Project Archivist


Company:	Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Salary:	£30,000 to £34,717 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QW
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	26 Oct 2026
Closing date:	15 Nov 2026

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Summary

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Project Archivist to join our Collections team on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

The Archives Revealed programme is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the Abd'Elkader Farrah Design Archive, a rare and internationally significant collection documenting the work of one of the twentieth century's most innovative scenographers. The successful candidate will lead a major cataloguing and access programme, helping to make this important archive more discoverable, accessible and meaningful for researchers, creative practitioners and communities.

Reporting to the Collections Manager, you will play a central role in the management, preservation and interpretation of the Farrah Design Archive. You will lead the arrangement and cataloguing of the collection, develop descriptive frameworks and metadata, support preservation activity, and contribute to a future public display of selected material. You will also work closely with colleagues, researchers, volunteers, academics and community partners, building productive relationships and ensuring stakeholders remain informed and engaged throughout the project.

As part of the Trust's interdisciplinary collections team, you will contribute to the ongoing development of archival practice, helping to deliver sustainable, inclusive and user-focused approaches to collections management, access and engagement. You will be a qualified archivist, or possess equivalent professional experience, with a proven track record of cataloguing and managing archive collections in a heritage, cultural, academic or similar environment. Experience with theatre, performance or design archives, digital preservation workflows, public engagement, exhibitions, and innovative technologies within archive settings would be advantageous.

You will be a key part of our interdisciplinary team of museum, library and archive expertise. You work closely with museum, library and archive colleagues, providing expertise on shared projects, service delivery and development. You will be committed to working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to increase public access to, and engagement with, our collections.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 15 November 2026. First stage interviews will take place on Wednesday 25 November 2026, and these will be in-person in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre. Second stage interviews will take place on Monday 7 December 2026, and these will be virtual.

If you would like to know more and to apply please go to our jobs website: https://shakespearebtrust.jobs.people-first.com/jobs/search

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and building a diverse and representative workforce.

Essential requirements

• Proven experience working as an archivist or cataloguer within a heritage, cultural, academic or similar environment. • Experience cataloguing theatre, performance or design archives. • Strong understanding of archival theory, cataloguing standards (including ISAD(G), ISAAR(CPF)) and inclusive description practice. • Experience arranging and describing complex, mixed media collections, including visual, design or performance related archives. • Ability to manage cataloguing projects from initiation to completion, including planning, documentation, risk management and reporting. • Experience working with collection management systems (preferably QI CMS or equivalent). • Understanding of digital preservation principles and workflows, including pre ingest processes and metadata creation. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex archival information into accessible content for diverse audiences. • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain clear documentation and meet deadlines. • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, researchers, volunteers and external partners. • Sensitivity and confidence engaging with culturally diverse communities, including diaspora groups.

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