Archives Assistant

Overview

Help preserve Buckinghamshire's past and make history accessible for future generations.

Do you have a passion for history, heritage and helping people discover the stories of the past?

Buckinghamshire Council is looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Archives Assistant to join our Archives Service. This is a fantastic opportunity to play an important role in preserving and making accessible Buckinghamshire's rich documentary heritage, helping researchers, residents and future generations connect with the county's history.

Whether you're supporting the cataloguing of fascinating collections, helping visitors access historic records, or working with volunteers and colleagues on exciting projects, you'll be contributing to a service that safeguards the stories, memories and milestones that shape Buckinghamshire's identity.

This role is offered on a six months fixed-term or secondment opportunity.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

The Archives Service is responsible for preserving and providing access to Buckinghamshire's documentary heritage. Our collections tell the story of the county's people, places, organisations and communities, supporting research, education and public engagement.

Based at County Hall, Walton Street, our dedicated team works to acquire, preserve, catalogue and make available archives of local significance. We are committed to delivering an excellent customer experience, embracing digital innovation and ensuring our collections remain accessible for generations to come.

About the role

As an Archives Assistant, you will support the Archive Officer (Archivist) in ensuring our archival collections are accessible to the public through the efficient processing, cataloguing and management of archives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Cataloguing and processing new archive deposits and gifts, ensuring collections are accurately recorded and accessible.
• Creating, maintaining and updating archive records and databases to support public access both on-site and online.
• Improving existing catalogues and helping to make archival information available digitally
• Working closely with conservation colleagues to support the preservation of valuable historical collections.
• Retrieving and returning original archive documents safely and carefully from storage repositories.
• Supporting the day-to-day administration of the service, including ordering supplies and assisting with projects.
• Providing support to volunteers and contributing to service improvements and special initiatives.
• Assisting customers and supervising public research areas, helping people explore and access our collections.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for someone looking to gain experience in archives, heritage, information management or local history.

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

 

About you

We're looking for someone who is organised, curious and motivated, with a genuine interest in preserving and sharing historical information.

You will have:

• Experience of entering and managing data within databases or information systems.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities while working to deadlines.
• Experience of working successfully as part of a team and supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• An understanding of data protection and the importance of handling information appropriately.
• The ability to handle and move archive materials safely, including items that may be fragile or cumbersome.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, with confidence interacting with a wide range of visitors and researchers.
• GCSE/NVQ Level 2 standard education, including five GCSEs at Grade A-C (or equivalent).

It would be advantageous if you have previous experience working in an archive, local studies environment, museum, library or heritage setting, and familiarity with archive management software such as Adlib, CALM or Epexio.

Most importantly, you'll be passionate about delivering excellent service, preserving our heritage and helping others access the stories that make Buckinghamshire unique.

Other information

For more information about this role, please contact Chris Low, Archives Officer at [email protected] for an informal discussion.

Closing Date: Tuesday 29^th September 2026

Interview Date: w/c 5^th October 2026

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 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.

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.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, 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

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. 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. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

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