Contract: Freelance, fixed term over 13 months (November 2026-December 2027)
Day rate: £213 (Grade 6)
Hours: 119 days working 2.5 days per week
Based: Oldham Archives, Ascroft Street, Oldham, OL1 1HY
Closing Date: Sunday 11 October 2026, 11.59pm
Interviews: Thursday 22 October 2026
Join us at Oldham Archives as we deliver Headliners: Revealing Real Life Through the Oldham Chronicle. Funded through The National Archives’ Archives Revealed fund, this cataloguing and engagement project aims to improve access to the Oldham Chronicle Archive and engage communities with stories to be found in the collection. The project is built around three themes identified through community consultation: Real life in Oldham, Sporting history and Documenting diasporas.
Working on a freelance basis, the Project Archivist will lead on the documentation work, supported by a team of volunteers drawn from partner organisations. The role will deliver catalogue records and improved packaging for priority areas of the collection identified through community consultation. The catalogue will facilitate improved access through digitisation and support research into stories from the collection that relate to the engagement themes.
Key Tasks:
Using Microsoft Exel and the Axiell CALM collections management database:
1. Catalogue the negative index books, repackaging and improving storage conditions as required.
2. Catalogue the collection of newscuttings, repackaging and improving storage conditions as required.
3. Catalogue a selection of business archives: minute books, salaries books, wages books, account books, customer account books, building plans, photographer diaries, repackaging and improving storage conditions as required.
4. Catalogue records relating to the Central Cricket League, Saddleworth Cricket League, Oldham Athletic and Oldham Rugby Action, repackaging and improving storage conditions as required.
5. Work with the cataloguing volunteers as required to support transcription of the negative index books, box listing of photographic negatives, identification of priority images for digitization and repackaging of negatives.
6. Reporting on progress at monthly meetings.
What we are looking for:
Essential:
A recognised professional qualification in archives management or equivalent experience in an archive or heritage environment.
Experience of working with mixed-media archives.
Experience of working with Excel and at least one collections management database.
Effective communication skills (written, verbal, ICT and interpersonal skills).
Evidence of high-level organisational skills including the prioritisation of tasks and a methodological approach. Ability to manage workload with minimal supervision.
Desirable:
Experience of effective multi-disciplinary team working.
Experience of working with and training volunteers
Awareness of health and safety matters affecting staff working in archive stores and with collections.
Using the subject line ‘YOUR NAME – Project Archivist’, please email a CV and covering letter on no more than three pages to jan.hicks@oldham.gov.uk, outlining how your experience links to the essential and desirable criteria for the role and including details of two professional references. Closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 11 October 2026. Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of the day on Thursday 15 October and interviews will be held on Thursday 22 October 2026.
To discuss any aspect of this role please contact Jan Hicks, Exhibitions and Collection Co-ordinator (Archives) – jan.hicks@oldham.gov.uk