Senior Archives Assistant (Chester)

Cheshire Archives preserve and make accessible the archives and local studies collections that record the histories of Cheshire's communities from the 12th century to today. It does this through two new centres in Chester and Crewe, extensive digital services and through community engagement, learning and volunteer programmes.

The postholder will play a key role in the day-to-day operation of the public service, ensuring that visitors receive a high-quality and welcoming experience. You will support and supervise a team delivering frontline services, enabling users to access and engage with the collections effectively.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.

We are looking for a Senior Archives Assistant to join us at an exciting time as we move to new premises in Chester and Crewe. The postholder will play a key role in the day-to-day operation of the public service in Chester, ensuring that visitors receive a high-quality and welcoming experience. You will support and supervise a team delivering frontline services, enabling users to access and engage with the collections effectively.

Key duties will include:

• Line management of 3.2 FTE Archive Assistants, including undertaking regular one-to-one meetings, managing staff rotas and overseeing the day to day operation of public areas
• Retrieving archive and local studies material from strongrooms to support visitor access
• Supervising the public areas.
• Producing copies of material for service users and supporting access through digital systems
• Responding to a range of enquiries regarding the service and its collections via email, telephone and face-to-face

We are looking for someone who has:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Methodical and conscientious with great attention to detail.
• Excellent team leadership skills.
• Keen awareness of appropriate ways of delivering customer services, both in person and remotely.
• Interest in the development of customer services in archives.
• Problem solver.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, with the ability to tailor communication to diverse audiences and to manage and train staff, volunteers etc.
• Able to work within a team or on own initiative.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Flexible approach to duties and tasks to meet needs of service.

Working Pattern
The postholder will work Wednesday to Saturday, in line with the service’s public opening hours.

Wider Responsibilities
Community engagement, events, learning and volunteering programmes are integral to the service. The postholder will be expected to contribute to and support these activities as required, and a flexible and collaborative approach is essential.

To arrange an informal conversation please contact  Adam Shaw, Archivist (Customer Services) View email address on jobs.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see 

No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!

Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment.  Please see the  Equality Policy for more information.

Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £13.45 per hour for all contracted hours.

For any technical enquiries please email  View email address on jobs.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and quote job reference number in all correspondence.