Collections and Archives Manager

St Bride Foundation - About us

For over 130 years, our historic home at 14 Bride Lane has been more than just a building it has been a beacon for creativity, learning, and community engagement, standing as a testament to London's rich printing heritage.

As the home of print and type design on Fleet Street, the Foundation cares for an internationally significant collection celebrating the history of print, graphic design and typography.

Our Grade II listed Victorian building is home to the Bridewell Theatre, a vibrant 130-seater fringe theatre and a hands-on print workshop. At the heart of our organisation, our unparalleled collection supports a broad educational programme of creative workshops, seminars, events and exhibitions. We welcome 42,000 visitors a year, including 15,500 theatre visitors and over 4,000 attendees to our library and cultural programme.

We are in an exciting period of organisational development working on robust plans and policies and creating a new strategic direction to develop our collections, cultural offer and to bring it to a wider, diverse audience.

Our Collections

The Library holds over 60,000 catalogued items, including the largest collection of type specimens in the world. Alongside this it holds over 250 archival and special collections, including the physical objects of printing and type founding many still being catalogued. The collection reflects both the process and product of printing and is a unique resource of national and international importance.

Used by students, academics, artists, and the public, the library supports learning and research into the history of print, graphic design and technology.

The Role

As part of the Library & Learning team, you will be closely involved in projects that, under our new vision and mission, aim to transform SBF into a contemporary institute serving the creative industries, researchers and the wider public. The role will suit someone with a passion to take on challenges with the aim of creating a cultural hub fit for the 21st century.

Job title: Collections and Archives Manager

Job overview

St Bride Foundation (SBF) is seeking a Collections and Archives Manager with strong project management and collections management skills to support the development, preservation, and accessibility of our library and archive collections. Alongside this our preferred candidate will have excellent people management and engagement skills.

The Collections and Archives Manager will manage the smooth running of the Reading Room, library enquiry services and manage our library volunteers.

Working as part of a small team, the role will involve helping to develop and deliver aspects of the learning programme, especially those relating to engagement with the collections through activities including tours, talks and exhibitions.

The Collections and Archives Manager will work closely with the Foundation Librarian to oversee library and archival operations, and develop policies to improve storage, accessibility, and preservation.

As part of our wider strategic plans this role is pivotal in ensuring the safe relocation of collection materials, implementing best practices in storage and conservation, and enhancing the long-term sustainability of our holdings.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the development of our collections, research services and related learning programme during a period of change for the organisation that will ensure our building is fit for purpose and our programmes of work are relevant and engaging to our communities.

Key Responsibilities

Access, Research & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support public and internal access to collection materials by providing research services and developing user-friendly finding aids.
• Collaborate with researchers, educators and community groups to enhance the impact of the collections.
• Improve discovery and accessibility of collections through database enhancements and digitisation efforts.

Project Management Collection

• Manage the care, storage, and documentation of the Foundations collection, including developing and implementing policies and procedures for such projects as inventory audits, collection moves, exhibitions, loans and rationalisation projects.
• Liaise with contractors, partners and internal teams to ensure the security of collections materials.
• Conduct post-project evaluations and implement improvements for future collection projects.

Collections Management & Preservation

• Develop the collections in line with the Foundations collections policy, reflecting SBFs audiences.
• Work closely with conservation specialists to develop and implement storage strategies that align with best practice standards, improving environmental controls and storage solutions.
• Oversee cataloging, metadata creation, and collections documentation.
• Manage digital preservation strategies and support digitisation projects to increase access to collections.
• Develop risk management strategies for collection security, environmental conditions, and disaster preparedness.

Outreach, Engagement & Advocacy

• Contribute to learning and engagement programs, including talks, tours, workshops, exhibitions, and digital content that promote engagement with the collections across diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with institutions, community partners, and funding bodies to support and develop collections-based projects such as research projects, youth programmes and oral histories.
• Work with the wider team to share stories from the collections to support advocacy, fundraising, and awareness campaigns.
• Ensure all outreach activity aligns with the organisation s mission and values, with a commitment to access, inclusion, and engagement with communities and content.

Policy & Funding

• Assist in policy development regarding collections management.
• Work with the Foundation Librarian and Fundraising Manager to identify and pursue funding opportunities to support the collections.
• Advocate for the value and significance of the collections within the organisation and to external stakeholders, including funders, partner institutions, and policymakers.

Team Leadership & Administration

• Supervise, support and manage library staff,volunteer and placement workloads and ensure efficient allocation of resources for ongoing projects.
• Represent the Foundation at professional conferences, meetings, and collaborations with external organisations.

Required Skills & Experience:

Essential

• A post graduate qualification in Archives and Records Management.
• Significant experience of working in an archive setting.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience with collections management systems.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and risk assessment skills for managing large projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams, contractors, and external partners.

Desirable

• Familiarity with heritage or museum-sector projects.
• Knowledge of funding application processes and grant writing.

Personal Attributes

• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
• Highly organised and methodical, with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• A collaborative team player who enjoys engaging with different stakeholders.
• Passionate about preserving and improving access to library and archive collections.

Location: St Bride Foundation

Salary: £36,000 £45,000 pa (Band 3)

Reports to: Foundation Librarian

How to Apply

• Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter outlining their suitability for the role.