Project Archivist

Description

The Project Archivist has primary responsibility for leading a two person processing team in arranging and describing collections for the Computer History Museum’s Archives Processing Project (CHM APP), funded by a Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Cataloging Hidden Collections grant. This position will be a full-time fixed-term appointment for a period of two years.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the arrangement and description of large, complex archival collections according to professional standards and current archival procedures
• Analyze problems and recommend solutions, displaying a high degree of initiative, originality, and judgment in applying archival principles and procedures to complex and unique collections
• Provide day to day leadership to the processing team and cataloging volunteers
• Monitor processing progress and ensure the grant project stays on track
• Manage a team of cataloging volunteers and edit/review their work
• Draft DACS compliant finding aids and create entries in collections management database
• Required Background, Experience, and Education:
• Master's degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution with formal coursework or training in archival management and theory (a relevant graduate degree with experience working in archives may be substituted for an MLIS)
• Minimum of three years of professional experience with processing, arrangement, and description of archival collections through completed finding aids
• Minimum of one year of professional experience with processing, arrangement, and description of large, complex archival collections
• In-depth knowledge of efficient processing practices, such as MPLP
• Demonstrated experience using Archivists’ Toolkit and knowledge of DACS, AACR2, LCSH, MARC, and familiarity with EAD and XML
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Evidence of effective project planning, management, and completion with the ability to meet deadlines and ensure regular workflows
• Demonstrated interpersonal and teamwork skills complemented by the ability to take initiative
• Detail-oriented and ability to be flexible
• Ability to repeatedly lift and move 40 pound boxes, climb a ladder, and learn to use a pallet jack and drive a scissor lift
• Staff in this position must travel between multiple locations. Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required

Preferred Qualifications, Attributes and Skills

• Minimum of two years of professional experience with processing, arrangement, and description of large, complex archival collections
• Experience processing non-text collections, such as photographs, and video recordings
• Experience supervising archival processing assistants, interns, or volunteers
• Experience using Mimsy XG collections management database
• Undergraduate degree in history of technology or closely related field