Operations Manager - Collection Care

Job summary

The National Archives houses one of the world’s most extraordinary collections, spanning more than a thousand years of history. Our Collection Care department works at the forefront of conservation and heritage science, ensuring that this remarkable record of the past is preserved and accessible for generations to come.

We are now seeking a highly organised and proactive Operations Manager to help shape, support and optimise the day-to-day running of our conservation studios and heritage science laboratories.

At The National Archives, you will be part of a dynamic department dedicated to innovation, research, and the long-term care of the nation’s written heritage. This is a role for someone who thrives in a busy, collaborative environment and enjoys enabling specialist teams to work at their best.

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.

Job description

Full job description attached (see below).

Person specification

Application Process:

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site at The National Archives, week commencing 11th May 2026. Candidates selected for interview will be required to prepare a presentation.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Essential criteria:

• Highly efficient and resourceful, with a proven track record of setting direction, allocating resources and delivering projects, both independently and collaboratively as part of a wider team; can contribute expertise to planning and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organisational skills, able to prioritise across multiple workstreams, manage direct reports, and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes to time, cost and quality standards.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, enabling effective engagement with various stakeholders, including external suppliers.
• Digitally fluent with strong proficiency in standard IT systems (e.g., Microsoft 365/Office) with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to internal or proprietary platforms.
• Manual dexterity to support the safe handling of collection items in line with established handling guidance and training; reasonable adjustments will be made where needed.
• First‑aid competence: FAW (preferred) or EFAW (minimum), or willingness to obtain certification within 3 months, including confidence with CPR and AED use.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience within a cultural heritage setting, with a general knowledge of conservation and preservation.

Sponsorship:

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,784, The National Archives contributes £9,787 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;

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

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

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : The Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
• Telephone : 02039855979

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

nationalarchives.gov.uk

Attachments

Job Description - Operations Manager Collection Care Opens in new window (docx, 47kB)