Freelance Project Archivist

Freelance Project Archivist

National Memorial Arboretum Closing date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026

Artform: Museums
Role: Research
Contract: Temporary
East Midlands

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 "> published -

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Freelance Project Archivist to join the team on a full-time basis to lead on the archival development strand of the Archiving Remembrance project.

Job Description

This 12-month, full time post, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be central to the creation of an accessible, sustainable archive of the National Memorial Arboretum's heritage materials and stories. The Arboretum holds a wealth of uncatalogued photographs, documents, media, personal collections and ephemera, much of it dispersed, unrecorded, or at risk. As the National Memorial Arboretum approaches its 25th anniversary, Archiving Remembrance seeks to capture, preserve and celebrate the site's unique heritage, safeguarding a collection that tells the story of its conception, growth, and role in shaping contemporary Remembrance. Reporting to the Heritage Project Manager, the Archivist will lead on establishing the Arboretum's archive, including the scoping and cataloguing of heritage material and the embedding of archival practice across the organisation. This will include both digital and physical materials, alongside oral histories collected as part of the project. The role involves working closely with colleagues across departments, volunteers, and external consultants, as well as supporting evaluation of the project in collaboration with an appointed agency. The role will support the design and delivery of community engagement projects connected to heritage materials. The role will also work with the Arboretum's Access, Diversity and Inclusion panel to ensure that the archive and its development process reflect diverse perspectives, and that material in the archive is accessible to all. Due to the location of the heritage material, this role will be based primarily on site at the Arboretum. The total sum paid to the freelance Project Archivist will be £52,000 (12 months, 5 days per week at £260 per day), to include reasonable expenses.

Job Requirements

For person specification and more information, please see the link to the Arboretum jobs page.

Job Responsibilities

Develop and implement archival frameworks and procedures, setting up processes needed to catalogue archival material using the Arboretum's collections management system (CollectionsIndex+) Undertake sorting, assessment and cataloguing of existing physical and digital material, including photographs, event programmes, guidebooks, service sheets, video/audio media, press cuttings, and memorial documentation Support volunteers in collecting oral histories for the archive Identify opportunities for digitisation and coordinate with appointed digitisation partners Produce and maintain policies connected to the archive (e.g. collecting, retention, access) Advise on digital archive platforms and ensure GDPR compliance Contribute to the design of a long-term archive space (physical and/or digital) Train and support volunteers and staff in basic archival processes Support public engagement by advising on archival content for exhibition, interpretation and outreach

Job Overview

  • Job Title: Freelance Project Archivist
  • Salary: £30k-£40k
  • Hours: Full time
  • Artform: Museums
  • Role: Research
  • Contract: Temporary
  • Closing date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • Location:
    East Midlands
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Job: Freelance Project Archivist

Job: Freelance Project Archivist

Organisation: National Memorial Arboretum

Postcode: DE13 7AR

How to Apply

Please see the full job description for instructions on how to apply.