Archivist, Australian Data Archive

Classification: ANU Officer 6/7 (Administration)
Salary package: $98,387 - $113,252 per annum plus 17% superannuation (pro rata)
Terms: Part time (30 hours per week), Continuing

• Operational Leadership: Manage engagement with data providers and users, acting as the primary authority for complex archival and access enquiries escalated by the archive team.
• Drive Archival Excellence: Lead the curation and preparation of high-impact research data, including the implementation of data governance frameworks and digital product coordination.
• Team Mentorship: Oversee daily archival and user-support workflows and knowledge-base develoment, providing guidance and mentorship to operational staff and interns.
• Strategic Impact: Work closely with the Director to develop ADA procedures and contribute to national and international archival standards.
• Global & National Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across ANU (First Nations Portfolio, CASS Digital Hub), national research data initiatives (ARDC, NCI), and international projects (Harvard Dataverse, Local Contexts, and our global network of national data repositories).

Position Overview

We are looking for a proactive and experienced professional to take on the role of Archivist at the Australian Data Archive (ADA), hosted by POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research at ANU. In this role, you will navigate the critical intersection of data reuse and privacy protection, making authoritative decisions that enable research impact while safeguarding confidentiality.

This is an exceptional opportunity to move beyond routine archival duties and data processing and take ownership of the operational direction of a leading national research infrastructure. Working under the general direction of the Director, you will manage the complex relationships between data providers and users, ensuring that Australia’s social science research data is preserved, accessible, and governed to the highest standards.

In this role, you will be a technical leader and a mentor. You will lead the implementation of evolving data governance frameworks to ensure our repository remains at the cutting edge of ethical archival practice. You will also play a key role in the continuous improvement of our digital systems, overseeing support workflows and service metrics to maintain a high-quality experience for the research community. You will work with a diverse range of key partners from the First Nations Portfolio at ANU to the Harvard Dataverse Project to drive best-practice in data curation.

Ideal for a candidate who thrives on autonomy and technical challenge, this position allows you to drive archival projects from inception to completion. You will contribute to the development of our information systems, produce technical reports, and help shape the future of ADA’s policies and procedures.

The Centre

The Australian Data Archive (ADA) is Australia’s national social science data repository and a leader in global data science. The ADA is based in POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research which is designed to provide a designated space at the ANU for discussion, debate and research on the formulation of social policy. The Centre provides research and expertise on social policy in response to community and federal and state/territory government needs and requirements. POLIS delivers exceptionally robust data and evidence driven insights into the key challenges facing contemporary Australia. This provides the foundational cornerstones of informed social policy development amongst leading stakeholders within our modern policy landscape: government, community groups, business representatives, and educators.

The College

The ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) is one of six Colleges at ANU. The College, which is structured into two main research schools, offers degrees in more than 20 discipline areas and excels in research across the creative arts, humanities and social sciences. The College has a substantial international research presence and is a major source of national policy advice. Our academic staff are internationally recognised for their research, and 57 are members of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia, or both. We also host 13 Australian Research Council Future Fellows and three ARC Laureates. A hub of vibrant activity, we host more than 270 lectures, concerts and exhibitions each year, most of which are open to the public. Our students, staff and graduates come from more than 60 nations, bringing a diversity of perspective to campus life.

For more information about the position please contact Dr Ryan Perry at: Ryan.Perry@anu.edu.au

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au  

ANU values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to those of all backgrounds and identities. For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/respect-inclusion 

Application information

In order to apply for this role please make sure that you upload the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.
• Other documents, if required.

Applications which do not address the selection criteria may not be considered for the position.

Please note: The successful candidate must have rights to live and work in this country and will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process.  An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.