• Suffolk County Council
• Address: The Hold, Ipswich, IP4 1LR – On Site working
• Salary: £25,185 per annum (pro rata)
• Hours Post 1: 29.27 hours per week – Monday 9.15am-5pm, Tuesday 9.15am-5pm, Wednesday 9.15am-5pm, Saturday 9.15am-5pm. Plus, the 2nd Thursday of month 4.30pm–10pm.
• Hours Post 2: 21 hours per week – Thursday 9.15am-5pm, Friday 9.15am-5pm, Saturday 9.15am-5pm.
• Contract: Permanent

There is an enhanced payment rate for Saturday working and Thursday evening working after 8pm.

Working Saturdays as part of the contracted rota is a requirement of these roles.

Suffolk County Council’s Suffolk Archives is committed to preserving and sharing important historical records. We’re looking for an engaging and customer-focused Archive Assistant to join our team. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about history, enjoys working with people, and is keen to help others discover Suffolk’s rich heritage. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers with enquiries, offering knowledgeable support regarding our archives and services
• Retrieve and produce archive materials from strongrooms for customer use
• Assist with sales in our on-site shop and promote our archival services
• Ensure that materials are handled safely and securely, adhering to preservation guidelines
• Maintain organised records and contribute to accurate archive inventories
• Collaborate with the team to enhance customer experiences and maintain a welcoming environment
• Support general administrative tasks related to the archives.

You will need

• a genuine passion for history and enthusiasm for sharing it with others
• excellent customer service and communication skills
• an interest in archival work or a related field
• the ability to handle and transport archive materials safely and responsibly
• strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Experience in a library, archive, retail, or customer service setting is an advantage.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

Suffolk Archives is a small, flexible, proactive team that is passionate about sharing Suffolk’s local history and heritage with a wider audience. Archive Assistants work as part of our Operations Team, which is responsible for providing public access to the collections housed at The Hold in Ipswich.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Katie Angus (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by emailing katie.angus@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template.
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 10 November 2025.

Interview date: week commencing 24 November 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).