PSL6 - Archivist - Design Integrity and Special Collections

Job Details

Job Title: PSL6 - Archivist - Design Integrity and Special Collections

Employment Type: Ongoing

Classification: Parliamentary Service Level 6

Closing Date: 11:30pm AEDT, 30 April 2026 

Contact: Susan Emson, 0262772573, susan.emson@aph.gov.au

The Opportunity

The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is recruiting for a Parliamentary Service Level 6, Archivist, within the Design Integrity and Special Collections (DISC) unit. This position is being offered as an ongoing, full-time position with the opportunity for flexible work from home arrangements.

About Design Integrity and Special Collections

The Department of Parliamentary Services is responsible for a wide range of services and facilities, working closely with the other Parliamentary Departments to support the operations of the Parliament and its Committees, including stewardship of Australian Parliament House (APH).

The Design Integrity and Special Collections (DISC) unit performs a key role in the ongoing stewardship of Parliament House as a nationally significant building and as a symbol of Australian democracy. The DISC unit co-ordinates consultation within DPS and with external stakeholders on matters which may affect the design intent of APH.

The design intent of Parliament House is the inter-relationship between the comprehensive requirements of Parliament for a new building, laid out in the 1979 competition brief, and the architect’s response to those needs. The Design Integrity and Special Collections unit provides advice to colleagues in DPS and the Parliamentary Departments to ensure that change within the building is both respectful of its design intent and responsive to the changing needs of Parliament.

The APH Archive, part of the Special Collections team, supports DPS by working with the Architectural Historian and the Design Integrity team on matters relating to the design intent of Parliament House. As a working archive, the APH Archive acquires and preserves benchmark samples of building materials and interior elements, including finishes, fixtures, furnishings, technological artefacts, associated contracts, drawings, and plans, ensuring accurate reference points for ongoing maintenance and design decisions.

Who we are looking for

The successful applicant will have experience in the acquisition, description, management and preservation of physical and digital collections. Due to the focused nature of the Archive, experience in the design and manufacture of textiles, carpets, stonework, timber, and furnishings would be highly desirable.  

The APH Archive uses the Vernon collection management system, so demonstrable experience with Vernon or a similar CMS is essential. The applicant must have good attention to detail, research and problem-solving skills. You must demonstrate understanding of archival descriptive metadata standards and best practice information management practices.

We are looking for an applicant who can provide leadership by supporting, managing, and mentoring a small team. Design Integrity and Special Collections is a highly collaborative team and will require strong communication skills, flexibility, and the ability to form and maintain effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

You will report directly to the Assistant Director, Special Collections, and will contribute to setting the strategic and operational goals of both the APH Archive and DISC.

Job Specific Requirements: 

• Applicants must be eligible for professional recognition by a relevant industry body (eg. Australian Society of Archivists). 
• The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline Vetting (Protected/Restricted) security clearance.

At DPS, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that ensures all our people can contribute to our shared purpose. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as neurodivergent, and mature aged people.

Duty Statement

Classification: Parliamentary Service Level 6 

Branch: Parliamentary Communications & Governan. 

Section: Design Integrity and Special Collections 

Immediate supervisor: Assistant Director, Special Collections

Duty Statement

Under limited/general direction undertake duties in accordance with the agreed standards for the specified classification. The duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Provide specialist skills in the management of physical and digital collections belonging to the APH Archive, including assessment, selection, control, description and storage.
   
   
2. Support the conservation and preservation of both physical and digital collections by managing risk and providing advice.
   
   
3. Work closely with the Architectural Historian on a range of matters relating to the design integrity of Australian Parliament House, including building finishes and furnishings, and support ongoing building projects with information and loans from the Archive’s collection.
   
   
4. Assist in the administration of core information management systems, including, but not limited to the Digital Asset Management System (Fotoware) and the Collection Management System (Vernon CMS).
   
   
5. Assist in setting work priorities within a team and providing training and guidance to staff.
   
   
6. Work as a key member of a team, utilising skills in collection development, strategic planning, problem-solving, and decision-making to resolve complex issues.
   
   
7. Develop/review policies, workflows, procedures and guidelines for the development, preservation and management of a mixed archival collection, consistent with organisational and operational goals.
   
   
8. Communicate with influence both orally and in writing, to liaise and negotiate internally and externally for the successful delivery of services and products.

Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide professional advice and services to all Senators and Members without favour or prejudice.

Selection Criteria

1. Proven extensive experience in the development, preservation and management of physical and digital archival collections centred around Australian Parliament House, including contracts, manuscripts, drawings, and samples of benchmark furnishings, fixtures and finishes. Relevant experience must demonstrate innovative approaches to collection management and industry best practice.
   
   
2. Demonstrated ability to utilise and manage collection management systems and DAMS.
   
   
3. Ability to support Design Integrity and Special Collections’ strategic and operational goals by contributing to the development and implementation of appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines.
   
   
4. Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively as part of a team and alongside internal and external stakeholders.
   
   
5. Ability to set work priorities and deliver outcomes, provide guidance to staff, and understand client needs in the parliamentary environment.
   
   
6. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, clients and external stakeholders, both orally and in writing.
   
   
7. Applicants must be eligible for professional recognition by a relevant industry body (eg. Australian Society of Archivists).

How to apply

Please upload a pitch (750 words maximum) describing how your skills and experience would contribute to the role and work of the department. 

Your pitch is an opportunity to tell us why you want to work at DPS, why you are interested in the role and what you can offer in the role. Frame your pitch around the role description and relevant ILS Profile. Make sure to use relevant examples and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the role. 

For additional guidance when crafting you application, please refer to the the DPS Recruitment Candidate Information Pack, which provides helpful tips on how to structure your pitch and highlight your most relevant skills and experience effectively.

Our purpose and values

We proudly provide innovative, unified, and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and parliamentarians. We are a values driven department, placing our values at the heart of everything we do; from our service offerings and decision making to our interactions with stakeholders and each other.  

Our people are employed in a broad and unique range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles, all joined by a shared purpose: to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s parliamentary democracy. We have an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. While we come from all walks of life, we share a commitment to care for and protect our iconic workplace. 

Every year, almost one million people visit Australian Parliament House to experience the parliamentary process, the building’s architecture, nationally significant art collections, events, tours, and food and dining experiences – all made possible by our people, who are active participants in an environment where no two days are the same.

What we can offer

Join our community based on innovative, unified, and client-focused services, where your skills and development will be nurtured. You will also enjoy:  

• flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational needs of the roles
• ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new capabilities 
• a competitive remuneration package
• free on-site parking
• free gym membership and access to recreational facilities available at APH
• childcare (pending availability), banking services, post office, value-for-money dining options and more available at APH.

Salary

Currently, the salary range for this position is $101,168 to $113,706 per annum.

Conditions of Employment

Employment opportunities at Department of Parliamentary Services are subject to a range of conditions prescribed in the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 which include:

•    Australian citizenship – to be eligible for employment with DPS, applicants must be an Australian Citizen. 

•    Security clearance and character clearance – the preferred applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the level specified, as well as complete and be deemed suitable through a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. 

•    Health assessment – a pre-employment health assessment will be required where there are physical or medical requirements for the role.