Vacancy Details

Full Time, Permanent,

This curatorial role will involve developing the British Library’s collections of archives and manuscripts in all formats relating to contemporary (post 1950) politics and public life in Britain; this includes the archives of notable politicians, political administrators, journalists, editors and publishers, charities, activists, and scientists.

As part of the Politics and Public Life team within the Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts Section, you will report to the lead curator whilst managing a curator/cataloguer. Your primary duties will be organising the appraisal, acquisition, cataloguing, preparation for public access, storage, and long-term preservation of archives. You will also be involved in researching, interpreting, and presenting the collections for dissemination via online resources, through engagement with academic and general users, media work, events, and exhibitions.
You should have a First degree level qualification, and a professional archival qualification or equivalent experience, along with employment experience in a research library, academic, or other appropriate environment.

The applicant should be confident working both independently and as part of a team, and will have excellent time management skills. Experience in project management is desirable, but not essential. You will also need to have excellent oral and written communication skills and good information technology skills.

As one of the world’s great libraries, our duty is to preserve the nation’s intellectual memory for the future and make it available to all for research, inspiration and enjoyment. At present we have well over 170 million items, in most known languages, with three million new items added every year. We have manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents. We make our collections and programmes available to all. We operate the world’s largest document delivery service providing millions of items a year to customers all over the world. What matters to us is that we preserve the national memory and enable knowledge to be created both now and in the future by anyone, anywhere.

In return we offer a competitive salary and a number of excellent benefits.  Our pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits we offer, as our staff can become members of the Alpha Pension Scheme where the Library contributes a minimum of 26.6% (this may be higher dependant on grade. Another significant benefit the Library provides is the provision of a flexible working hours scheme which could allow you to work your hours flexibly over the week and to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3 month period. This is on top of 25 days holiday from entry and public and privilege holidays.

For further information and to apply, please visit www.bl.uk/careers quoting vacancy ref: 04379

Closing date: 05 February 2023

Interview date: 24-28 February 2023

We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role, as it does not meet the eligibility criteria required for this immigration route

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident employer, and make a commitment to recruit and support disabled people. We guarantee an interview for disabled candidates who meet the minimum (essential) requirements for a vacancy