Job Description

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We're an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it's where we go next that makes things really interesting .


In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won't become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.


That's where you come in. Because we can't do this without you.

Job Overview

Salary: 28,337 per annum


Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2026


Band: D / Executive Officer


Closing date: Wednesday 20th August 2025 at midnight




As the Digitisation Supervisor (MOD & FOI), you will assume a pivotal leadership role in overseeing and managing a dedicated team of professionals committed to the meticulous digitisation of documents.




You will be responsible for ensuring the production and delivery of high-quality digital images, maintaining strict adherence to established standards, and guaranteeing that the team consistently meets its objectives.




Your primary responsibility will be to supervise the end-to-end digitisation process, overseeing the workflow from the initial receipt of documents through to the final delivery of digital images. Throughout this process, you will be expected to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, efficiency, and quality assurance, ensuring that all digitised materials are produced in accordance with predefined specifications and best practices.




In carrying out your duties, you will work closely with the Digitisation Production Manager, fostering collaboration and alignment between teams to streamline operations and optimise output. Additionally, you may be required to attend meetings with various departments to discuss project requirements, address challenges, and contribute to strategic initiatives aimed at improving the digitisation process and overall efficiency.




Given the nature of the role, you may also be required to engage in hands-on camera work, depending on the level of demand within the team. This may involve capturing high-quality digital images of documents, ensuring precision and clarity in the digitisation process. Your technical proficiency, keen attention to detail, and ability to adapt to changing requirements will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the digitisation operations.




This role requires strong leadership, exceptional organisational skills, and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional excellence in digitisation. As a supervisor, you will play a key role in shaping the effectiveness of the team, fostering a culture of accuracy, diligence, and continuous improvement.




This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.




This role requires on site presence and is not suitable for home working.




Application Process




Interview: Interviews will be held on-site week commencing 1st September.


Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.


Selection for interview will be based on the 'essential' requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.




Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please visit the Civil Service Careers website, where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.




Sponsorship:




We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Line Management and Performance Oversight

Provide direct supervision and managerial support to Imaging Production Technicians
and other Band C personnel within the digitisation team.


Conduct performance monitoring in strict accordance with The National Archives'
policies, ensuring adherence to established protocols and quality benchmarks.


- Facilitate regular performance meetings with team members to assess progress, address challenges, and implement necessary improvements. - Maintain and uphold a high standard of production quality, fostering a culture of diligence, precision, and continuous professional development.


Deputising for the Digitisation Production Manager Act as a deputy to the Digitisation Production Manager when required, on stepping in to ensure seamless operational continuity during their absence. Provide strategic guidance and contribute to decision-making processes to support the overall efficiency of the digitisation operations. Image Production Responsibilities Engage in hands-on image production, including camera operations, when necessary and dependent on demand within the team. Ensure that all images captured meet the highest standards of clarity, accuracy, and preservation integrity.

Production Reporting and Analysis

- Develop and compile comprehensive weekly and monthly production reports, assessing both individual and team performance metrics. - Present findings to the Digitisation Production Manager, offering insights into productivity trends and identifying potential areas for optimisation. Liaison with Other Departments & External Stakeholders


Actively participate in multi-departmental meetings, providing relevant updates to stakeholders regarding the team's output, ongoing projects, and key data points. Establish and maintain effective collaboration with IT departments to ensure the smooth operation of all hardware and software essential to the digitisation process.
- Be the first point of contact for contractors when on site providing maintenance or installing new software and/or hardware Professional Development and Industry Awareness - Stay abreast of the latest advancements in Cultural Heritage Digitisation techniques, ensuring the team remains aligned with emerging best practices.


Continuously evaluate new software and hardware innovations to enhance operational efficiency and maintain excellence in document preservation.
Working Conditions


Display Screen Equipment user Moving items up to 10kg in weight

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Strong IT Proficiency including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and
Adobe Photoshop.


Organised and methodical with an eye for detail and accuracy Proven ability to identify and resolve operational challenges efficiently and independently. A commitment to professional development, with a willingness to acquire new skills and knowledge as required. Ability to work collaboratively within a small, production-focused team, fostering a cooperative and high-performing environment. Strong supervisory capabilities, with experience or potential in leading a growing team and overseeing project execution. Capacity to operate efficiently under pressure while maintaining quality and accuracy, ensuring deadlines are met

Desirable Criteria:

Experience in Digitisation or Document Handling Interest in Photography and Digital Technology
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is


found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service


D&I Strategy .

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10 days public and privilege holidays per annum.



Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ ( opens in new window)

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.


If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:


Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the 'Reasonable Adjustments' section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.




We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . (opens in new window)



The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.


The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.



This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative . (opens in new window)



Contact point for applicants:


Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/ (opens in new window)