County and Diocesan Archivist

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of archive services in Buckinghamshire.

As a County and Diocesan Archivist, you will lead a high-performing service within the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies (CBS) that preserves, develops and shares the county’s documentary heritage. You will set the strategic direction for the service, ensuring it meets the needs of Buckinghamshire Council and a wide range of partners and communities.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is proud of its rich heritage and the role it plays in connecting communities, supporting learning and shaping future generations.

The Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies is a nationally recognised archive service, holding extensive collections that tell the story of the county and its people. Working in partnership with organisations including Milton Keynes Council and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, the service is committed to preserving the past while making it accessible, relevant and engaging for modern audiences.

 

About the role

You will provide strategic leadership for CBS, ensuring the service continues to develop, innovate and meet both organisational and national standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies to deliver an effective and efficient service.
• Developing and implementing policy and strategy in line with corporate priorities and partner requirements.
• Acting as County and Diocesan Archivist, providing expert advice to councils, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Ensuring compliance with legislation and national archive standards.
• Driving increased access to archive collections through outreach, audience development and engagement.
• Overseeing the preservation, security and accessibility of archive and local studies collections.
• Building and managing key partnerships, including with Milton Keynes Council and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust.
• Leading service planning, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Managing a significant service budget and supporting income generation and externally funded projects.
• Leading, developing and supporting a skilled and motivated team.

You’ll be leading a friendly team of experienced professionals and para-professionals to deliver a service on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council as well as partners in Milton Keynes Council and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust. You will have the chance to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Culture, Sport and Leisure service to improve CBS’s offer as well as to develop your skills and those of the team.

About you

We are looking for a strategic and inspiring leader with substantial experience in archives or a related field at a senior level.

You will bring:

• Substantial senior-level experience in archive services
• A degree or equivalent experience, with a postgraduate qualification in archive administration (or equivalent)
• Strong leadership and management skills, including experience of managing people, budgets and projects
• The ability to lead and manage change effectively
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels
• A sound understanding of archive principles, professional standards and relevant legislation
• Awareness of the wider policy landscape and its impact on archive services
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities

You will also be passionate about widening access to heritage, developing inclusive services, and building partnerships that maximise impact for communities.

Other information

Closing date: Thursday 18^th June 2026

For an informal chat about this role in more detail or if you have any questions, please contact Ruth Page, Head of Culture - [email protected] .

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Accountable, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

About the Service Area

Our Communities directorate work across the county to deliver a number of the key customer facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. This includes collecting and disposing of waste, maintaining highways and managing country parks, cultural and leisure facilities and libraries. The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit.  This is an exciting time for us, as we bring together many of the place based services that have previously been run by different authorities.  We manage services through a combination of direct delivery, contract management and commissioning, as well as through our key partnerships.  As part of the function, you will join us on our journey of continuous improvement. Whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working, or delivering services on the ground – every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme and the opportunity to gain membership to Costco. We have discounted gym memberships, Travel discounts with Arriva and Chiltern Railways and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/