Operations Manager (Digital Archiving)

In this role, you will contribute to our work to ensure that today’s digital public records survive for the benefit of future generations of citizens, researchers, policy makers and historians.
Working across the Digital Archiving Department, you will support the development and implementation of the department’s target operating model, which includes aligning services and shaping the future of our digital teams.
Our team has grown significantly over the last three years as we’ve developed from a long-established Digital Preservation team to a department that now delivers services for Selection and Transfer of digital public records, Access to digital records for diverse audiences and Digital Preservation for future generations. This role will support a corresponding transformation in our operating environment, focusing on structure, processes, roles and culture as our services mature and new initiatives take shape.
An element of the role will be to provide operational leadership, including helping us improve our risk and issue management, define and monitor service availability and performance standards, plan and implement business continuity and disaster recovery measures, as well as building our capability through recruitment and ensuring access to the right learning and development opportunities., 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 careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
+ Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page 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 undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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 a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a 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 a 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.

Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

You are a confident leader with a desire to do what’s right to deliver meaningful change through aligning teams and working practices with evolving business needs. You are an enthusiastic and positive individual who builds effective, trust based working relationships and prioritises staff welfare. Your strong communication skills enable you to influence and negotiate to bring about and embed change.
You have the ability to solve problems across disciplines or functions and are motivated to continuously improve our operations. You have a proven track record of delivering results and the confidence to collaborate with, lead and inspire an expert team.
Join us here in beautiful Kew, just 10 minutes’ walk from the Overground and Underground stations, and you can expect an excellent range of benefits. These include a generous pension (worth up to 29% of your salary), hybrid working arrangements, discounts with local businesses (e.g. beauty salons and bars), entrance to selected national museums and galleries; and wellbeing resources (e.g. on-site therapists, on-site gym). We offer an on-site restaurant, shop and staff bar.
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., + Experience of running a high-quality, professional and responsive service for a diverse user base with a commitment to supporting our teams to operate excellent digital archiving services for our users.
+ Outstanding interpersonal skills and a positive outlook, with the ability to build effective, trust-based working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, partners and stakeholders.
+ Highly reliable with excellent organisational and facilitation skills. Able to prioritise a complex workload and manage delivery of multiple competing tasks and requirements to agreed quality and timeframes.
+ An experienced and approachable manager with proven ability in line management, coaching, mentoring and developing staff and with a strong commitment to staff wellbeing.
+ Ability to successfully initiate, influence and manage change to develop and nurture high performing teams, with experience of project and change management.
+ A demonstrable ability to learn and a commitment develop expertise in policy areas that will support the work of the archive. For example:
o Public sector recruitment, including developing and running an apprenticeship programme
o Good practice in information security and data handling
o Procurement exercises and contract management for digital or technology services
o Budget management, financial planning and reporting
Desirable criteria:
+ A good knowledge of the principles and practice of digital archiving, gained in a leadership role in a digital archive or information service
+ Experience of developing business cases to advocate for change and secure funding

Archives matter. Without records, we could not hold government to account, carry out pioneering research or learn from the past. Whether they are websites, the evidence heard by inquiries or the algorithms which support official decision-making, preserving our digital public records is vital.
The National Archives is the archive of UK Government and the courts and one of the world’s leading digital archives. We preserve and provide access to the UK’s public records. Our strategy sets out our ambition to be an inclusive, entrepreneurial and disruptive archive.
We have operated as a digital archive for over 20 years. Our technical platform includes innovative new services running alongside systems that are approaching retirement. We are seeking a talented individual to strengthen our team as our next generation of digital archiving services become operational.

Alongside your salary of £52,000, The National Archives contributes £15,064 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.
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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk