Project Archivist, Royal Barry Wills Associates Archive

Classification: Limited-term, regular, full-time, non-exempt (forty hours per week)

Location: Haverhill, Mass.

Description: This position works as part of an IMLS grant-funded project, responsible for processing the Royal Barry Wills Associates Archive, creating electronic finding aid for the collection in accordance with archival standards and best practices, selecting images for digitization, creating metadata for the digitized items, developing a landing page for the collection on Historic New England’s website, creating a collection-level MARC record for OCLC, and supervising interns and volunteers.

Responsibilities: Process the Royal Barry Wills Associates Archive in accordance with archival standards and best practices; create DACS-compliant electronic finding aid using the Minisis M2A archival database; create a collection-level MARC record and submit to OCLC. Select images from the collection for digitization and work with the digital photographer to achieve the best possible digital files and create metadata for the digital files.

Qualifications: Requires an ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science or similar degree from a recognized graduate program in archival studies. Requires practical and technical knowledge of archival methods, procedures, and techniques. Must have experience arranging and describing manuscript/archival collections; strong technical skills; a solid knowledge of MARC cataloguing practices; familiarity and experience with XML and EAD encoding. Must have experience with library management databases, digital assessment management practices, and the use of standardized museum and library/archive nomenclature. Must have experience with digital photography practices and standards. Requires fully competent computer skills including experience using MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access software; Adobe™ Photoshop; share drive applications, including Dropbox. Must have excellent writing skills. This employee must be able to operate effectively in a team environment, where communication within and among teams is essential to success. Ability to interact and communicate with staff orally and in writing is essential. Must have experience and ability working directly with the public.

Must have experience with computerized collections management systems, such as Minisis, ArchivesSpace, or Re:Discovery. Needs experience processing archival and manuscript collections according to archival best practices and using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Encoded Archival Description (EAD), and controlled vocabularies such as AAT, TGN, LCSH, and LCNAF.  Must have knowledge of architectural history and the built environment, have excellent data entry skills and a high attention to detail. Ability to effectively manage time in order to meet project deadlines. Ability to interact and communicate with staff orally and in writing is essential.  This position is based at the Haverhill Facility, Haverhill, Massachusetts, with once-monthly travel to Otis House in Boston, Massachusetts. A valid driver’s license and a means of transportation are required.

Applications: Applications will be accepted through January 20. Please send résumé, cover letter, and salary requirements to [email protected].

Historic New England is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to supporting equality of opportunity and respect for diversity. We are committed to providing equal opportunity in employment to all qualified persons without regard to non-work-related factors such as race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Historic New England offers generous and comprehensive vacation, holiday, and health and wellness benefit packages.