Archives and Local Studies Assistant

Medway Council’s Archives and Local Studies service is recruiting for an enthusiastic, outgoing and customer focused Archives and Local Studies Assistant to work as part of our team at the Medway Archives Centre. Our Archives team preserve, protect and promote the documentary evidence of Medway’s history and heritage, enabling access to priceless resources for residents, visitors and professional researchers.

Our Archive and Local Studies Assistants contribute to the day-to-day running of the Archives Centre including supporting professional and amateur researchers from around the world, assisting with a range of outreach events for adults and children, retrieving and caring for our collections, as well as carrying out research and actively promoting available services to connect communities and individuals with Medway’s history and heritage.

The successful candidate will have a passion for history and heritage, excellent teamworking and interpersonal skills and be adaptable, resilient and dedicated to helping all users engage with the heritage and history of Medway. Due to the requirement to carry out retrievals of archive materials, post holders must have a good level of physical fitness and be comfortable working at height.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please contact Helen Worthy on helen.worthy@medway.gov.uk.

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. The salary you will be offered will be at level A. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

Culture and Libraries are seeking an Archives and Local Studies Assistant to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Important Information-

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
• Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
• Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.