LEAD ARCHIVIST - MANUSCRIPT CATALOGING
Summary:
The Lead Archivist, reporting to a Senior Archivist, will lead a team of Archivists to catalog a large volume of manuscript materials using MARC. 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 cataloging project. Advises senior management on operational, administrative, personnel, and budgetary matters.
- Tracks incoming and outgoing items.
- Describes archival materials using MARC in close consultation with curators and other department managers in Voyager.
- 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 revised processes and procedures.
- Tracks, documents, and requests archival supplies.
- Schedules, assigns tasks, and prioritizes workloads.
- Sets appropriate goals and deadlines. Ensures timely completion of work.
- Assigns and monitors progress on work assignments and special projects.
- Identifies and reports staffing needs to administrative head.
- Monitors and assesses the use of archival facilities and makes recommendations regarding utilization of archival space.
- Planning and oversight of records processing by assistant archivists.
- Performs regular quality assurance reviews of assistant archivists’ work.
- Troubleshoots use of Voyager cataloging module.
- Oversees preservation assessment of items 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.
- Demonstrated proficiency in use of Voyager cataloging module, or similar.
- Demonstrated experience with MARC cataloging.
- Archival processing training and experience.
- Demonstrated professional accomplishments.
- Experience in more than one cataloging standard (including DACS, DCRM(G), DCRM(MSS)).
- Experience conducting quality assurance review of others’ work.
- Project management experience.
- 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.
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 Cataloging”.
