Archivist

7 months ago


Darlington, United Kingdom Raby Estates Full time

**Job** Title**:Archivist

**Reports** **to**:Curator

**Liasing with**:Lord and Lady Barnard, Head of Leisure and Tourism,Castle Custodian and other colleagues

**Hours**:Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

**Location**:Raby Castle

**Salary**:Commensurate with ARA Level 1 recommendations

**Overview**:
**The Raby Estate **comprises landholdings and trading operations in** **Co Durham and Shropshire that are owned by Lord Barnard. Raby Estate business operations include in-house farms, let farms and residential property, visitor attractions and sporting enterprises across 3 Estates in Co Durham and Shropshire

Raby Castle near Staindrop has been the home of the Vane family for generations and is open to visitors. Lord and Lady Barnard seek to develop the Castle and grounds so that Raby Castle becomes one of the foremost visitor attractions in the North.

There is also an extensive Estate archive and collection of fine art held principally at Raby Castle. Raby Estates now seeks to develop a curatorial, archives and exhibition programme to safeguard the collections at Raby and support the interpretation for visitors to Raby Castle.

Working closely with Lord & Lady Barnard and the Curator, this appointment involves responsibility for the archive collections, to include cataloguing and improved storage and access and supporting the development of exhibitions and interpretive materials for visitors.

**THE ROLE**

**Main Objectives**:

- To take a lead in delivering agreed HMRC undertakings relating to the conditional exemption of the archives.
- To take a lead on planning and delivery of improved access, cataloguing and long-term storage of archives at Raby Castle including working with the curator the potential relocation to new archive facility.
- To recruit, train and develop a group of volunteers and interns to support all aspects of archive development.
- To line manage any temporary archive related posts, including freelancers.

To promote the archive as an asset to the wider development and understanding of Raby Estates, including building networks and opportunities for events, exhibitions and public engagement.
- To support the Estate in demonstrating current and historic ownership or title to land, buildings, natural, and other assets through research into archives held at Raby Castle and those in other repositories.

**Job requirements**:

- Appropriate experience, background and academic qualifications in archive management.
- A thorough knowledge of typical Country House and Estate records and the research skills required to read and interpret a variety of documents from 17th century onwards, in particular Title Deeds.
- Relevant IT skills, especially archive cataloguing.
- Flexible approach to duties undertaken.
- Systematic and cheerful approach with a can do attitude.
- Ability to work within a team or on own initiative as required.
- Ability to build and develop an effective volunteer programme to support archive development.
- Effective communication and organisational skills, including confident public speaking ability to prioritise work, problem solving and good time management.
- Honesty and a high level of integrity.
- Enthusiasm and capacity for hard work.
- Organised and good attention to detail.
- Respect and sensitivity towards Raby Castle and Lord Barnards family history and experience of dealing with sensitive information.
- Consideration for health and safety at work (eg. Lone working, confined spaces, manual handling and use of step-ladders).

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**Collection Management**:
To take a day-to-day lead in delivering and updating the existing Archives Management Plan and associated policies and procedures, and the agreed HMRC undertakings relating to the conditional exemption of the archives.

Reporting regularly to the curator to ensure that archive needs are included in business plan objectives.

To be responsible for the archive at Raby Castle to ensure safe and appropriate long-term storage of the collection.

To work with the curator to create and implement a plan for related collections including books, ephemera and photographs.

To coordinate and contribute specialist knowledge to the planning, preparation and relocation of archives to a new long-term storage location, to ensure acceptable archival standards are met.

To supervise temporary archives related posts including interns and freelancers.

To recruit, train and supervise a volunteer team to support all aspects of archive work.

To provide support and advice to the Estate on developing a Records Management procedure.

To provide monthly progress reports, highlighting any issues in a timely manner, especially in relation to the archive development.

To develop and implement a plan for cataloguing using designated cataloguing software.

To ensure business resilience by producing manuals and guidance notes.

**Conservation**

Work with the Curator and conservator to identify and prioritise conservation requi