Graduate Trainee Digital Archivist - 2 posts

About the role

Archives & Modern Manuscripts is part of the Bodleian Libraries and cares for outstanding modern archive collections, including an increasing volume of born-digital material. You will join a supportive team while undertaking a unique combination of practical training and postgraduate study.

You will develop the knowledge and skills needed for a professional career in digital archives through a structured traineeship. Working with contemporary archives, you will contribute to web archiving, digital preservation, metadata creation and cataloguing, while supporting projects involving born-digital collections. Alongside your day-to-day work, you will study towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Archives and Records Management at Aberystwyth University, with course fees fully funded.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position, working 36.5 hours per week for 23 months. An afternoon of each week may be dedicated to studies during work-time, plus four additional full study days, but it is expected that the postholder will supplement this with study in their own time to succeed.

This role is aimed at new entrants to the sector. Applicants who already have, or are studying towards, an undergraduate or postgraduate degree related to Archives / Curation / Galleries / Heritage / Information Management / Librarianship / Museum Studies; or who have already completed a traineeship, or otherwise accumulated more than six months of work experience, in one of the above areas will not be considered.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to work involving handling highly valuable or sensitive items.

About You

You will be looking to begin a career in digital archives and heritage, with a genuine interest in preserving and providing access to late twentieth and twenty-first century collections. You will hold an undergraduate degree with significant coverage of subject areas relevant to the Bodleian Libraries' modern archive collections, ideally including STEM subjects, politics, international relations, contemporary history, music or Slavic languages. You will have excellent communication, analytical and IT skills, be able to manage competing priorities including postgraduate study, and enjoy working collaboratively while delivering excellent customer service with discretion and professionalism.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme

• 38 days of annual leave

• A comprehensive range of childcare services

• Family leave schemes

• Cycle loan scheme

• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

More information is available at https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/jobs/life-in-oxford Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at ***email_hidden***.

How to apply

As part of your online application, you must upload:

• a CV (maximum two sides of A4); and

• a supporting evidence form, completed using the attached template, in which you describe how you meet each of the selection criteria for the role.

To be considered, both documents must be submitted and comply with the requirements set out above. Failure to do so may result in your application not being considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Susan Thomas, Head of Archives & Modern Manuscripts, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role ( [email protected]). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department ( ***email_hidden***).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Tuesday 21st July 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September 2026, in person at the Weston Library.