Digital Archivist (Transfer)

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting.

In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.

That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Job OverviewSalary: £35,000 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Band: E / Higher Executive Officer

Closing date: Tuesday 4th November 2025 at midnight

Are you passionate about digital preservation and archival practice? Do you thrive on building relationships, solving problems, and working with cutting-edge technology? The National Archives is looking for a dynamic Digital Archivist (Transfer) to join our Digital Selection and Transfer Team.

The National Archives is the UK government's official archive and one of the world’s leading digital archives. Our mission is to preserve and provide access to vital born-digital records for future generations. As we strive to become an inclusive, entrepreneurial, and disruptive second-generation digital archive, we need talented individuals like you to help us achieve our vision.

As a Digital Archivist (Transfer), you’ll play a key role in ensuring vital digital records from government and courts are transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation. You’ll work closely with records creators, providing expert advice, training, and support on digital transfer tools and processes. From monitoring transfers to resolving blockers, you’ll ensure records are properly documented and prepared for archival preservation.

What You’ll Do:

• Act as a primary contact for transferring bodies, offering expert guidance on digital transfer processes.

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, advocating for best practices and timely transfers.

• Deliver engaging training sessions, presentations, and workshops to support users of our Transfer Digital Records (TDR) service.

• Conduct pre-ingest checks on digital transfers, validate file formats, and ensure metadata meets archival standards.

• Support preservation planning by identifying risks and contributing to format identification efforts using tools like DROID.

• Manage user accounts, monitor system performance, and respond to technical queries for TDR.

• Collaborate with colleagues to improve processes, share knowledge, and stay updated on digital preservation trends.

Why Join Us?

• Work in a hybrid environment with flexibility to combine onsite and remote working.

• Be part of a forward-thinking team shaping the future of digital archiving.

• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.

• Contribute to preserving the UK’s digital heritage for generations to come.

If you’re ready to make a difference in the world of digital archiving, we’d love to hear from you! Join us in shaping the future of digital preservation.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Application Process:

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site in November 2025.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words, addressing the 6 criteria listed below.

Selection for interview will be based on how you meet these 6 criteria, so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements, using subheadings for each criteria where possible. The remaining criteria will be assessed at interview stage (please see job description belw for full list).

Essential criteria for personal statement:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical processes to non-technical users.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to plan, track and manage multiple concurrent transfers

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships, with experience influencing positive outcomes.

• Confidence using digital tools and formats (e.g. CSV, XML, JSON)

• Awareness of digital preservation principles and interest in archival practice.

• A collaborative and proactive mindset, contributing positively to team delivery and shared learning

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

SC clearance/willingness to obtain SC clearance will be required for this role. This requires candidates to have been resident in the UK for at least the past three years. Please do not apply if you have been resident in the UK for less than three years as your application will be rejected

Sponsorship:

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Job Description

Job Purpose

The National Archives is the archive of UK government and one of the world’s leading digital archives. We play a crucial role. Our ambition is to become an inclusive, disruptive and entrepreneurial second-generation digital archive, collecting, preserving and providing access to a diversity of born digital records for future generations of citizens and policy makers.

The Digital Archivist (Transfer) will work in our Digital Selection and Transfer Team. This team is responsible for ensuring that vital digital records, created by government and the courts are transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation in the digital archive. The post-holder will liaise closely with records creators to facilitate transfer of records, providing training and advice on tools and processes and supporting users of our Transfer Digital Records (TDR) online service. The role includes actively monitoring digital transfers to ensure records are properly documented and correctly prepared for transfer and resolving any issues or blockers along the way.

Role and Responsibilities

Transfer and Stakeholder Support

Act as a primary contact for transferring bodies, providing expert advice on the digital transfer process in line with the Public Records Act (1958).

Engage and build relationships with a range of stakeholders, advocating for best practice and encouraging timely transfers.

Deliver training, presentations, and workshops to transferring bodies to support their understanding and use of our transfer tools and processes.

Deputise for the Senior Digital Transfer Adviser in meetings and external engagement where appropriate.

Monitor and track transfers, ensuring records are properly documented and resolving blockers collaboratively with departments.

Preservation and Archival Preparation

Conduct pre-ingest checks on incoming digital transfers, including validating file formats, checking metadata, and confirming record structure meets archival standards.

Support preservation planning by identifying preservation risks (e.g. obsolete file formats, missing metadata) and flagging for further investigation.

Use tools such as DROID to profile records, interpret outputs, and contribute to format identification efforts.

Assist with preparing and ingesting records into the digital archive, working alongside the preservation and access teams.

System and Service Support

Act as junior system administrator for TDR: setting up and managing users, monitoring system performance, and escalating issues where needed.

Log and respond to user queries and technical issues, taking ownership and managing through to resolution.

Analyse usage data and contribute to improving guidance, documentation, and user experience of digital transfer services.

Collaboration and Continuous Improvement

Participate in internal projects and working groups across the Digital Archiving department.

Share knowledge, learn from colleagues, and contribute to the development of transfer and preservation processes.

Monitor developments in government technology and digital preservation practice, feeding insights back into the team.

Working Conditions

Normal office environment

Display Screen Equipment user

Person Specification

Essential

Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical processes to non-technical users.

Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to plan, track and manage multiple concurrent transfers.

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships, with experience influencing positive outcomes.

Confidence using digital tools and formats (e.g. CSV, XML, JSON).

Awareness of digital preservation principles and interest in archival practice.

Aptitude for learning new technologies and tools.

Commitment to excellent user support and taking ownership of problems through to resolution.

A collaborative and proactive mindset, contributing positively to team delivery and shared learning.

Desirable

Understanding of file formats and metadata standards relevant to digital preservation.

Experience in systems or data administration (e.g. managing users, monitoring performance).

Knowledge of government records management, public records legislation, or experience working with transferring bodies.

Familiarity with cloud platforms and/or digital preservation tools (e.g. DROID, PRONOM, Preservica). *

Other Requirements

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site.

Must be prepared to travel to other Government departments as required, including occasional travel outside London.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is

found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service

D&I Strategy.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10 days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at (opens in new window)

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact The National Archives via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals

nationals of the Republic of Ireland

nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. (opens in new window)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window)

Contact point for applicants:

Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team

Email:

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at (opens in new window)

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