Description
As our Borough Archivist, you will lead the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Archives & Local Studies service, preserving 450 years of rich history while connecting our diverse communities to their shared heritage.
You will be based in the Borough for 5 days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community and leading our Archives & Local Studies service.
In this maternity cover role for up to 12 months starting December 2026, you will lead and manage our Archives & Local Studies service. As the primary full-time professional on the team, you will oversee day-to-day collections care, from the acquisition and cataloguing of physical and digital materials to long-term preservation and conservation in line with national legislation and sector standards.
You will also direct searchroom operations, handle complex research enquiries and ensure statutory compliance for Information Governance and Freedom of Information requests.
Over the course of the year, you will balance core archival management with key service initiatives. You will collaborate with the Bi-Borough Archives Manager to deliver the second year of our National Lottery Heritage Fund project, lead a major archive catalogue migration from CALM to a modern system and steer the service towards Archives Accreditation in partnership with the wider team.
Working alongside the North Kensington Social Justice Archivist, you will also foster community partnerships, deliver creative outreach and support initiatives that empower residents to document their lived experiences.
You will hold a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma in Archives or Collections Management, or bring substantial equivalent experience managing a public-facing archive service. You have a thorough knowledge of recognised archival cataloguing standards such as ISAD(G), alongside practical experience managing both physical and digital collections.
You’re an exceptional communicator skilled at connecting with diverse audiences, community partners and internal teams. You bring strong line management capabilities, financial acumen for budget oversight and grant applications and a clear understanding of relevant information rights legislation.
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to guide a historic local authority collection and shape how the borough’s story is recorded today. You will join a friendly, collaborative team whose creative engagement work has earned national recognition.
We provide a supportive environment where you can develop your leadership experience across digital transformation, accreditation and heritage projects. You will also benefit from ongoing opportunities for professional networking, sector involvement and continuous learning.