School Archivist

THE SCHOOL:
Merchant Taylors’ School is a large Independent Boys’ School, situated in 286 acres of parkland in Northwood, Middlesex. The School was founded in 1561, is owned by the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust and moved to its present site in 1933. There are four distinct boys’ day schools on campus. The Nursery, the Pre-Prep & the Prep cater for 340 boys, while the Senior School has some 930 pupils. The School employs over 140 teachers and 160 Support staff across Merchant Taylors’ School.

PURPOSE & SCOPE OF JOB:
Organising a team of volunteers to assist with the work of the Archive.

To provide a comprehensive archive service including the continuing development and management of the School Archive, catalogue systems, enquiries and storage.

To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required and requested by your line manager to meet the School’s priorities and demands.

Reporting to the Second Master and working closely with the Development and Alumni Department, the Archivist will be responsible for building on the work on the Archive, undertaking projects and events that draw on the archive and school history in order to increase engagement with the School community and alumnae.

DUTIES INCLUDE:
The role embraces a broad spectrum of responsibilities, including but not

limited to the following areas:

- Identification and classification of important historical documents, photographs and artefacts relating to a wide range of activities and events at MTS
- Liaise with donors and depositors of archives, documenting and recording new accessions
- Ensure the continued transfer of key School records and other items to the archive by liaising with the appropriate staff
- Continuing to catalogue existing holdings and new archive collections
- Management of the physical archive storage areas
- Responding to enquiries from a wide range of current and former students, staff and external researchers
- Promotion of the archive collection within the MTS community as required, including the research and production of historical or archive-related displays or articles
- Recruit and manage a small team of volunteers
- Identify ways of protecting and preserving collections
- Maintain links with the Old Merchant Taylors’ Society and its archivist to promote good practice and the sharing of archive material

The job description is current but liable to variation to reflect or anticipate changes in the requirement of the post

MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL

School Archivist

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

- Experience of managing an archive
- Excellent administrative and organisational skills
- Excellent and effective written and oral communication skills
- A collaborative worker who can forge good working relationships with others
- A problem solver who can make appropriate decisions
- Able to work independently, under own initiative, as well as part of a team
- Able to plan and coordinate activities, establish priorities and meet deadlines
- Demonstrable project management skills
- The ability to skim and understand an extensive and varied range of material
- Adaptability and a high degree of flexibility
- A logical approach to the work of identification and classification
- A strong eye for detail and accuracy
- The ability to anticipate and respond to changing needs and digital media
- Sound working knowledge of IT packages including Microsoft Office
- It is the post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact and to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the Head Master_

GENERAL CONDITIONS:
Start Date: September 2024 or earlier by arrangement, depending on personal circumstances/preferences of successful applicant

Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm including one-hour unpaid lunch. Flexibility can be applied to the start and end times of the working day and the actual days of the week to be worked.

**Salary**: The full-time equivalent salary will be up to £38,903 per annum dependent on skills, experience and qualifications.

We are looking to appoint on a part time basis either 3 days (21 hours) per week on a term time only basis or 2 days (14 hours) per week across the academic year depending on the job holder’s preference. Salary will be prorated accordingly.

**Other Benefits**:
15% employer contribution to a defined contribution pension scheme (Contributory)

Life cover 4 x annual salary and income protection.

Access to a cash flexible benefit in lieu of pension contribution

Access to a number of lifestyle benefits including Cycle to Work, ULEV cars, and retail discount vouchers via our benefit provider

Use of School leisu