Race Centre Archivist (part time)

The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre (AIURC) is a unique library and archive on race, ethnicity and migration. It contains life stories, resources for schools and rare archival sources, including the Commission for Racial Equality’s archive and some of the original documents relating to the Manchester City Council-commissioned Macdonald Report, which concluded that race had been a key factor in the murder of 13-year-old school boy Ahmed Iqbal Ullah, after whom the centre is named. The Centre’s work and that of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust (the centre’s sister organisation and a registered charity) is focused on supporting global majority communities to explore and preserve their own heritage whilst supporting world-class research and promoting national discourse around race, ethnicity and migration.

The AIURC vision is for an inclusive, equally represented and racially just society and our mission is to make the history, heritage and culture of global majority communities more visible, supporting excellence in research and learning through ethical and inclusive practice.

The Centre is funded by The University of Manchester and is managed by the University of Manchester Library. However, it is housed within Manchester Central Library – Manchester’s largest and most iconic public library – and is a partner in Archives+, a Central-Library based partnership of seven Greater Manchester organisations including the Trust. The partnership brings together statutory, university and voluntary organisations to provide a holistic range of archive and heritage services in one location.

The University of Manchester Library is one of only five National Research Libraries and the third largest academic library in the UK. Our vast and rich collections (both print and increasingly digital) help us to deliver a world-class library and information service for the University of Manchester. While our primary objective is to meet the learning, research and teaching needs of University members, we are also fully committed to widening access to our services to individual researchers, local schools and others in the regional community. 

We are seeking an Archivist (0.5 fte) to maintain the day-to-day and long term running of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre archive collections, including collection access, development, management, and management of library and archive staff. You will have a professional archive or collection management qualification, or significant level of work experience in an archive setting or similar; knowledge of library/archive catalogues; good understanding of race relations issues; awareness of, and commitment to, the work of the RACE Centre and Education Trust; experience of working on Black, Asian and global majority heritage projects and co-producing archive catalogues with community groups; and experience of archiving community collections.

Culture and Values

The University of Manchester Library strives to create a working environment that is supportive and rewarding, providing a platform from which we can achieve our ambitious strategy. This culture and our values are demonstrated through the University’s values: 

• Knowledge: we are ambitious in our pursuit of new ideas, greater understanding and discovery. 
• Wisdom: we share and apply our knowledge and experience to guide balanced and evidenced decisions for ourselves and for society. 
• Humanity: we embrace and celebrate difference, respect and support each other, and act with integrity to benefit society and the environment by transforming and enriching lives. 
• Academic freedom: we support with enthusiasm and vigour the principles of freedom of thought and speech. 
• Courage: we think and speak freely, and act boldly to challenge assumptions and shape our future for the greater good. 
• Pioneering spirit: in the radical Manchester spirit, and inspired by our people, history and scale, we create the exceptional. 

It’s important that all colleagues share in this vision and are committed to helping create a working environment that is both rewarding and fulfilling. Please consider this before applying for this role. 

Hours & Place of Work

Normal working hours are 17.5 hours per week (0.5 fte). 

This post is based Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre located within Manchester Central Library. However, all Library employees are required to work at any Library site, as necessary. Owing to present restrictions, some home working will be required. Specified days on campus may also be required and will be confirmed with your line manager. 

All Library staff are required to wear a name badge. 

You should demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria required in the person specification by giving specific examples in the “additional information” section of the online application form. 

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from global majority communities who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.

Happy to talk flexible working.

Blended working arrangements may be considered       

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name:Dr Safina Islam, Head of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust and RACE Centre

Email: [email protected]

General enquiries:

Email: [email protected]

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.