Archives Manager - California, United States - CV Life

Description

Location:
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

Hours: 37 Hours

Rate of Pay:
£32,042 – £33,639

CV Life is seeking a passionate Archives Manager to lead and manage the development of Coventry Archives which is managed by Culture Coventry Trust on behalf of Coventry City Council.

You will be responsible for the day to day operational and professional collections management of the archives and development of the archives team.

You will ensure collections are accessible and engaging for our audience through excellent public services and a programme of events and workshops.

You will be passionate about increasing access to archives in new and interesting ways, with an understanding of sustainable strategies for the future of Coventry Archives.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to lead Coventry Archives and the archives team whilst ensuring it maintains its status as an approved Place of Deposit for public records as well as being an opportunity to lead on achieving the UK Archive Service Accreditation standard.

We are looking for someone who:
Is passionate about archives and local history.

Has an understanding of the needs of service users and visitors to the archives service and how best to meet those needs.

Has knowledge of current standards relating to archives and local studies collections care and management.
Thinks analytically and uses information to inform planning.
Has strong leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate, inspire, affect change and deliver results.
Develops strong working relationships.

Has an understanding of the key challenges facing the archives sector and developing effective partnerships and collaboration to meet these challenges.

Interviews will be held week beginning 3rd June 2024.
Apply today and Join Our Team
Job Description


Reporting to:
Head of Collections

Responsible for:
Archives & Local Studies Officer, Archives Assistants and the supervision of volunteers, interns etc
Scope

Culture Coventry Trust and Coventry Sports Foundation are operating as CV Life, so that the scope of this Job Description as a CV Life document extends to cover the employment of employment contracts held with either Culture Coventry Trust or Coventry Sports Foundation.

Overall purpose and objective of the role

To lead and manage the development of Coventry Archives (CA) to ensure we offer a strong visitor offer that preserves and reflects Coventry's distinct and important collections.

To be responsible for the day to day operational and professional collections management of the archives and development of the archives team ensuring collections are accessible and engaging for our audience through excellent public services and a programme of events and workshops.

Main duties of the role:
Support the Head of Collections to ensure the delivery of the Trust's overall vision and objectives.

Act as professional lead on archives, monitoring professional and sectoral developments and opportunities, being a strong advocate for the use of archives to ensure the Coventry Archives is at the forefront of archive service provision in the local area.

Manage and develop the archives to ensure all relevant legal, statutory and other obligations are met, including adherence to relevant professional standards, for both archives and local studies service provision.

Maintain archives status as an approved Place of Deposit for public records and lead on achieving the UK Archive Service Accreditation standard.

Develop and maintain networks and partnerships with new and existing stakeholders, including The National Archives, Coventry City Council, local archive services, regional archive networks, universities and depositors, to identify emerging opportunities, support best practice and develop new income streams for the operation and development of the archives.

Recruit, manage and develop the archives team through day to day management, team meetings, one to one's and appraisals ensuring their professional development.

Identify archives specific training required for the team, and to provide training and /or arrange the necessary training.

Collate data and produce reports to input into overall key performance indicators and updates to the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.

Supervise volunteers to support collections management tasks and the delivery of events at the Archives and in the local community.

To oversee the delivery of a high quality and effective customer service in public facing areas such as the Research Room and Reading Room, develop archives online offer for remote users, locally, nationally and internationally.

Provide a supportive environment where individuals, families and students are able to learn about and engage in research using our collection.

To ensure the archives team make archives collection accessible to the public through a variety of channels, both on-site and online, adapted for different abilities and purposes.

To oversee projects which increase digital access to archives and local studies collections.

To provide specialist advice to staff and customers on sources for the history of Coventry with particular respect to the historic archives of the city.

To exercise budgetary controls of all the archives services resources, taking all possible action to achieve income targets and ensure new income/commercial opportunities are explored and developed.

Ensure the archive team have efficient financial processes for cashing up in accordance with the Trust's financial procedure.

To collaborate with staff across Culture Coventry to support events and exhibitions which help promote the archives and provide greater access to its collections for public users.

To oversee the management and development of the archive collections in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines – ensuring the long-term care and preservation of archives and local studies materials.

To manage the procedure for receiving new material – whether gifts or deposits – from private individuals and organisations, the City council, and other transferring bodies.

To manage and administer procedures for the loan of documents and ensure we undertake appropriate accessions procedures.
To undertake the listing, cataloguing and indexing of records in the private, Coventry Borough and superseded local authority sequences.

To ensure that records are kept in suitable and secure conditions once they have been acquired by CA's, in accordance with relevant standards.

To ensure sufficient storage space is available for all of CA's collections, achieving the most efficient use of currently available space and adequately planning for future storage capacity needs, whilst ensuring a safe and clean working environment.

Support the CA team responding to enquiries from the general public, dealing with any issues concerning Freedom of Information and data protection issues, supervise and support researchers.

This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and may be reviewed and updated depending upon operational requirements and staffing levels.

Responsibilities for all employees

To embrace and lead by example on the Company's key values of PRIDE, PASSION and PERFORMANCE or those that might at any time be subsequently re-defined.

To undertake all duties and fully comply with all of the Company's general standards and those relating to the specific requirements of the role.

To carry out tasks at a range of sites that are either operated or managed by the Companies / Trusts or where services are delivered by the Companies / Trusts.

To be involved in any aspects or opportunities for sharing of good practice, expertise and responsibilities within the Companies / Trusts.

To generally help promote the work and public image of the Companies / Trusts, always maintaining high standards of customer service and personal appearance.

To attend and fully engage with all internal training and development requirements and opportunities, and maintain such qualifications as required by the demands of the role.

To interact positively with customers adopting a friendly and professional approach at all times.

To support the Company's commitment to providing a safe environment for children, young people ad vulnerable adults, ensuring awareness of the Company's Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practice Guidance, and to be vigilant, reporting any safeguarding concerns without delay.

To comply with the General Data Protection Regulations when dealing with, maintaining, sharing and storing information.
To undertake other duties as specified, which are appropriate to the qualifications, experience and general level of the post.
Person Specification

Essential

Personal Attributes
Awareness of and commitment to customer care with a friendly and professional manner.
Appreciation of and sensitivity to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion to ensure access to records for customers of differing abilities.
A systematic, methodical and accurate approach to work.
Ability to solve problems innovatively.
Able to work independently, and to take lead responsibility for core areas of professional activity.
Excellent skills to carry out documentation and research in a methodical and accurate way.
Ability to co-ordinate and lead projects.
Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate, inspire, effect change and deliver results.
A track record of success in leading change/service transformation and implementing associated action plans.
Essential

Knowledge and Experience

Experience gained from working with records and archives in a heritage environment- similar types of roles include a supervisor/ manager in a History Centre/Record Office/Archive Service, Archivist etc.

knowledge of current standards relating to archives and local studies collections care and management, and experience of developing policies and strategies for archives and local studies.

An understanding of the value of local heritage and the ways in which archives and libraries can be used to serve the community.

Knowledge and experience of managing a team.
Knowledge of digital preservation.
Knowledge and experience of implementing/working to Archive Service Accreditation standards.
A high level of competence and confidence in using IT in an Archive service context (e.g. electronic finding aids, social media, digital preservation).
Able to use Archive administration software i.e Adlib or other similar Axiell information management systems.

Knowledge of the statutory framework for working within a place of deposit of public records and local authority records, regarding data protection, Freedom of Information Act and Intellectual Property Legislation.

Experience of working with community groups and supporting volunteers and students.
Thinking analytically and using information to inform planning.
The ability to develop strong working relationships.

An understanding of the needs of service users and visitors to the archives service and how best to meet those needs.

An understanding of the key challenges facing the archives sector and developing effective partnerships and collaboration to meet these challenges.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Special Circumstances
A flexible approach to work with the willingness and ability to work outside standard hours on occasion.
FREE health and fitness membership for a family member or friend* **FREE uniform for applicable roles
FREE training for applicable roles
DISCOUNTS on various Centre activities*FREE entry to venues*(*not applicable to casual workers)
(**The two benefits combined can be worth £1000)

People from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds, disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people are under-represented in our workforce, so we particularly encourage applications from candidates in these groups.

If you think this is the role and organisation for you then we would love to hear from you.
Please complete our short application form (average 30 mins to complete) by clicking the Apply Online Button below.

We shortlist for our vacancies on an ongoing basis, and we may close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date.

Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

When applying for this position, please ensure you confirm the Job Title and the Reference Number as stated on this Job Advert.

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