Job Description

ID 2829

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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Vacancy title
Senior Digital Archivist


Closing date
22/07/2025, 16:00


Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
A starting salary between 45,974 and 50,682 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable.
Salary range or pay band
SEO 45,974 to 54,431
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Directorate
Culture, Heritage, Sport and Welsh language
Branch
Archives
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post
The objective of this post is to lead, co-ordinate and provide strategic support to the local archive sector to develop the capacity to collect, preserve and make accessible digital collections, and to develop digital services. The post holder will support the local sector to address the development of skills, policies, infrastructure and workflow procedures for the management digital content from acquisition to dissemination. The post holder will facilitate collaboration between national and local services where there are opportunities for co-operation and efficiency in digital delivery. The post holder will also provide advice and support to local museums and libraries as they develop their capacity to manage both born digital and digitised collections and adapt their service delivery models.

Key tasks
To lead the development of sector wide and individual service strategies for the management and delivery of digital content and services To lead the implementation of a digital preservation infrastructure across local archive services and develop sector capacity in this area of work through skills development programmes and workforce planning To ensure archive services fulfil their statutory responsibilities and maintain Place of Deposit status under the Public Records Act 1958 To ensure services reach the Archive Service Accreditation standard in relation to digital collections To support national and local archive services to achieve international standards for Digital Preservation (e.g. Core Trust Seal) To support the work of the Departmental Records Officer in ensuring that Welsh Public Records bodies are aware of their statutory responsibilities under the public records legislation and to ensure the orderly and timely transfer of digital records to local places of deposit To work collaboratively with Senior Digital Culture Adviser to ensure that the digital elements of the Government's new Priorities for Culture are taken forward To provide advice to the broader cultural sector (local museums and libraries) on the management and preservation of digital assets To develop and maintain national and international networks of professional contacts, and To keep abreast of technological developments and standards relating to digital preservation and services through continuing professional development activities To represent the Division on external bodies such as the Digital Preservation Coalition To raise the profile of digital preservation within Culture Division and to contribute to strategic planning, ensuring that the need for digital preservation is recognised and embedded in digital initiatives contributing to delivery of the Welsh Government's 'Priorities for Culture' To manage a delegated budget and to develop plans and activities to support digital developments, and manage associated grants or contracts To prepare briefings, correspondence and responses to Government business, including written and oral questions and freedom of information requests To act as a Line Manager as required.

Development opportunities
This is an exciting opportunity for a digital archive specialist. The Welsh Government's Priorities for Culture(Priorities for culture | GOV.WALES) place a considerable emphasis on the importance of digital and the need to develop a strategic approach to digital culture.



The local archive sector in Wales is at a relatively early stage in developing the capability to manage born digital and digitised archive collections. However, the Priorities for Culture provide a real impetus to addressing digital preservation and other digital developments. You will have the opportunity to work with and support the sector to develop a robust digital preservation infrastructure and also to work alongside other colleagues developing digital cultural heritage in Wales.



Other vacancy related information
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity or similar ones in the Division. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months. The role is expected to require some travel e.g. for site visits to archive services in Wales and attendance at meetings within the UK including occasional overnight stays. A clean UK driving license would be beneficial. A presentation on 'Experience 1'will be required at Stage 2. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage. Please provide a CV no longer than 2 pages setting out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. We recommend paying particular attention to the "purpose of the post" and "key tasks" to ensure your CV reflects the skills and experience we are looking for.

Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
culture@gov.wales Mary Ellis - 07896684798