Archivist

Archivist role at South Dublin County Council.

Contract — Temporary three-year Fixed Term Contract. The post is full-time and pensionable. The panel may be formed to fill temporary positions; location is within the South Dublin administrative area.

• Development and Implementation of a County Archives Plan informed by public and stakeholder consultation, emphasising information gathering, awareness-raising, and best practices for identifying, protecting, and ensuring access to archives.
• Establishing and implementing County Council archive responsibilities, including preparing a work plan to support the County Archives Plan.
• County Archives Development Plan: prepare, manage, and implement a plan that includes an audit of current archival material, identification of other relevant collections, and assessment of existing archival service provision.
• Collaboration and partnership building: work with relevant Council departments and advisory teams to develop and deliver the archives service; participate in the Councils Heritage Team to enhance heritage management and promotion; establish and maintain professional networks.
• Standards and compliance: ensure archive services adhere to professional standards for curation, security, and data protection; develop and maintain policies and documentation.
• Metrics and legal compliance: maintain service metrics, ensure compliance with legal requirements, and provide analysis and reports.
• Reporting and stakeholder engagement: submit quarterly reports to SDCC and the Heritage Council; produce an annual report and liaise with stakeholders to ensure alignment and progress.
• Advisory role: provide expert advice to the Council on archives-related matters, including legal obligations concerning archives.
• Project funding: apply for and deliver projects funded by the Heritage Council and other sources.
• Performance and service management: manage performance and service delivery to meet targets and policies.
• Heritage forum participation: actively participate as a member of the County Heritage Forum.
• Frontline archive services (once operational): oversee day-to-day operations, including surveying, processing, and listing collections; premises maintenance; disaster preparedness planning; collection transfers.
• Conservation and digitisation: assess and select archives for priority conservation and digitisation.
• Community engagement and promotion: organise programmes, exhibitions, events, and activities; promote public engagement with archival holdings and local history; coordinate with communities for events during National Heritage Week.
• Other duties: undertake additional duties as required and may be assigned to suitable areas as part of employment.

• Essential Education, Training, Experience: hold a recognised qualification in Archival Studies; relevant satisfactory experience in archival work.
• Desirable Knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks governing archives; ability to deliver high-quality customer service; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; experience collaborating with other Council departments and external agencies; knowledge of the role of Archivist and its development within the public service; adaptability and continuous service improvement; strong administrative, organisational, planning, and decision-making abilities; understanding of public service organisations in Ireland and the role of digital technologies in local authority services; budgeting and financial accountability.

• Salary: remuneration in line with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; scale determined at entry with standard progression. The salary is inclusive of the terms described and may be adjusted in line with Government policy.
• Hours: 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter hours as required.
• Blended Working: policy supports flexible and balanced working arrangements; remote work up to two days per week may be possible where suitable for the role and subject to operational requirements; six months of continuous employment are required before blended working may commence.
• Residence: appointees must reside in the district or within reasonable distance as determined by SDCC.
• Superannuation: applicable local authority pension schemes and PRSI contributions; details provided in the contract terms.
• Probation, recruitment, Garda vetting, references: standard probation procedures and selection via competitive interview; Garda Vetting will be sought prior to appointment; two satisfactory references required; canvassing prohibited.

Only electronic applications through the Councils e-Recruitment system will be accepted. The closing date is the date specified in the notice. Applicants should prepare for possible interviews by the Council, which may be conducted face-to-face or via Microsoft Teams.