Picture Research, Archives and Libraries assistant

Closing date: 23 July 2025

Contract: Full time, permanent contract

Salary: £27,000 per annum

Location: Hybrid working potential, based in Central London

Love art, archives, and attention to detail? From supporting image sourcing to caring for analogue archives, this is a hands-on opportunity at the heart of a publisher dedicated to visual creativity and cultural heritage.

Thames & Hudson is the leading global publisher of illustrated books on all aspects of human creativity, the visual arts, history and popular culture.

We are seeking a motivated individual to provide support to our team of picture researchers—both in-house and external—working across Thames & Hudson projects. This role will also assist in the organisation and documentation of the T&H in-house image Libraries and Archives (analogue and digital).

Responsibilities

Assist in-house and external picture researchers across all the stages of the picture research process including:

• Reformatting picture lists, sourcing images, assessing and managing digital files and locating copyright holders, systematically documenting information that relates to images and payments;
• Liaising with freelance picture researchers/sharing updates about their projects and assisting with payments;
• Managing the handover of completed projects ensuring it is completed to the T&H standards including archiving analogue and digital files cross-referencing when necessary, recording final picture costs and ordering copies for T&H and suppliers.

Work with the Head of Picture Research, Libraries and Archive to manage the T&A Library and Archive with responsibilities that include:

• Updating the relevant library and archive catalogues to the required standard;
• Fetching and re-shelfing analogue materials from the archive and the library required for T&H projects;
• Assisting with any book moves;
• Contributing to the management of the online archive of image files.

General administration including mail/couriers, and supporting the team in improving its workflow.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Educated to degree level in the arts or humanities.
• A demonstrable interest in visual arts and culture.
• Experience working at a publisher or in the publishing department of a university, gallery, museum or library.
• First-class command of English spelling and grammar, and a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent research and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Attention to detail and a high regard for accuracy
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.
• Experience of Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat Pro.
• Highly focused, self-motivated and enthusiastic.
• Organised and consistently reliable
• Collaborative team player with a flexible, open-minded approach and the ability to adapt to changing priorities

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

At Thames & Hudson, we believe that employing a diverse workforce is essential to succeed and selection decisions are based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief.

To apply, please send your CV with a cover letter to Sophie Castle at the email address found via the Apply button. Use the cover letter to address how you meet the requirements listed in Knowledge, Skills and Experience above. The deadline for applications is 23 July 2025.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.

Some of the benefits of working with us:

Apart from working with a highly talented and creative bunch of people, we offer:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Profit share scheme
• Interest-free loan for rent deposit or season travel ticket
• Discounts off our lovely T&H books and bought-ins
• Generous pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free entry into hundreds of museums and galleries, nationwide

And more!