Archives Assistant, Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Boston, MA
Posted December 1, 2014
Agency Description:
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages one of the largest and most diverse state parks systems in the nation and protects and enhances natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout Massachusetts. The DCR system includes over 450,000 acres of parks, forests, water supply protection lands, beaches, lakes, ponds, playgrounds, campgrounds, swimming pools, golf courses, skating rinks, trails and parkways.
Job Description:
DCR seeks qualified applicants for the position of Archives Assistant. The DCR Archives Program currently includes two staff: an Archivist and a Plans Archivist. Under the supervision of the Plans Archivist, the Archives Assistant will assist in the archival management of an active central engineering and architectural plans collection pertaining to state parks buildings and landscapes, water resources, bridge and parkway infrastructure, real estate holdings, and recreational facilities. The collection encompasses approximately 75,000 plans, which date from the 1890s to the present.
The Archives Assistant identifies, acquires, arranges, describes, preserves, and provides access to records of enduring value of the agency and its agency predecessors, according to the archival management principles of provenance, original order, and collective control to protect the records’ authenticity and context.
The Archives Assistant complies with the Statewide Records Retention Schedule as established by the Secretary of State’s Records Conservation Board, the Massachusetts State Archives, and the Supervisor of Public Records.
The Archives Assistant will participate centrally in a long-term initiative to reformat key agency records – especially plans and documents related to critical infrastructure such as bridges, flood control projects, and parkways – and will help implement an electronic records management program for the Plans Library. In addition, The Archives Assistant will assist the Plans Archivist in addressing archival preservation and access issues for plans collections throughout all DCR offices and sites, statewide, including at its off-site Archives storage office in Danvers, and will assist the Archivist with general reference requests at the off-site Archives storage office each month.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s in library science or archives management; or previous work experience in an archival or library collection of maps, plans, drawings, or visual materials is preferred
Certified Archivist, Academy of Certified Archivists, accepted, though not required.
Strong customer service orientation and ability to work effectively with employees of all levels.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and organizational and analytical skills.
Strong familiarity with major word processing, spreadsheet, and database software packages.
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to work independently, multi-task and adapt to changing situations
Experience working with archival or library collections that include maps, plans, drawings, or visual materials.
The ability to handle oversized and fragile documents with care.
Experience in the application of digital imaging methods and technology for archival materials preferred, but not required.
Conservation experience working with collections that include maps, plans, drawings, or visual materials helpful, but not required.
Requires bending, lifting, standing on ladders, and the ability to lift and carry rolls of plans, and lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
Possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license is required.
To Apply:
For the complete job announcement and information on how to apply, consult the Human Resources Division job listing (posting ID: J45201) on the Mass.Gov web site:
Salary Range: $45,134.44 to $65,212.68 Annually, M-F, 37.5 hours/week
Application Deadline: 12-09-2014