Project Archivist, the Robert and Nelofer Fisk Archive and Library

School/Department:             Library 

Job Category and Level:      Assistant Librarian 1

Hours of Post:                        35 hours per week

Closing Date:                          27-May-2026 12:00

The Purpose of the Role 

This role, at Assistant Librarian I scale, will involve Project Management oversight of the archival description, research, and public presentation of the Robert and Nelofer Fisk Archive and Library. The post-holder will be experienced in archival project management, archival description and digital preservation, particularly pertaining to contemporary archives in hybrid formats. 

To be successful in the role, the Project Archivist will be required to develop a detailed project plan outlining timelines and tasks, particularly in relation to cross-department working. 

Knowledge of historical events of the mid-late twentieth century, up to the present day, (particularly relating to The Troubles in Northern Ireland and conflict in the Balkans and in the Middle East) will be highly valuable. Reading coherence of Arabic would be of benefit, in translating and interpreting source documents and international publications. 

As funding for the project is advanced, the post holder may be expected to line manage archival staff and will have routine interaction with other departments in the Library to fulfil the preservation (digital and analogue) of this collection. Therefore, experience in matrix management structures will be important. 

Applicants must have a good honours degree and a professional postgraduate qualification in Archives & Records Management. The appointee will have at least three years’ experience in an academic/specialist library or archive in a professionally graded archival role.

Context 

The Library of Trinity College Dublin is advancing into new realms of content and collection development, through the wider societal advancement into born digital content creation – generating issues of digital content management, preservation and access. Aligned with other recent acquisitions of hybrid collections, the acquisition of the Robert and Nelofer Fisk Archive by the Library serves as an example of “collecting the now” for future research. This collection is the subject of one of several projects under the Virtual Trinity Library progamme. The Project has been part-funded by private philanthropy and government support, via the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). 

The collection, spanning five decades of his career, consists mainly of Robert Fisk’s notebooks, articles, correspondence, lectures, research papers, and interview tapes. Largely arranged chronologically, though having been displaced on several occasions, the collection is vast (possibly exceeding 150,000 items) and requires comprehensive archival arrangement, minor conservation actions and rehousing, and descriptive listing. Included with this collection are some printed books from the donor’s personal library, along with artefacts such as journalist awards and medals, and war shrapnel. As a hybrid collection, both analogue and digital material (on various media) alongside recording equipment and other legacy media. 

The Project Archivist will be the first position to be filled within the wider project. The appointee will determine the best workflow and project design for the incorporation of further team members. 

The specific purpose of this contract is for overseeing the project management of the 'Robert and Nelofer Fisk Archive and Library’' project. This role is not offered on an indefinite basis as once the deliverables of the project have been achieved, or funding is no longer available, the role will cease. This role is also funded by time-limited external resources and is not part of the core funding of the university and will cease in a finite period. Therefore, termination of this contract will occur upon completion of the work in which you are engaged, or if the funding stream is terminated or withdrawn by the funding agency.

Qualifications 

1. A first- or second-class honours degree in a relevant subject. 

2. Postgraduate (Masters) qualification in Archives and Records Management, or international equivalent.