Reader Invigilation Manager

Job summary

We are looking for a security manager to oversee the invigilation of our document reading rooms and line manage our Reader Invigilation Team. The successful applicant will have a recognised security qualification with demonstrable experience of supervising security or invigilation teams.

Job description

Job Description attached - see below

Person specification

As a custodian of the nation’s history, this person will be a team player with outstanding interpersonal skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure and have experience of delivering excellent customer service. They will also be a highly motivated, adaptable, and well organised individual, with a diligent and methodical approach.
Working collaboratively with the Front of House Team, they will be operating in a busy environment and will also act as an ambassador for The National Archives when welcoming visitors and users of our services.
If this sounds like you, join us here in beautiful Kew, just 10 minutes’ walk from the Overground and Underground stations. Staff can expect a range of benefits including a Civil Service Pension, discounts at local businesses, wellbeing resources and we also have an on-site gym, restaurant and staff bar.

The standard working pattern for this role will be Tuesday-Saturday, with some later starts e.g. working 11am-7pm, and the possibility of occasional overtime.

Application process:

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site at The National Archives in Kew
• 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 criteria listed below so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Essential:

• Works well as part of a team and is capable of leading, managing, and motivating staff

• Experience in a security management or customer facing management role

• A sound working knowledge of security best practice and legislation affecting the security role.

• Current SIA CCTV Operator Licence, or willingness to obtain same

• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiating and engagement skills.

• Sound judgement and decision-making skills with a ‘hands on’ problem solving approach, able to remain calm under pressure and take control of incidents.

• Basic IT skills with a working knowledge of the range of MS office packages

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 visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

Sponsorship: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,178, The National Archives contributes £10,480 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.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 : Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
• Telephone : 020 8392 5359

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…

Attachments

Reader Invigilation Manager JD - November 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)