Head of Digital Archiving

Job Description

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to join our team as Head of Digital Archiving. Leading our innovative and multi-faceted team you will direct and shape the future of digital archiving at NRS to ensure the long-term preservation and access to the records of Scotland's people, history and culture.

The current digital era is an exciting time to work in archives. NRS is accepting increasing amounts of archival digital records, which are bringing new challenges and opportunities on everything from collections management to user needs. We need to grow our digital archiving capabilities to ensure we can continue to respond to this change and preserve the record of modern Scotland. This post will play a critical role in this mission.

Leading the Digital Archiving Branch, you will both advise the Keeper of the Records of Scotland on matters concerning the development and direction of digital archiving and direct the team within NRS to develop and implement policies, practices and strategies to deliver an archive fit for the future.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Keeper and Deputy Keeper of the Records of Scotland in the ongoing development, and implementation of digital preservation and archiving strategies, technologies, guidance, risks, and procedures.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, projects and services related to digital archiving in accordance with global good practice and our strategic objectives.
• Direct the work of the Digital Archiving Branch to shape and build future fit archiving services for NRS stakeholders and customers. This will include skills assessment and workforce planning. Lead, coach, and develop the skills and capabilities of your team to meet our strategic ambitions.
• Provide high quality, strategic subject matter expertise developing our end-to-end Digital Archiving service and processes, to accommodate a projected future intake of c10-20 terabytes per year.
• Lead work to ensure that NRS has a catalogue fit for purpose in a digital age, fully integrated with key collections management systems.
• Oversee the management and development of the digital repository (currently 3TB of data and expanding) and the provision of digital preservation services and archive to NRS and our stakeholders
• Support our web continuity service serving NRS and its stakeholders, including future planning.
• Lead and direct the SME team in the Digital Records unit and engaging with colleagues across our digital archiving services, including depositor liaison and customer delivery. Represent NRS on the global digital archiving stage.
• Provide leadership, oversight, and financial planning support to procurement, supplier management, and exit planning associated with digital archiving services.