Job Description

ID 3042

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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.
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Vacancy details

Vacancy title
Senior Digital Archivist


Closing date
27/10/2025, 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 Welsh Government is seeking a Digital Archivist to join the Archives Policy team. This is a new role created 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. You 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.


The local archive sector in Wales is at a relatively early stage in developing the capability to manage born digital and digitised archive collections. 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.



Key tasks
Lead the development of sector wide and individual service strategies for the management of digital content and delivery of digital services 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 Provide advice to the broader cultural sector (local museums and libraries) on the management and preservation of digital assets Ensure archive services fulfil their statutory responsibilities and maintain Place of Deposit status under the Public Records Act 1958 and reach the Archive Service Accreditation standard in relation to digital collections Support national and local archive services to achieve international standards for Digital Preservation (e.g. Core Trust Seal) 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 Work collaboratively with Senior Digital Culture Adviser to ensure that the digital elements of the Welsh Government's new Priorities for Culture are taken forward, Represent the Division on external bodies such as the Digital Preservation Coalition Manage a delegated budget and to develop plans and activities to support digital developments, and manage associated grants or contracts Prepare briefings, correspondence and responses to Government business, including written and oral questions and freedom of information requests. Line manage a HEO Archives Accreditation Adviser.



Development opportunities
This is an exciting opportunity for a digital archive specialist to develop their skills in the local archives sector and contribute to policy development. The post will require you to build national and international networks of contacts. You will also continue to keep abreast of technical developments in the sector and be able to share this knowledge for the benefit of the local archives sector.


Working in a policy division, you will gain first-hand experience of Government business and an insight into how the Welsh Government's Priorities for Culture (Priorities for culture | GOV.WALES) are key to delivering high quality cultural services to the people of 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. This is a role within the Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) profession. A recognised professional qualification in Archive Administration or a related area of KIM / IT is desirable. 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