Who we are

National Archives of Australia (National Archives) provides leadership in the best practice management of the official record of the Commonwealth and ensures that Australian Government information of enduring significance is secured, preserved and available to government agencies, researchers and the community.

Our vision: National Archives is committed to being a world-leading archive and strives to strengthen Australia's cultural identity and democracy by connecting people with the evidence of Australian Government activities and decisions.

National Archives endeavour to meet the future needs of government and expectations of the Australian public in our rapidly changing digital environment. Underpinning the transformative strategies to enable, secure, connect and innovate is a drive for comprehensive digital capability and service delivery. National Archives is committed to:

• innovation
• collaboration
• inclusion

National Archives is also committed to developing the capability and expertise of our staff, we offer a Studies Assistance Program that supports staff to achieve individual goals as well as increasing their capacity to help achieve National Archives’ strategic objectives. Our Health and Wellbeing Program encourages and supports a healthier workplace and healthy lifestyle choices for all employees.

About the role

The Access and Public Engagement Branch is the public face of National Archives of Australia, delivering description, examination, and reference and research services, exhibition, education and lifelong learning programs, publishing, websites, marketing and events nationally. All public engagement programs and services support National Archives' key role of providing an accessible, visible and interpreted national archival collection.

Description of the national archival collection at item level provides the foundation from which operational and service delivery including storage, lending and retrieval, reference services, access examination, public programs, digitisation and preservation can occur.

The Manager of Description and Personal Records role will support the Assistant Director, Description and Personal Records and staff across National Archives undertaking archival description. The role is based within a dynamic section of National Archives and involves being agile and responsive to work priorities as required. The role is based in Canberra.

The ideal candidate will come with skills, experience and attributes outlined below:

• Proven ability to provide leadership, plan, drive and contribute to collection description activities and strategic projects. This includes description activities which enhance the discoverability and accessibility of collections.
• Demonstrated ability to implement work plans including setting tasks and priorities, managing workflows and allocating resources.
• Experience leading a team and ensuring quality outputs including the development of policies and specialist procedures and manuals.
• Demonstrated experience providing professional and/or technical expertise related to best practice description and undertaking complex description activities.
• Previous experience managing the performance of staff in accordance with policies and guidelines, mentoring and training new staff.
• Experience leading and inspiring staff engagement in change agendas, investigating business processes, problems and opportunities and contributing to business improvements through critical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve work area and agency goals.
• Previous experience coordinating and assisting in the development of statistical reports.
• Implement, promote and apply the National Archives’ Vision, Mission and Commitments as expressed in Strategy 2025–2030: Evolving National Archives and Our Values.
• Promote and apply the APS and National Archives values and contemporary people management principles and practices in diversity, workplace health and safety and participative management.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for the role you must be an Australian citizen. If you are selected, you will be required to successfully undergo a pre-employment check and be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at a Negative Vetting 2 clearance level.

How to apply

You need to apply through our e-recruitment system.

Your application will need to include:

• the names and contact details of at least two referees, one of whom should be a current supervisor.
• your current resume.
• statement (1000 words maximum), describing how your skills, knowledge, and experience/qualifications would enable you to perform the duties of the role taking into account the “Performance Expectations” at the relevant classification and National Archives’ Vision, Mission and Commitments as expressed in Strategy 2025–2030: Evolving National Archives and Our Values.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information see: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability