Archives Assistant

Role overview

The V&A Museum of Childhood is looking for an Archives Assistant to join its archives team on a permanent full-time basis at V&A East Storehouse in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London. This post supports the Archive of Art and Design, Theatre and Performance Archives, and Young V&A Archives, contributing to the care, organisation, and public access of the museum’s archival holdings.

The V&A is a museum group focused on creativity in design, art and performance. Its archive service covers more than 1,000 people and organisations linked to these fields, and the archives team works within the V&A Research Institute, National Art Library and Archives structure.

This opportunity is suited to someone who wants to build practical archive-management experience in a major museum setting and help maintain access to important collections.

About the museum

The V&A is recognised internationally for art and design, with a collection of more than 2.8 million objects, books and archives spanning over 5,000 years of human creativity. Its collections support study and public engagement across areas such as architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre, and performance.

The museum aims to be known as the world’s leading institution for art, design and performance, while enriching lives through research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world for as broad an audience as possible.

Main responsibilities

• Support the development, care, and management of archival collections.
• Help provide access to the V&A’s archives for researchers and other users.
• Contribute to the day-to-day running of the Archive of Art and Design, Theatre and Performance Archives, and Young V&A Archives.
• Work within a transformative museum storehouse environment and gain experience across different areas of archive work.

Benefits

• Defined contribution pension with generous terms.
• 29 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Entry tickets to V&A exhibitions.
• Subsidised staff canteen.
• 25% discount in V&A shops.
• Payroll giving option through a give-as-you-earn scheme.
• Bicycle loan scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan.
• Interest-free rental deposit loan.
• Free bike safety checks and minor repairs through Doctor Bike.
• Access to a broad range of training and professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff diversity networks.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The V&A is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and identifies as a Disability Confident Employer Level 2. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria may be offered a guaranteed interview, subject to the scheme rules and application volume. The museum states that it provides an inclusive recruitment process, makes reasonable adjustments during recruitment, and supports employees with adjustments during employment.

Additional information

This is a permanent full-time vacancy. The salary is £28,520. The role is based in London, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. The vacancy is scheduled to close in 17 days at 23:59 BST.

Job descriptions are currently provided as PDF files; if a Word version is needed, candidates may request it by emailing careers@vam.ac.uk.

V&A strategic objectives

• Create a world-class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections.
• Strengthen the relevance of the collections to the UK creative and knowledge economy.
• Increase the museum’s international reach, reputation, and impact.
• Operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency.
• Showcase leading digital design and deliver an excellent digital experience.
• Broaden private and commercial funding sources.

Benefits snapshot

• Generous pension scheme.
• 29 days plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working.
• Tickets to V&A exhibitions.
• Subsidised staff canteen.
• 25% discount in V&A shops.
• Give as you earn scheme.
• Bicycle loan.
• Interest-free season ticket loan.
• Interest-free rental deposit loan.
• Free safety checks and small bike repairs with Doctor Bike.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff diversity networks.