F/T - Systems Archivist, Ctr for Jewish History (NY)

 

Systems Archivist

 

The Center for Jewish History (cjh.org) is the collaborative home to five in-house Partners—American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.  When the Center opened its doors twenty-two years ago, it made a commitment to preserve the collections housed within its walls and make them accessible to scholars, students, and diverse audiences by implementing a unique, shared services model across all five partners.

 

The Center for Jewish History seeks a diligent, practical individual to become our Systems Archivist. The newly created position will complement our Systems Librarian but focus instead on archival description and digital access to archival materials. Responsibilities include management and troubleshooting related to our shared archives information management system, ArchivesSpace, as well as coordinating remediation projects, training staff, and maintaining documentation. The successful candidate will be able to articulate and promote best practices related to systems-based archival description in addition to access to archival materials available online and in The Lillian Goldman Reading Room.

 

The Systems Archivist will report to the Senior Manager for Metadata and Discovery. The Metadata and Discovery Services department is tasked with coordinating the interoperability and integration between Center systems that control, describe, preserve, and provide access to the rich physical and digital holdings of the five Partner institutions. The Systems Archivist will work closely with department members, as well as our service provider, LYRASIS, and stakeholders in the Center and Partner community to ensure that the archival holdings available at the Center are discoverable and accurately described.

 

The salary range for this position is $58,000-$64,000, based on experience.

 

Responsibilities:

·         Oversees the maintenance of ArchivesSpace and peripheral tools related to the description and discovery of the physical, digitized and born-digital archival holdings of the Partners and Center.

·         Troubleshoots and resolves issues with web-based application and/or archival description in collaboration with LYRASIS and colleagues in Metadata and Discovery Services.

·         Provides greater access to digitized and born-digital archival materials via deposit of assets into Ex Libris’ Rosetta, the Center’s digital asset management and preservation system, and subsequent synchronization with ArchivesSpace.

·         Develops, refines, and documents workflows used to effectively describe physical and digital archival holdings within Center library systems and externally with data-sharing partners and platforms.

·         Utilizes and tests a variety of strategies to programmatically extract and manipulate archival description to aid in remediation projects and greater intellectual control of archival resources.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited library school, accredited graduate degree in archival science, or with a specialization in archives.
• 2-3 years’ experience working within an archival or a special library setting using archival management or library systems.
• Strong background in archival description and standards (such as DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, and/or MARC) and familiarity with controlled vocabularies and authority files.
• Commitment to programmatic and systems-based solutions for correcting and optimizing archival description in ArchivesSpace and across shared library systems.
• Basic competency with UNIX, Python (or another programming language), and Application Programming Interface (APIs).
• Capable of fostering a collaborative environment and developing diplomatic, adaptable approaches to creating and enhancing archival description within shared library systems.
• Comfort balancing daily and strategic, longer-term systems-based projects and priorities.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

•         Previous experience with ArchivesSpace, another archival collection management system, or digital asset management systems.

•         Comprehension of and comfort with descriptive metadata across library systems, including ability to crosswalk data from different formats.

•         Experience providing access to multilingual collections in any of the following languages: Hebrew, Yiddish, German, or Russian.

 

Company Benefits:

•         15-21 federal and religious holidays off each year in addition to generous vacation, sick, and personal days.

•         Full health benefits (medical, dental and vision) with minimal employee contributions.

•         Free life insurance and long-term disability coverage.

•         Flexible spending account and commuter benefits.

•         Generous 403b retirement benefits.

 

The Center for Jewish History is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.

 

Review of applications will begin immediately.  For priority consideration, please submit cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Eric Fritzler, Senior Manager for Metadata and Discovery, at eafritzler@cjh.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. No phone calls please.