Vacancy for Digital Archivist at The National Archives (TNA)

Digital Preservation Coalition; Richmond; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Vacancy for Digital Archivist at The National Archives (TNA)

5 January 2025

Fixed Term

Archives matter. Without records, we could not hold government to account, carry out pioneering research or learn from the past. Whether they are websites, the evidence heard by inquiries or the algorithms which support official decision-making, the survival of our digital public records is vital.

The National Archives (TNA) is the archive of UK Government and the courts and one of the world’s leading digital archives. TNA's business strategy, Archives for Everyone, describes a vision to become an inclusive, entrepreneurial, and disruptive archive that harnesses emerging technology to reaffirm and transform a historic mission for the digital age.

The Digital Archiving department’s role is to bring digital records into the archive, preserve them for the future and open up access for diverse audiences. The department builds and operates a suite of digital products and services to enable this, some of which are used by other archives and heritage organisations internationally.

The department offers a supportive, welcoming, and collegiate working environment working in multidisciplinary agile teams, and focused on delivering innovative services that ensure the digital Public Record survives, thrives and is useful.

The team is based in the beautiful surroundings of Kew, easily accessible by public transport, car and bike. Staff benefits include admission to a range of exhibitions at national museums and galleries; access to nearby Kew Gardens; on-site gym, therapists and wellbeing resources; restaurant, shop and staff bar; discounts with local businesses.

About the Role

In this role you will contribute to archiving digital Public Records. Your work will help bring records into the archive at scale; provide access to the public; and understand and structure our digital records and metadata for their long-term preservation and use at TNA.

You will share knowledge and develop your own skills to help develop archival practice in key areas, such as transfer, presentation, contextualisation and preservation of increasingly complex digital records.

The role will work closely with our in-house product management and software development teams to build and improve innovative digital preservation tools, including DROID and PRONOM. The Digital Archivist will also undertake file-format research to grow the capabilities of these products.