Project Cataloguer (Transatlantic Slavery)

The National Archives has been awarded £1 million grant by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation for a new research programme on the history of transatlantic slavery. PASSAGE (Partnership for Transatlantic Slavery Scholarship, Archiving and Global Exchange) seeks to connect scholars and archival collections at The National Archives, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and other archives in the UK and globally to create new knowledge of the maritime trade of enslaved Africans. The partnership combines a collections-based project on the history of slave ships (1760-1807), which will deliver a range of academic and public engagement outputs, with an international research mobility programme that will centre and support the research of scholars from West Africa and the Caribbean on the history of transatlantic slavery.

We are looking for a Project Cataloguer (Transatlantic Slavery) to serve as a core member of the project team. The Project Cataloguer will be responsible for creating and improving the catalogue descriptions of key record series related to the history of transatlantic slavery. This will involve reading the historical material, extracting key information and creating descriptions of individual documents contained within volumes. Your focus will be effectively summarising the historical content of records and to make the catalogue descriptions for these records fit for publication on our online catalogue, Discovery.

Based in the Research, Grants and Academic Engagement department, the Project Cataloguer will work closely with project lead, Dr Philippa Hellawell, and a Collections Researcher (Transatlantic Slavery), who will be conducting research into the collection. They will also receive support from staff in the Cataloguing, Taxonomy and Data Department, which is responsible for data standards, editorial development and daily maintenance of The National Archives catalogue. The work of the Project Cataloguer will contribute to the project’s aims to increase access to records related to the transatlantic trade in enslaved people and The National Archives’ mission to provide high quality information for publication in our online catalogue.


About us:

The National Archives (TNA) is the official archive of the UK government and for England and Wales, making available to the public a vast collection of historical records dating back over 1,000 years. TNA is also an Independent Research Organisation (IRO): multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research into all aspects of our collections and activities is at the heart of what we do. Our Research, Grants and Academic Engagement department is charged with conducting, enabling, and promoting world-class research, often delivered in collaboration with external partners including experts from academic, other heritage organisations, government departments and the industry. The department also works with colleagues across TNA, visiting scholars, and doctoral students.

Within the beautiful surroundings of Kew, a 10-minute walk from the Underground and Overground stations, TNA boasts a collegial working environment and an excellent Civil Service benefits package. This includes flexible working, an on-site gym, wellbeing resources and an opportunity to join the Civil Service Alpha Pension Scheme. Putting you at the forefront of our organisation, we are committed to supporting professional development and training for all our colleagues.


About you:

This is an excellent opportunity to become an integral part of an important and innovative global research project that seeks to make a historic intervention into the field of transatlantic slavery scholarship and archiving. With great attention-to-detail and experience reading eighteenth and nineteenth century manuscripts, you will possess a good historical knowledge and have the ability to identify, extract and summarize high volumes of information to create itemized descriptions of individual documents related to the trade. As a member of the project team, you will respond efficiently and effectively to cataloguing challenges and contribute towards the delivery of project outputs.

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.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 1st October 2026.


How to apply:

If you are an internal applicant: please do not use the link on this page. Please apply via your employee Workday account.

If you are an external applicant: to submit your application please click the link following 'Museum Website' below.

You will be asked to provide details of your work experience and write a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words. In your personal statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria given in the person specification (please see the full advert linked below). You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section.

We understand that you might use artificial intelligence (AI) and other resources to assist with your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Museum Website: https://nationalarchives.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers/job/Kew/Project-Cataloguer--Transatlantic-Slavery-_JR200524