Archive Officer
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are pleased to announce the new role of an Archive Officer. This post is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Garden’s Major Project.
This important new post has been created to support BBG’s planned £13.8m major National Lottery Heritage Fund ‘Growing Our Green Heritage’ development project and is needed to support the Engagement & Learning Team and essential to BBG’s charitable purpose, objectives, and development.
As one of Birmingham’s foremost heritage charities, essential records and publications dating back to 1829 need to be assessed, documented, and made accessible. The principal purpose is to research, sort, organise and document the current collection, rationalising storage, liaising with Birmingham Archives and Collections who hold many original BBG records, to ensure that important documents are held in perpetuity and that BBG has access to significant material to inform and support its education, interpretation, and wider charitable purposes.
Reporting to and working closely with the Head of Engagement and Learning (HoEL) the postholder will generate, organise and deliver high quality engagement activities and interpretation to engage audiences, staff, volunteers and stakeholders with the archive during the NLHF Development and later Delivery phases. The post-holder will be responsible for the management of the small onsite BBG library and will be expected to induct, supervise and manage volunteers who will be assisting with the archive project and library duties.
The role will support the research and content development of the new BBG Interpretation Strategy and the developing engagement and learning programmes at BBG. The history of BBG has been identified as of great interest to both visitors and potential visitors and is a central theme in the Gardens’ key messaging for the future.
The postholder will work with the BBG team to ensure the archive is a living archive, producing an archiving policy to inform practices across the business going forward. Working with the HoEL, the postholder identify the key archive priorities to inform a sustainable and deliverable workplan to be delivered throughout the duration of this 12-month contract.
As the material stored at BBG’s Edgbaston site is currently largely inaccessible, this role is integral in our journey to enable access to the archive for staff, stakeholders and audiences. This project brief will enable BBG to catalogue and digitise core documents, photographs, and images for potential use in our capital project content, including exhibitions, online learning resources and a range of diverse engagement and learning programmes.
This is an opportunity for someone, passionate about historic gardens and Birmingham heritage with archive or records management experience, to support the future development of BBG, making the unique history of BBG accessible, and engaging others in the process.
ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Opened in 1832, Birmingham Botanical Gardens (registered charity number 528981) is one of just two independent charitable botanical gardens in the UK.
Spread across 15 acres, just one mile from Birmingham City Centre, BBG consists of over 7,000 formally documented plants, making it the largest and most diverse botanic collection in central England.
BBG’s heritage is woven into Birmingham’s history – once the most important manufacturing town in the world – and the site welcomes over 180,000 visitors each year.
As well as the gardens, which are a green sanctuary within the city, the charity also provides a unique educational resource for learning about plants, conservation, and the environment. We welcome visits from nurseries, schools, and colleges, as well as organised groups, and run adult courses and workshops in photography, nature, wildlife, heritage, and culture.
As an independent charity, we rely on the support of visitors, supporters, donors, and grants, as well as generating income from our trading arm, hosting weddings and special events. This support ensures that we can deliver our key charitable objectives, maintaining our Victorian glasshouses and our 15-acres of wonderful gardens, and developing educational projects for the Birmingham community.
A diverse botanical world that enhances all our lives: our mission is to support plant biodiversity and an understanding of its importance to the natural environment through conservation, education, engagement, and enjoyment.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
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- To work in accordance with BBG’s Values and Behaviours, to ensure that you are working hard and go above and beyond to deliver excellence to maintain and improve BBG for cur- rent and future generations.
- Positively contributing to ensuring that the BBG work environment is one that supports Equalities, Diversity, and Inclusion for all – including, but not restricted to: staff, volunteers, trainees and apprenticeships, members of the public.
- Be an enthusiastic ambassador for BBG, contributing to the visitor experience by contrib- uting to public engagement, interpretation, and marketing.
Contract Type: Part time (3 x days) 1 x year fixed term con- tract with opportunity to extend
Salary: FTE salary £26,400
Enquiries: If you have any questions or wish to have an informal discussion about the role please email Jen Ridding, Head of Engagement and Learning: jen@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
To apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
Application deadline: 9am: 27th November 2023
Interviews: Friday 8th December, in person at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Alternative dates for interview will be considered on a case-by-case basis.Online interviews will be considered on request to accommodate specific travel or access needs.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city. The Gardens look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.