users.
• To promote awareness of all aspects of the work of the Archives Service, particularly the value of information held to BAS’ current science programmes.
• To advise BAS management on archive related issues, and contributing to BAS-wide initiatives as appropriate.
• To improve appropriate access to the collections by the development of enquiry services, the archives database, the archive classification scheme, cataloguing and digitisation projects, common portals between the archives database and other relevant BAS database/search engines.
• To develop and manage projects to secure, catalogue and make accessible legacy scientific data and link these with datasets held by the Polar Data Centre.
• To participate in the practical enquiry, cataloguing and review work of the Archives Service as priorities permit.
• To represent BAS in NERC-wide, national and international projects relating to archives and records management where appropriate.
• To line manage archives and records management staff as well as managing the Archives budget, procurement activities, team targets and service statistics

Skills Specification

Archives Manager
Ref No.: BAS 35/13
Closing Date: 14 Apr 2013

Characteristics

Essential Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Desirable Requirements
Importance rating in parenthesis

Communication skillsa) oral skillsb) written skills

* Experience of presenting outputs in written reports and oral presentations
* Fluent in written and spoken English language.

* Experience in providing user training in the use of an archive and the principles of records management

(2)

Computer / IT skills

* Accurate data entry skills
* Experience of using archival cataloguing systems and/or Electronic Records Management Systems
* Good IT skills knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite

* Interest or experience of developing technologies making information more easily accessible	(3)
* Understanding of XML based descriptions systems	(4)

Decision Making

* Demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks when presented with a range of options.

Interpersonal skills

* Experience of communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders of all management levels
* Experience of working successfully within a small team

* Experience of answering enquiries and providing guidance

(1)

Managerial ability

* Experience of managing staff members including recruitment, training, task management and assessment.

Numerical ability

* Ability to maintain accurate metrics and calculate basic statistical measures
* Ability to maintain good spending records and manage an annual budget

Other Factors

* Ability to clearly report progress against an agreed work plan.

Qualifications

* Degree, with postgraduate qualification in archives and/or records management Or Degree in archives and/or records management Or Over 5 years experience of working in a senior role in an Archives Service

* Registered Archivist or Records Manager with the Archives and Records Association

(4)

Skills / Experience

* Evidence of high levels of attention to detail in a previous role
* Practical knowledge and understanding of information management principles and current issues including managing electronic records
* A knowledge of current UK legislation relating to access to information.
* Knowledge of archival description standards and systems (e.g. EAD)
* Extensive and demonstrable experience of archives management within a previous role.

* Knowledge of other metadata description systems (e.g. scientific datasets)	(4)
* Experience of working in a scientific archive	(2)