As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting.

In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring.

That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Job Overview

Salary: £33,784 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Band: E / Higher Executive Officer

Closing date: Sunday 11th January 2026 at midnight

The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government, and England and Wales. We are a world-leading cultural heritage organisation which promotes public accessibility to iconic documents such as Guy Fawkes’ confession, Shakespeare’s Will and Edward VIII’s letter of abdication, while ensuring preservation for generations to come. We programme exhibitions, talks, events and conferences which aim to introduce people to British history through the original records.

The Parliamentary Archives have recently relocated from the Palace of Westminster to The National Archives. For the first time the records of the executive, legislature and judiciary will be located together at The National Archives, allowing researchers to access the documents in one place.

In this post, you will join the team responsible for proactive and reactive media relations and be required to work both independently and collaboratively to deliver the department’s media objectives. You will be expected to develop an understanding of how The National Archives works as an organisation and to work flexibly to communicate the department’s vision.

You will have a strong interest in current affairs and have proven experience of working with a range of media and a sound knowledge of their audiences. You are articulate and have excellent communication skills with the ability to grasp sometimes complex information and convert it into accessible language. You recognise the urgent nature of some media calls and can prioritise existing work accordingly. You will have the ability to build strong relationships with all our stakeholders.

You may also have to travel periodically to the palace of Westminster and be available for occasional evening events.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Application Process

Interview: Interviews will be held on-site at The National Archives in Kew in late January or early February 2026. Candidates invited to interview will undertake a short written test as part of the assessment process.
Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words.

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements in the job description, so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section.

Sponsorship

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Working across the media and marketing teams, your role will be to develop and manage media and marketing activities, campaigns, and projects to support The National Archives strategic objectives with a particular emphasis on the newly transferred Parliamentary Archives.

In addition, you will contribute to the work of the media and marketing teams in promoting our iconic collection as well as raising awareness of the wide range of work and projects The National Archives undertakes.

Role and Responsibilities

Build strong, working relationships with teams across TNA and those in Parliament to understand the collection and how it can be profiled
Initiate and develop media contacts in national, specialist and international print and broadcast media outlets to generate positive publicity for both TNA and Parliamentary Archives
Develop and implement media and marketing strategies for specific projects, evaluating their outcomes
Identify and grow new markets and audiences for TNA and Parliamentary products and initiatives
Identify and implement opportunities to boost The National Archives profile through social media activity
Actively monitor and manage TNA’s community of digital followers, responding to questions and enquiries as appropriate
Proactively contribute to the development of the media and marketing teams’ work and their role in the organisation. This will include working with colleagues to share knowledge and advice and representing the teams at internal and external meetings with a view to establishing credibility and trust
Contribute to the wider marketing and media strategies
Pull together and lead interdisciplinary, cross-departmental project teams, communicate and negotiate effectively with colleagues and suppliers

Working Conditions

Normal office environment
Display Screen Equipment user

Person Specification

Essential

Significant experience in a similar communications role where you are raising awareness of a service or product to specific audiences
Proven interest in media relations where you are aware of the current media landscape and understand the various channels available to promote our messages and how they differ from one another
Proven written and oral communication skills with the ability to work with both internal and external groups aiming to communicate your position unambiguously and be unafraid to challenge assumptions
Excellent event management skills where you can plan and facilitate press events, private views for exhibitions and events for colleagues to promote the Parliamentary Archives
Proven customer service skills and the confidence to work with and influence both external and internal stakeholders
Commercially aware, experience of commissioning and managing suppliers, working to a budget and setting and meeting targets
Good attention to detail, together with strong proof-reading skills

Desirable

Experience of design, brand management and corporate identity
Experience of working as part of a team and willingness to work flexibly across all levels of the organisation

Other Requirements

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to travel to our Kew site for 60% of their time.
Must be prepared to travel to other Government departments as required and Parliament.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is

found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service

D&I Strategy.

Benefits

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ (opens in new window)

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window)

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. (opens in new window)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window)

Contact Point For Applicants

Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team
Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/ (opens in new window)

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