Project Archivist

**Post Details**
Full time
Fixed term for 2 years

Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 21 June 2023.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.
- IF NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SPONSORSHIP:_

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

**The Post**
Established in 1983 the University of Stirling’s Institute for Retail Studies (IRS) provides a focus for the study of the retail industry. It has documented, preserved and examined the history and development of the retail sector from the early twentieth century through to the present day, both in the UK and internationally. Its staff conduct research on behalf of retail and distributive companies, local and national governments, public sector bodies and research councils.

The IRS Archive consists of a wealth of material created and collected by staff of the Institute. The collections provide a unique record of the growth and development of the retail sector, while the research papers and reports produced by the institute comprise an unrivaled academic library of the study of the business of retail. Material covers the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and includes: administrative files, reports and papers produced by the institute, trade reports, annual company reports, extensive runs of trade press, business directories, sales catalogues, marketing material and product packaging, photographic and slide collections of UK and international retail outlets, and a library of the key historical international text books and studies on retail. The collection is currently dispersed across a number of locations on campus including: offices, workrooms and stores. The University Archives also holds a number of large donations of material from academics associated with the Institute.

**Description of Duties** Specific Tasks**
- Surveying the Institute for Retail Studies collection (currently held in various locations across the University campus)providing a detailed overview of holdings
- Identifying core administrative records and publications containing the institutional history of the Institute
- Liaising with Institute for Retail Studies staff re selection and transfer of archive material
- Arranging transfer of the Institute for Retail Studies Archive to the University Archives
- Identification of duplication of material across Institute for Retail Studies Archive holdings
- Checking of Institute for Retail Studies Archive content against existing Library stock
- Checking of Institute for Retail Studies Archive against existing Library online subscriptions / online resources
- Overseeing the transfer of library stock to the library cataloguing team
- Creating collection structure and hierarchy for the Institute for Retail Studies Archive
- Writing collection level descriptions and researcher guides to the Archive
- Identifying material for potential use in exhibitions and promotional campaigns
- Writing a detailed project plan, organising processing and cataloguing work into distinct units to be carried out by library and archives staff, student interns and volunteers

**General Tasks**
- Publishing online content on behalf of the University Archives, including the University website, Information Services blog and social media
- Supporting team members with general administrative/clerical support
- Any other duties commensurate with the job grade as reasonably required from time to time

**Essential Criteria**

**Qualifications**:

- Postgraduate degree in Archival / Information / Library Studies, or equivalent experience
- Practical experience of working as an archivist in a professional post, or equivalent experience

Knowledge & Experience
- Experience of project management with ability to work to tight project timescales
- Experience of surveying archive collections
- Proven experience of liaising with a wide range of stakeholders

Skills & Attributes
- Excellent customer service skills
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with a wide range of users, in person, over the phone, digitally and in writing
- Highly organised approach to managing workload, with the ability to work calmly and systematically in a busy environment; prioritising work for self and others as required in order to meet agreed deadlines
- Meticulous attention to detail, working to a high level of accuracy
- Self-aware and able to fine tune approach in order to provide optimal support and/or guidance to users as required

**Desirable Criteria** Desirable Criteria**
- Registered member of the Archives and Record Association / or enrolled on the Archives and Records Association CPD programme and working towards registration
- Experience of the academic research environment
- Demonstrable experience of cataloguing archive collections using the CALM for Archives system (or equivalent) and knowledge of archive standards including ISAD(G)
- Advanced know