Archivist (Area Manager), AT&T Archives and History Center

Description

AT&T is seeking an experienced, customer-focused archivist to manage the AT&T Archives and History Center branch in Warren, New Jersey. Located in beautiful Somerset County, about 35 miles from Manhattan, this facility houses many of AT&T’s most precious historical items, such as the telephone patents issued to Alexander Graham Bell and the lab notebooks of the company’s Nobel Prize recipients.


The AT&T Archives (including another branch in San Antonio, Texas) traces the origins, development and achievements of AT&T companies, from Mr. Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876 to the mobile broadband revolution of today. The Warren branch preserves historical materials of AT&T Corp. and its direct predecessors and former subsidiaries (like Western Electric and Bell Telephone Laboratories) from 1869 until its acquisition in 2005 by SBC Communications Inc. (renamed AT&T Inc.). These archival records support business activities and academic scholarship, through the preservation of information about the evolution of AT&T, particularly its technological innovations and their impact on society. Although in separate locations, the two repositories are unified operationally and exist to serve internal activities, mainly public relations, legal and marketing. External researchers include professors, doctoral candidates, book authors, documentary filmmakers and museum curators from around the world.

Reporting to the Director in San Antonio, the Area Manager’s principal duties are managing internationally significant historical collections and practicing traditional archival functions at the facility in Warren, New Jersey.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage to professional standards a massive business archives (ca. 35,000 cu. ft. of historical records and over 10,000 three-dimensional objects) that includes paper-based documentation; 1 million still photographs; thousands of moving images, sound recordings and microforms; and a growing body of digital materials.
• Provide daily reference services for internal and external clients, while ensuring the confidentiality and security of privileged and proprietary information.
• Protect historical assets used in third-party ventures by performing as a licensing agent of AT&T Intellectual Property.
• Publicize the Archives to target audiences, through video presentations and live tours.
• Oversee IT applications, including the ALEX database, and work closely with tech staff.
• Administer vendor relationships concerning equipment for fire-suppression and facility security.
• Recruit, train and supervise graduate student interns on discrete projects

Required Qualifications

• A master’s degree in history or information science (ALA accredited), with archival coursework.
• At least five years of professional experience in a large, institutional archives.
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills, as well as superb interpersonal skills in dealing with clients and co-workers at all levels, both inside and outside AT&T.
• Outstanding research, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational, project and time management skills.
• Strong computer literacy, including experience using database management systems.
• Proven capacity to work independently on multiple requests and projects, while also collaborating on ad hoc cross-functional teams.
• Ability to regularly lift 40-lb. boxes, and to climb and reach heavy boxes on a 15-ft. mobile ladder.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification through the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA).
• Knowledge of American history and the telecommunications industry.
• Familiarity with legal issues affecting access, restrictions and intellectual property rights.
• Experience with website development and social media content creation.
• Awareness of emerging standards and best practices in digital curation.