Community Archivist – Marlborough Production’s Queer Heritage South

Job Title: Community Archivist
Salary: £12,000
Term: Freelance contract
Location: Marlborough Productions, Brighton & Hove, wider South East region
Closing date: 5:00 pm 19 March 2024

Job Description: Community Archivist (Development Phase)

  • Job type: Freelance Contract
  • Hours: Core days: Tuesday + Wednesday. Marlborough Productions operates a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system
  • Base: Remote first, with in-person meetings and hot desking days organised when required
  • Project Locations: Brighton & Hove, wider South East region
  • Salary/Fee: 48 days x £250 per day = £12,000 total fee
  • Pension: N/A
  • Holiday: N/A

Responsible to: Project Manager + Project Director

Responsible for line management of: Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator, Community Champions

Working with: Partners, Community Champions, Project Manager, Web Developer, Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator

The Community Archivist will have responsibility for:

Managerial

  • Ensuring that the project achieves the outcomes described in the Project Plan
  • Day-to-day management of acquired archival material, digital and physical
  • Day-to-day management of Queer Heritage South digital archive back-end database and other relevant data
  • Appraise, manage, and catalogue the collections within the archive
  • Object handling and signposting to the relevant local archives and institutions
  • Management of relationships with key project partners stakeholders in order to ensure archival outcomes are met
  • Maintaining relationships across the heritage sector to build the resilience of the organisation
  • Overseeing the delivery of archiving and digitising activities
  • Supervising and supporting volunteers in gaining and digitising skills and confidence around archival practices
  • Oversee the development of the Brighton LGBTQ+ heritage archival website
  • Oversee the digitising and  archiving of audio-visual material and assisting volunteers where necessary
  • establish the archival structure and guidance for volunteer cataloguers, and support and supervise volunteers recruited to help with these activities
  • Consult and support  with the development of the a new archiving and digitising strategy for Brighton LGBTQ+ Heritage across the city and coordinate with local partners and institutions
  • help to promote archives for the wider community online and offsite, including using social media and QHS website
  • Consult on a new strategic plan for Brighton LGBTQ+ Heritage across the city.

Access & inclusion

  • To work with the Marlborough Productions team to continually improve access for volunteers and audiences
  • To ensure access requirements are met for volunteers for every event/training session you deliver.

Financial

  • To contribute financial information to the Project Manager so budgets remain up to date.
  • Submitting receipts and expenses claims in a timely manner.

Operational

  • To keep a day-to-day overview of project activity.
  • To organise meetings with collaborators and other key partners as required.
  • To organise archiving and digitising workshops and meetings in community settings, liaising with local community groups and local institutions.

Communications

  • To feed into the production of web content, marketing content, PR and documentation in line with the project comms strategy with the support of Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator and other Marlborough Productions team members where necessary
  • To ensure the project webpages are up to date
  • To send email communication to members, and other interested parties
  • To represent the project at events and meetings.
  • To manage the collection of monitoring data for members, audiences, participants, job applicants and artists ensuring we adhere to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) at all times.

Development

  • To work with Project Manager and feed specific archival information and strategy to contribute to the development and submission of fundraising bids where necessary.

General responsibilities

  • The Community Archivist will not to act in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner towards contracted staff, volunteers and members of the public
  • The Community Archivist will attend to the health and safety of self, other people and resources whilst at work and cooperate with colleagues to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Person specification 

Essential

  • A good knowledge of the heritage landscape of the city
  • Experience in appraising, sorting and cataloguing archive collections
  • Experience in using software to create online catalogues and collection management software
  • Knowledge of national and international archival standards
  • Ability to work independently
  • Experience of working in a team, preferably within an archive service
  • Experience in supervising volunteers
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • A methodological approach and attention to detail
  • Effective research methodologies
  • Experience of working in an archive, gallery, museum or library environment
  • An interest in collections management.

Desirable 

  • A good understanding of the specific needs of queer heritage
  • An understanding of intersectionality
  • The ability to read and understand a wide range or archival material
  • Awareness of key issues around preserving and making accessible archives and other resources
  • Skills in managing, supervising and working with volunteers and project groups.

Education & qualifications 

  • Honours degree
  • Diploma or degree in Archives and Records Management, Archive Administration, Library and Archive Studies, Information Management and Preservation, or other archive professional qualification.

We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of colour, trans and disabled applicants, in recognition of the fact that these groups are currently underrepresented in the sector, and can guarantee an interview for all those who demonstrate how they meet the ‘essential’ criteria. If you are eligible for a guaranteed interview, please mention this in your application email.

Marlborough Productions aims to provide an anti-oppressive environment for people from all backgrounds and does not discriminate based on race, national or ethnic background, citizen status, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, disability, social economic status, nor immigration status. We acknowledge definitions of expression and inclusion will evolve. We are committed to continually revisiting this statement of inclusion in collaboration with the communities that we serve.

Deadline for applications: 5pm Tuesday 19 March

Find out more about Marlborough Productions here: https://marlboroughproductions.org.uk/join-the-qhs-team/