CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Institutional and Reference Archivist
Department: Library Systems and Reference Services
Reports to: Director of Research and Director of Metadata & Discovery Services
Position Type: full time
Position FLSA Status: Exempt
Overtime: not eligible
Salary: $62,000 - $75,000
Frequency: Onsite, 5 days a week
Virtual/Remote or In-Office: In-office
Job Description created/updated on: 11/19/2025
The Center for Jewish History (the Center) is the collaborative home of five in-house Partner organizations – American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research – whose collections comprise over seven linear miles of archival documents in dozens of languages and alphabet systems, over 500,000 volumes of books, over 14 million digital items, and thousands of artworks and objects, all spanning 5,000 years.
The newly created Institutional and Reference Archivist position will provide both archival management of the Center’s historical records and reference services to internal stakeholders. This position supports the preservation, arrangement, and accessibility of the Center’s physical and digital holdings on behalf of senior leadership. The institutional archive is the singular collection held by the Center and reflects over 30 years of documentation related to the creation and operation of the Center. The successful candidate will play an integral role maintaining intellectual control of a unique institutional archive that informs the decision making and understanding of senior leadership, development, and operations teams as the Center celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Part of the Institute for Advanced Research, the archivist reports jointly to the Director of Research and the Director of Metadata & Discovery Services. It is an on-site role with responsibilities divided between the Library Systems and Reference Services.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Institutional Archive Management & Stewardship (70%)
Stewardship and management of the Center’s physical and digital materials that comprise the institutional archive, ensuring proper arrangement and accessibility to an internal audience.
Verify, develop, and maintain component level description of the archive, adhering to professional standards and best practices.
Provide dedicated, unparalleled reference services to a varied internal audience of senior leadership and Center staff (development, finance, operations, board cultivation, etc.)
Oversee digital preservation activities that contribute to the long-term stewardship of born-digital and digitized materials.
Identify and earmark digital and physical materials, within the archive, of special interest or strategic value to Center board members, senior leadership, and potential donors.
Support grant writing, progress reporting, and budgeting related to the further growth and preservation of the archive.
Differentiate restricted, internal documents from unrestricted materials to potentially intellectually separate institutional holdings that can be made available to a wider, external audience.
Reference and Research Services (Reading Room) (30%)
Guide users in navigating library catalogs, archival databases, and research tools.
Maintain familiarity with the Center’s Partner collections and institutional histories to deliver accurate and efficient reference support.
Collaborate cross-departmentally with collections, research, or technical staff to enhance institutional goals and project outcomes.
Qualifications Required:
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.
Minimum of two years of professional experience in a public, corporate, or non-profit archival settings.
Demonstrated proficiency in archival processing and description of both digital and physical institutional materials.
Strong understanding of archival standards and principles (e.g., DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF) as documented and expressed in the archival management system, ArchivesSpace.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities with a strong service orientation.
Ability to work with discretion across multiple departments with varied missions and priorities.
Lifting of boxes and archives is required, 40+ pounds.
Preferred:
Previous experience working with institutional archives, corporate archives, or special collections.
Familiarity with audiovisual and/or born-digital archival materials.
Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certification from Society of American Archivists.
Knowledge or strong interest in Jewish history and culture.
To apply, please send cover letter and resume to jobs@cjh.org. No phone calls please.
