Archivist, Digital Archives

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Identification
Job title: Archivist, Digital Archives
Division:  Collection
Supervisor: Associate Director, Collection
Status: Permanent
Posting period: November 20 to December 6, 2013
Job entry: January 2014

Job Summary
Reporting to the Associate Director, Collection, the archivist is responsible for the supervision, coordination and monitoring of the archival activities related to CCA’s archives (including institutional archives), drawings, prints and photographs, with a special attention to born-digital archives. For born-digital material the incumbent will have to establish best practices for managing born-digital material held and acquired by the CCA, and assist in the strategic direction of archiving and accession to born-digital material. The incumbent plays a key role in the documentation of CCA Collection through the development of standards and procedures, classification and description. Finally, the incumbent implements and maintains institutional archives strategies and policies.


Key responsibilities
Management of born-digital material archives:
• Establish a set of best practices for archives held and acquired by the CCA
• Develop (through hands-on work and experimentation) and document procedures and policies for the migration, description, and management of (born-digital) archives;
• Assist in prioritizing  (born-digital) archives projects to be processed and catalogued;
• Collaborate with the Program, Research and Publications divisions in deciphering acquisition and research material, born digital archives and evaluating the relevancy for public concern.
• Collaborate with IT to identify and engage the resources (hardware, software, vendors, peer institutions) available to perform migration from current and obsolete media containing born-digital material;
• Review and process archival collections;
• Negotiate agreements with donors and lenders archives and works for the Collection;
• In collaboration with Conservation, locate (born-digital) archives in other areas of the collection and institution and develop plans for their management and preservation.
Acquisition of electronic records and personal papers:
• Enhance the CCA’s capacity to responsibly acquire electronic records and papers;
• Investigate potential acquisitions and evaluate proposed acquisitions;
• Develop and document techniques, procedures, and policies for acquiring;
• Coordinate acquisitions of electronic records, acting as a liaison between records creators and the CCA’s curatorial, archival, preservation and technical staff;
• When necessary and possible, work directly with records creators to advise on record- keeping practices that will facilitate the eventual transfer of their archives.

Advisory and administrative responsibilities:
• Advise Collection staff of the functional requirements for acquiring, preserving, and accession to (born-digital) archives and train archivist trainees, curators and cataloguers as necessary;
• In collaboration with Development, initiate, write, and contribute to grant proposals as appropriate;
• Contribute to broader discussions surrounding the management of digital assets, metadata, and the representation and service of digital and digitized materials;
• Serve as the Collection Division’s internal and external representative and authority on issues related to born-digital archives;
• Act as an advisor and specialist on institutional archives.

Required qualification
• Education :  Master’s degree in library science, archival science, or other relevant field
• Number of years of relevant experience: 3-5 years working in an archival repository in a professional capacity, including experience working with born-digital archival material.

Key Competencies:
• Fluency in French and English, oral and written; ability to write and revise documents
• Ability to plan and manage schedules
• Project management experience an asset
• Demonstrated experience in reading, using and manipulating both digitized and born-digital architectural records in common formats and programs (AutoCAD/Revit, VectorWorks, Microstation, Rhino, Maya, etc.);
• Knowledge of RAD, DACS, and other archival descriptive standards;
• Demonstrated familiarity with data structure standards relevant to the archival control of digital collection materials (EAD, Dublin Core, MODS, METS, PREMIS);
• Strong command of archival theory and best practices;
• Knowledge of historical research methods, especially the use of archives and born-digital repository systems;
• Understanding of issues related to both digitized and born-digital formats, media, and migration is required;
• Excellent writing and editorial skills in French and/or English;
• Project management experience;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and to meet planned goals and deadlines.
Please submit your application before December 6, 2013 by email: rh@cca.qc.ca  to the attention of Human Resources, Canadian Centre for Architecture, 1920 Baile Street, Montreal (Quebec) H3H 2S6.
Only successful applicants will be contacted. Please do not call.
The CCA is an equal opportunity employer.