Project Archivist (Stamp Artwork)

Job Title

Project Archivist (Stamp Artwork)
(Closing date: 3 March 2008)

Salary

£22.5k-£24.5k, benefits package available

Terms

• Fixed term, 15 month contract
• 41 hours a week, including meal breaks, flexible between 8.30am and 5.30 pm
• 22.5 days holiday (pro-rata) plus public and bank holidays
• Central London location (WC1)
• Pension Scheme available
• Bonus Scheme

Reports to

Deputy Catalogue Manager

Background

This is an exciting opportunity in The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA), which cares for the archive and museum collections of Royal Mail. Our registered museum and designated public record archive collections range from sheets of penny blacks and 1930s films, to mobile post offices and telegrams about the sinking Titanic. Of course, cataloguing is very important to us, and we are working to increase access to our material by making catalogues available online and by reducing our cataloguing backlog.

This post is available thanks to generous donations from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Mercers' Charitable Foundation and the Idlewild Trust. 

The Job

To assist the Catalogue Manager and Philatelic Curator in the cataloguing and digitisation of stamp artwork and other related material dating from 1924.

Job Specification

• To catalogue stamp artwork and other related material to required and agreed standards on our CALM collections management system.
• To digitise stamp artwork
• To participate in archival project work such as stocktaking
• Other tasks as may be from time to time required by the Catalogue Manager.

The postholder will be expected to monitor and report on their work as directed by the Catalogue Manager.

Qualifications

• A postgraduate qualification in Archives and Records Management, or equivalent, recognised by the Society of Archivists (by the time of starting post).

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working in an archive environment. 
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience in the use of archive management/cataloguing software.
• Experience working with IT systems and digital imaging.

Knowledge

• Interests in the histories of art and stamps would be an advantage.
• Good working knowledge of ISAD(G), ISAAR (CPF), NCA rules, and other relevant standards.
• Knowledge of public records legislation and Freedom of Information.
• Knowledge of best practice in preservation techniques.
• Knowledge of other legislation relevant to archives.

Working Hours

Some weekend working will be required (this will be arranged in advance). When it is required, the following Monday-off-in-lieu will be given. This day can be varied at the discretion of the line manager. The postholder will be expected to share in the locking up or unlocking of premises on a rota basis, and be on a rota for callout in the unlikely event of an emergency.

The postholder may be required on occasion to attend outside of the hours above, for example, for staff meetings. Variations of the hours can be made at the discretion of the line manager.

Annual Leave

22.5 days holiday plus public and bank holidays. The leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March and leave will be awarded on a pro-rate basis for any incomplete years.

Application Details

To find out more about the job please call us on 020 7239 2481.

To apply please send CV and covering letter, stating clearly which role you are applying for, to:

Gavin McGuffie
Catalogue Manager
The British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House
Phoenix Place
London WC1X 0DL
or by email to: gavin.mcguffie@postalheritage.org.uk.

Closing date: 3 March 2008.

Only those applicants asked to interview will be contacted.

The British Postal Museum & Archive is an equal opportunities employer.