Apprentice Archivist

**Opportunity ID**

592

**Location**
- IWM London

**Career Level**
- B

**Salary**
- £27,000 per annum. In addition, you will receive a £500 salary increase upon the successful completion of core apprenticeship milestones.

**Hours**
- 36 hours net per week (incorporating study time)

**Department**
- Narrative and Content

**Position type**
- Fixed Term

**Length of employment**
- 42 Months (3.5 years), Fixed Term

**Job Summary**

We are one of the world’s leading authorities on conflict and its impact on people’s lives - from 1914 through to the present day and beyond. Our collections are filled with personal stories and experiences, inspiring powerful and often conflicting emotions. We aim to share these stories with as many audiences as possible across the world in a way that engages and challenges them, increasing understanding of why we go to war and the effect that conflict has on people’s lives. In other words, we expect our stories to change the way people think about war.

We rely on our staff to help us achieve this aspiration. You should be able to demonstrate the skills and competencies set out below, but equally we are looking for people who believe in what we do and who we are, and can treat every colleague, customer or visitor with respect, courtesy and honesty. We expect our staff to work flexibly and with enthusiasm. These are the qualities that make IWM such an extraordinary place to work.

**Purpose of the job**

The Collections and Curatorial team comprise the museum’s Media Heads, who are specialist curators that champion the management, interpretation, integrity and use of the respective parts of the IWM collection. We act as the most senior curatorial specialists in our areas and interact with many diverse teams across the organisation to provide expertise and assist with analysis of the collections. We provide support and guidance to specialist curators in the Narrative and Curatorial team, are responsible for the shape and strategic development of IWM’s collections in our media areas, and drive and support any associated public programme outputs.

This Apprentice Archivist role offers an opportunity to work with one of our Media Heads in learning the working practices of IWM while studying in conjunction with Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) for their Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager professional qualification. At IWM you will specialise in two areas - our Documents collection of historical papers and our Museum Archive of administrative records - although there will be many opportunities to work alongside the other media types in our care. You will also be allocated set time during the working week in order to attend classes and undertake study with WAES, which is undertaken on a modular basis over three years.

You will work closely with colleagues across the museum to ensure best practice standards and documentation, and may contribute to exhibitions, publications and other museum projects. In addition to your studies with WAES, there will also be opportunities to attend training courses in various aspects of museum practice both within IWM and externally, as well as attendance at professional conferences and other forums.

**Your duties will include**:

- support delivery of content for galleries and exhibitions as well as other public programme-related outputs
- to always work as a team member, consulting with colleagues and sharing knowledge and information
- to facilitate and support access to our collection, knowledge and skills to the public and to colleagues across IWM
- To work with colleagues across IWM to support effective stewardship and care of the collection
- Actively promote and implement IWM’s strategy for widening access, inclusion and diversity within the scope of the project
- To keep up to date with changing technology to assist more efficient and effective working
- Ensure familiarity with all the Museum's health and safety policies and procedures

This job description is not all encompassing. Over time the emphasis of the job may change without changing the general character of the job. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes.

**Important Additional Apprenticeship Information for Applicants**

**Start Date**

This position is available immediately and WAES teaching will commence on 20th October 2025.

**The Apprenticeship**

This is a Level 7 apprenticeship and full details of the qualification can be found on the WAES website: Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager - Westminster Adult Education Service. The apprenticeship consists of a three-year learning period followed by a six-month assessment period.

**Application Eligibility and Interview**

Applicants must meet the essential criteria in the person specification.
- ** First stage interview** will be with IWM and WAES. Interviews will be online in the week commencing 8th September.
- ** Second stage