Archive Coordinator

Sanderson Design Group; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury interior design house is looking for an Associate to manage archive collections and support research initiatives in Chiswick, England. The role requires experience in records management, strong communication skills, and a degree in a relevant field. Ideal candidates will be detail-oriented and proactive, contributing to the preservation and promotion of significant design history collections. This full-time role offers the opportunity to engage with both internal teams and external institutions.

Qualifications

• Experience in digital archives is preferred.
• Proven ability to engage with stakeholders.
• Proactive mindset and resourcefulness are essential.

Responsibilities

• Host archive tours tailored to visitors and stakeholders.
• Care for collections, striving for museum standards.
• Support research requests into the collection.

Skills

Records and archives management experience

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Knowledge of design history

Education

Master’s or PhD in Archival Studies, Art History, Textiles, Information Sciences

Job description

About Us

Sanderson Design Group plc is a luxury interior design house with six iconic brands and more than 165 years of history. Its portfolio includes fabrics, wallpapers, and paints, and it owns one of Europe’s largest design archives, holding over 75,000 historical documents and artworks. The company also operates manufacturing facilities at Anstey and Standfast & Barracks and is expanding through licensing programmes.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement

• Host archive tours, tailoring content to internal and external visitors and highlighting brand history.
• Support collaboration with galleries, museums, and other institutions to highlight the archive, engaging with researchers and societies.
• Respond to enquiries from external contacts, customers, and researchers.
• Promote the archive and digitized records while maintaining copyright protection and usage rights.

Archive Collections Management

• Care for SDG collections, striving for museum standards in document handling, movement, packing and cataloguing.
• Adhere to standards around physical care, preservation, and preventative conservation of archive collections.
• Monitor and uphold the security and environmental controls, including pest management and equipment maintenance.
• Maintain accurate documentation and support the implementation of the Collection Management System (CMS).

Research

• Support research requests into the collection as required by business needs.
• Support cataloguing and documentation, including object‑specific and broader design history research.
• Ensure catalogue records meet rigorous data standards for consistency.
• Stay up to date with best practices, legislation, and social/cultural shifts in archive management.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in records and archives management, including digital archives.
• Proven organisational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, confident when engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• Attention to detail, proactive mindset, and resourcefulness.
• Knowledge of textile, wallpaper, and design history is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Degree (Master’s or PhD) in Archival Studies, Art History, Textiles, Information Sciences, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Values & Behaviours

• Intrepid, imaginative, and respectful.

Seniorities

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Administrative
• Research
• Art/Creative

Industries

• Design Services
• Furniture and Home Furnishings Manufacturing
• Interior Design

Location

Chiswick, England, United Kingdom