History Service Manager
| Posting date: | 24 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50,269 to £53,460 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 March 2026 |
| Location: | Oxfordshire, OX4 2HT |
| Company: | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | OCC/TP/1236/1823 |
Summary
About Us
Oxfordshire History Service is responsible for archive and local studies provision for the county of Oxfordshire. The service collects, preserves, promotes, and makes accessible the written and pictorial heritage of Oxfordshire for researchers worldwide. The service has developed and manages Heritage Search, our digital catalogue of heritage resources, making over 1 million digital records available worldwide and provides physical access via the Oxfordshire History Centre at St. Luke’s in Cowley, Oxford.
About the Role
We are seeking to appoint to our lead Service Manager role on a permanent basis, following a retirement. This is both an exciting and critical time for the service following a restructure in 2025, which saw us increase staffing levels and financial sustainability. This post is the most senior within the service, and forms an integral part of the wider Heritage Leadership Team alongside the Museums Service and Victoria County History Oxfordshire.
Interview dates: Week commencing 30th March TBC
About you
The postholder will head up the team at the History Centre, and be the key contact for partners, suppliers, and professional colleagues in the sector.The successful candidate will have strong experience of managing and working in an archive or local studies environment.This includes delivering public searchroom facilities and customer service, collections development and management, digital preservation and access, and conservation practices.They will also have knowledge of buildings management and operations, as well as have a strong track record of working with a wide range of stakeholders and volunteers.
Rewards and benefits
- Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays - Option to ‘buy’ additional days
- Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, employer’s contribution of up to19.9%.
- Regular monthly formal and informalsupport and supervision
- Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
- Continuous Professional Development opportunities
- Relocation package up to a maximum of£8,000to cover reimbursement of expenses for newly appointed employees (conditions apply in line with council policy)
- Learn more here: Our benefits | Jobs (oxfordshire.gov.uk)
Ourcommitmentto:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce.Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peersupport, education and safe spaces for all.
Ourcommitmentto:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a DisabilityConfidentemployer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.We are alsocommittedto helping andsupportingthose transitioning from HM ArmedForcesto civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Ourcommitmentto:
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council arecommittedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers tosharethiscommitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Ourcommitmentto:
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, jobsharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact: mark.mccree@oxfordshire.gov.uk
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact either Mark McCree, Head of Libraries and Heritage (mark.mccree@oxfordshire.gov.uk) or Mark Priddey, History Centre Manager (mark.priddey@oxfordshire.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme