LEAD ARCHIVIST - MANUSCRIPT PROCESSING
The Lead Archivist, reporting to a Senior Archivist, will lead a team of processing archivists to arrange and describe a large volume of unique manuscript materials. This full-time, salaried, 2-year contract position is located in New Haven, Connecticut and includes medical, dental, & vision benefits. Winthrop also provides employees with paid time off and funds for professional development.
Responsibilities:
- Supervises day-to-day operations of a large-scale archives processing project. Advises senior management on operational, administrative, personnel, and budgetary matters.
- Tracks incoming and outgoing collections.
- Appraises, arranges, processes, and describes archival materials in close consultation with curators and other department managers in ArchivesSpace and Voyager.
- Applies the principles of baseline processing.
- Collaborates with team members and on-site staff.
- Develops workflows and improves efficiency while adapting to variations in collections conditions and requirements.
- Analyzes and maps workflows. Develops work plans and other documentation. Communicates and documents processes and procedures.
- Tracks, documents, and requests archival supplies.
- Schedules, assigns tasks, and prioritizes workloads for a team of archivists. Sets appropriate goals and deadlines. Ensures timely completion of work. Assigns and monitors progress on work assignments and special projects. Performs regular quality assurance reviews of Archivists’ work.
- Identifies and reports staffing needs to administrative head.
- Monitors and assesses the use of archival facilities and makes recommendations regarding utilization of archival space.
- Troubleshoots use of ArchivesSpace and Voyager software platforms.
- Oversees preservation assessment of collections and in the identification of materials requiring conservation treatment and/or specialized housing.
Required:
- Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent accredited degree with formal training in archival theory and practice. Demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and practice may be substituted for formal training.
- Demonstrated knowledge of current national data content and structure standards related to the archival control of collection materials.
- Demonstrated knowledge of archival and library management systems.
- Demonstrated job or school experience with basic preservation and conservation standards for archival and manuscript collections.
- Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability.
- Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment. Knowledge of standard and emerging library technologies.
- Experience arranging and describing manuscript and/or archival collections.
- Demonstrated proficiency in use of ArchivesSpace content management system, Voyager cataloging module, and/or Microsoft Excel.
- Demonstrated proficiency with MARC cataloging.
- A minimum of 4 years of professional level archives work.
- 3 or more years of supervisory experience.
Preferred:
- Broad knowledge in the humanities, as demonstrated through academic degrees or an equivalent combination of training or experience.
- Good reading ability in one or more modern European languages.
- Experience with pre-18th century manuscript material.
- Graduate-level training in American or European history or literature.
- Experience managing large-scale processing projects.
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and three references to Rachel Greer, Lead Archivist and Project Manager: rgreer@winthropgroup.com with the subject line “Lead Archivist—Manuscript Processing”.
