Historical Records Officer 3 Air Historical Branch (RAF)

The Air Historical Branch (RAF) is a small in-house team which supports the work of Ministers, the MoD, RAF, Air Staff and Air Headquarters among others. As well as being the official historians of the RAF, the Branch maintains the RAFs central physical and digital archive and photographic collections, ranging from 1912 to the present day. Alongside providing advice and information to the RAF and MoD on historical and heritage matters, consulting with Other Government Departments and Non-Government Organisations, and producing the Official Histories, the Branch also delivers a public enquiry service.

The Branch receives about 1,600 enquiries annually. Around 300 of these are Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests a five-fold increase since 2020. AHB (RAF) is now the sixth most productive FOIA cell in the MoD.

The Historical Records Officer is central to the output and public face of the Air Historical Branch (RAF). They undertake a range of tasks which are central to Branch business. The post holder must be hard working and well-motivated. They must be able to analyse evidence effectively to produce accurate and concise pieces of work. The post holder must be capable of effective communications, both orally and in writing, to respond to customers drawn from within and beyond defence.

The postholder must display a willingness to work with and assist other members of the Main Office and the Branch, when necessary, particularly in responding to FOIA requests and answering public enquiries. Further details are in the Job Summary.

Where business needs allow, the role may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business or to work in another MoD site, will also count towards this level of attendance.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

This post will be based in the Main Office, at the heart of the Branch, and will have a leading role in enquiry work, working closely with the Branchs Research and Information Manager (RIM) and Senior Researcher.

Answering historical enquiries often requires analysis and examination of diverse sources to produce a cogent response within 20 working days. The postholder will ensure that replies maintain professional standards and are compliant with MOD and government policy.

More complex enquiries will include the requests for clarification of Record of Service documents for RAF personnel, analysing each document to provide clarification and address the queries of each enquirer. This interpretation work involves using a range of finding aids to provide as accurate information as possible.

The important requirement to draft responses for FOIA requests will involve gaining a familiarity with the Act, an understanding of digital redaction techniques and displaying an ability to work within the 20 working days statutory response time mandated by the Act.

The postholder will also work with the Branch Document Archivist on quality checking Form 540 (Operations Record Books) submissions from RAF units. On occasions, this will involve the postholder drafting recommendations for the Head of Branch to issue to units.

There will be the opportunity for the postholder to participate in some RAF casualty identification work and to assess often detailed and extensive evidence to arrive at a recommendation for the Senior Researcher.

There may be occasional outreach activities to represent the Branch and provide advice to stakeholders.

In due course, the postholder may have Line Management responsibilities for a Branch Assistant Knowledge Officer.

Essential

• A degree in History or a related discipline
• Strong organisational and research skills
• An interest in RAF history and heritage
• Experience maintaining, updating and revising records and databases

Desirable

• Some understanding of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Some familiarity with RAF records
• Experience of line management
• Some knowledge of the technology applicable for the Freedom of Information Act redaction process.