Details Specific to the Post s7

Job Description Job Title: City of Culture Digital Archivist Faculty/Department: University Library Reporting to: University Archivist Duration: 15 months fixed term Job Family: Administration Pay Band: 7 Benchmark Profile: Administrator Band 7 DBS Disclosure requirement: No Vacancy Reference: LL0043

Details Specific to the Post

Background and Context The University Library seeks to be at the heart of the success of the University through the services it provides to students, staff and the wider community. We provide our services through four sections, working collaboratively across these to combine traditional and innovative paths to information acquisition, management, delivery, and use.  Information Services Group – acquire, manage and deliver the University Library’s collections and oversee the Hydra digital repository  Customer Services Group – provide frontline services to our customers and engage with students to ensure they have the best experience of the services we offer  Graduate Development Services Group – the Skills Team supports students to build and develop their academic and digital literacy skills to underpin their studies  University Archives – based at the Hull History Centre provide public access and academic support for the archival collections managed by the University

Hull History Centre is the joint archival repository developed jointly by the University of Hull and Hull City Council with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Located in the city centre and opened in 2010, it has been an outstanding success so far as visitor numbers are concerned, and a nationally-important example of cross-sectoral collaboration. The collections remain the separate responsibility of the two organisations according to ownership, and staff remain employed by their respective organisations. Council and University staff collaborate in the provision of frontline services.

The University Archives has been actively involved in exploring the issues surrounding the management of born-digital archives. Working with colleagues from the Universities of Virginia, Stanford and Yale the Mellon-funded AIMS project (2010- 2012) sought to identify commonality in processing born-digital archives. Participation in the project and the publication of the AIMS White Paper kick-started the university’s work in collecting born-digital archives – to date the Archives have 39 accessions containing born-digital material (369,259 files; 344.78GB).

In 2013 Hull was selected as UK City of Culture for 2017. The University of Hull is a Principal Partner in this cultural celebration. It will be holding a range of events on campus as part of the overall programme, as well as carrying out research related to the year and supporting the programme through volunteering effort. Part of the University’s commitment to the City of Culture is the establishment of a digital archives for materials generated through the business, creative and participatory activities of the City of Culture. 1 | P a g e Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post This post will be based at the Hull History Centre, but is expected work with colleagues in the University Library, University ICT and with colleagues in the City of Culture team, building on established links and infrastructure.

The primary purpose of the role of City of Culture Digital Archivist will be to work with colleagues in the University Archives, Hull City Council and Hull 2017 to help establish an archive of Hull City of Culture 2017. With much of this content expected to be digital in format the project will utilize the Hydra digital repository platform.

The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for the development of the archive, including the creation of appraisal and retention guidelines and the negotiating of appropriate levels of access to the material. Work has started to identify key series of records that we may wish to retain permanently that reflect the business, artistic and the public response to the programme of events and activities. The post holder will work alongside the project software developer to implement Archivematica software for the processing and management of born-digital archives and to wider collections management policies and practices.

GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION The job duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of the role. The duties and responsibilities and the balance between the elements in the role may change or vary over time depending on the specific needs at a specific point in time or due to changing needs in the department. Candidates should note that there may not be an immediate requirement to carry out all the activities listed below.

Overall Purpose of the Role The role holder:  Will provide professional advice and/or support, directly or indirectly, to staff in the library and/or History Centre based upon a full understanding of a professional area of work  Will have gained a professional qualification and have professional experience working with born-digital archives  Will be expected to contribute to longer term developments within the Library / History Centre by giving advice and specialist support  Will influence decisions or events by working collaboratively internally and externally to the University and with Hull 2017 team in particular  Will evaluate and analyse information and use initiative and creativity to solve non standard problems  May lead a team across the project and plan, prioritise and monitor to ensure effective use of resources

Main Work Activities Communication 1* Provide advice and guidance of a specialist nature to managers, staff and others across the project team 2* Deliver established presentations to communicate information across the Library / ICT/ Hull History Centre 3* Attend meetings to report on information/data 4* Take notes and produce formal minutes at meetings when required 5* Format and edit publications 6* Draft formal documentation

2 | P a g e 7* Compile procedural manuals and other University documentation 8* Write and maintain web pages

Teamwork  May be required to supervise the work of others  Provides advice and guidance to other members of the team

Liaison and Networking  Proactively develop and maintain internal and external contacts to benefit the University  Participate in networks internally and/or externally

Service Delivery  Provide specialist administrative support to colleagues including academic and administrative staff  Develop and manage projects that contribute to improving service delivery  Develop and maintain systems and processes to ensure effective delivery of the service  Contribute to policy development

Planning and Organisation  Organise and represent the Library / Hull History Centre at events  Plan and monitor the work of others  Co-ordinate departmental processes in conjunction with senior colleagues  Organise, prepare and service committees as appropriate  Contribute to the longer term operational planning of the Library / Hull History Centre

Analysis/Reporting  Analyse qualitative and quantitative data producing draft reports identifying key issues that inform management interventions. Formulate recommendations and provide advice on the implications of the data

Additionally the post holder will be required to:  Fulfil the employees’ duties described in the University’s health and safety policies and co-operate with the health and safety arrangements in place within the department. May be required to undertake specific health and safety roles on request e.g. Display screen equipment assessor, departmental safety officer, fire warden  Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices This includes undertaking mandatory equality and diversity training  Comply with University regulations, policies and procedures

COMPETENCY SPECIFICATION To fulfil your role, you will need certain knowledge, skills and competencies. The following competency specification provides a framework within which your performance will be assessed. The interview assessment may include, for example, testing on IT skills.

The Competencies set out below are essential and are core requirements needed to perform the role and any candidate who fails the requirement will not be taken forward for further assessment or to interview.

Competency Identified by Knowledge and Experience A professional qualification in archives management. Application

Can demonstrate a full understanding and practical Application/Intervi experience of handling, processing and cataloguing born- ew digital archives. 3 | P a g e Has an active approach to continuing professional Application/Intervie development/ undertaking training as appropriate for personal w and professional development.

Communication (Oral and Written) Can demonstrate the ability to provide information in a Application/Intervie suitable format so that the others’ needs are met and adjusts w the level of content to help others understand.

Teamwork and Motivation Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to delegate work to others and/or w help to build co-operation to deliver team results.

Liaison and Networking Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to work across the University w and/or externally to build and strengthen working relationships. Actively pursues a shared interest and works jointly to influence events and decisions.

Service Delivery Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to seek ways to improve and w adjust current levels of service. Deals with complaints and initiates contact with customers to obtain their reactions and views about the service and future needs.

Decision Making Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to consider the impact on the w Faculty/Service. Knows where a decision is beyond their responsibility and refers to others.

Planning and Organisation Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to ensure that the work is carried w out effectively and that resources are available to meet demand. Identifies the need for further action and resources by monitoring progress.

Initiative and Problem Solving Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to investigate problems to identify w their cause, takes action to prevent recurrence of problems and considers possible solutions to identify those which offer wider benefits.

Analysis/Reporting Application/Intervie Can demonstrate the ability to select appropriate methods for w data gathering and analysis. Gathers data thoroughly and accurately and subjects it to rigorous analysis. Obtains additional data if required.

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