Archivist, Access Policy

Archivist, Access Policy

What the opportunity is: 
•    Employment with NSW State Archives & Records Authority, NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet
•    Archivist Grade 2 – $114,026. Package includes salary ($90,253- $102,403), employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.
•    Temporary full-time employment (for up to 12 months)
•    The role will be based at The Western Sydney Records Centre, Kingswood but will also be required to work across other locations as directed.

What we do
Sydney Living Museums (SLM) and The State Archives and Records Authority of NSW (SARA) came under the direction of a single Executive Director on 1 July 2019. Whilst maintaining two separate legal entities, services are provided under a shared model.
 

SLM is a leading government agency in Australia with responsibility for conserving, managing, interpreting and activating places and sites of local, national and international significance. Established in 1980, our collection includes the UNESCO World Heritage listed Hyde Park Barracks, The Mint, Australia’s oldest surviving government building through to the twentieth century Rose Seidler House, which marks the arrival of the modernist movement to Australia. The collection is unlike other museums in that the significance of each is in the whole, and not just in the parts. The awareness of place frames each narrative.
 

Our audiences are local, regional, national and international. Sydney Living Museums is a state cultural institution, reporting to the Minister for the Arts.
SARA is responsible for developing, preserving and promoting access to the State Archives Collection that pre dates the European settlement of Australia in 1788. SARA has three primary business functions:
 

SARA is the custodian and advocate for the State Archives Collection, which is one of the most complete and important collections documenting colonisation in the world. This vast cultural collection of more than 13 million items, valued at $1 billion and which grows each year, details the development of this place and the wielding of colonial power, with multiple series of documents now included as inscriptions on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
 

The Recordkeeping Standards and Advice function assists public offices to meet their recordkeeping obligations under the State Records Act 1998, as a vital part of preserving the memory of government for current and future generations.
 

Commercial Operations, through the Government Records Repository, has substantial capability to provide commercial storage, records management, digitisation and consultancy services and generates the majority of SARA’s operating revenue.

What you’ll do with us
This role will improve the quality of publicly available information regarding access to NSW State archives by drafting guidelines and other explanatory material to educate the community about access rights and processes and ensuring information about access directions/conditions for catalogue records is clearly displayed.

For more information on the role contact Emily Hanna on (02) 9673 1788.
 

Click here for the role description.

What you need to do to apply 
To apply you will need to submit the following:
•    A current resume with two referees
•    A one page cover letter outlining how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate for this role.
•    And respond to the 2 targeted questions (no more than 20 lines per answer). Your responses to the targeted questions should be submitted online during your application and not included in the covering letter. 

Also note:
•    To be eligible for an ongoing role in the NSW Public Sector you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. For temporary and casual roles, you need to hold a valid visa giving you permission to work in Australia as required by the role. All successful candidates will be required to undergo a criminal record check with NSW Police. 
•    If you are speech or hearing impaired, have access requirements that require reasonable adjustment in the assessment process, or require access to information about this vacancy in a different format, please call the Head of People & Culture on 02 8239 2366.
•    A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

Submit your application before the closing date: 11.59pm Monday, 20 September 2021

What else you need to know
State Archives & Records Authority is committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that values and supports diversity and inclusion. We believe everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, valued and heard regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background or ability. 

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply for roles with our agency. Greater consideration will be given to suitable applicants, in order to improve access to employment and career opportunities in accordance with Government Sector Employment Rule 26.

We seek to provide workplace adjustments at all relevant stages of the recruitment process. You can specify your application if you require any adjustments or please ask us at any stage. If you need information about this vacancy in a different format, please call the Head of People & Culture on 02 8239 2366.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application. 

What the essential requirements of the role are:
•    Possession of qualifications acceptable for professional membership of the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) or other combination of qualifications and experience deemed by the agency head or Public Service Commission to be equivalent, that meet the minimum standards inherent in the ASA standard.
•    Ability to participate in a rostered working arrangement in accordance with the provisions of the Flexible Working Agreement, which may include after hours or weekend work.

What you need to tell us – targeted questions:
1. Please describe a situation where you were responsible for administering access conditions to an archival or manuscript collection. What were some of the challenges you faced and how did you address them?
2. Describe a previous experience or project where you worked independently but were required to collaborate and deliver work results to a number of different project stakeholders with competing timeframes.