Archivist, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA
Posted October 28, 2016
Summary
In this position, you will serve as an Archivist with the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, located in Atlanta, GA. You will be responsible for archival processing, collection management of both analog and digital materials, preservation of holdings, in-depth public reference service, and project management involving staff, peers, interns, and volunteers. You will support Library and NARA-wide digital initiatives by planning, leading, and contributing to ongoing work in digitization, metadata cataloging, and website development. Effective communication among NARA units, the general public, and external stakeholders is critical to success of the position.
Whether you are new to the Federal Government or an experienced professional seeking a career change, you can make history at the National Archives. Our dedicated staff works across a variety of career fields to safeguard the records of the Federal Government – more than 10 billion of them.
Visit our Employee Gallery at www.archives.gov/careers to see the kinds of dynamic projects our staff are undertaking. If you want a career where you can see the difference your work makes, then join the National Archives!
For more information visit: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov
Who May Apply : Applications will be accepted from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities such as the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), Disabilities Program, etc.
NOTE: This position is being advertised concurrently under Delegating Examining Unit procedures. If you wish to be considered under competitive procedures, or if you do not meet the area of consideration for this announcement, you may also apply to Job Announcement number JD1825096CMD. Open: 10/24/2016 Close: 10/28/2016
Duties
Duties include some or all of the following:
- Systematically processes presidential materials, Federal records, and personal collections. Independently reviews both non-classified and national security classified documents (if appropriate, depending on the individual’s assignment/library) for content requiring withdrawal or redaction for national security classification, agency, or donor deed of gift restrictions. Develops procedures for processing and reviewing presidential holdings and related collections many of which continue to retain high levels of sensitivity and present complex processing problems.
- Independently provides reference service in response to simple and complex e-mail, phone, fax, and written requests for information regarding the Library’s textual and non-textual holdings and secondary sources of information.
- Provides orientation interviews for on-site researchers, explains Reading Room regulations and procedures, determines the specific area and level of research interest, guides researchers to the most effective approach to their specific projects and recommends materials appropriate for their use.
- Independently determines and applies appropriate declassification guidelines to presidential papers, donated historical materials, and Federal records, consulting with the senior archivist for foreign policy, other archivists, and agency representatives on difficult review decisions. This material consists of documents generated at the highest levels of government, classified up to Top Secret and above, including sensitive documents with incorrect classification markings or none at all. Determines documents ineligible for declassification under guidelines and prepares them for agency declassification review, identifying the agency or agencies responsible for their review. Maintains itemized control of all materials under declassification review. Processes appeals of classification review decisions to NARA, the Information Security Oversight Office, and other agencies. Informs researchers of review decisions. Reviews those National Security Council (NSC) records in the library’s holdings governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) in accordance with PRA and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requirements, and makes redactions as necessary.
- Develops increased levels of accessibility to the collections and historical time periods for traditional and non-traditional users of the library’s historical materials.
- Recommends and advises the Director on acquisition strategies that will add to knowledge of the era in which the president lived, both during his administration and throughout his life. Makes recommendations to the Director on the acquisition and disposition of specific collections. Develops and/or leads the solicitation/acquisition program in the Library. Negotiates with donors to secure deeds of gifts and/or release agreements.
- Designs, directs/leads preservation projects in textual or non-textual media. Prepares and manages budgets for preservation projects. Applies preservation techniques and recommends strategies for textual records, electronic records, or audiovisual materials. Identifies preservation needs in the Library and researches new approaches to preservation problems, especially those involving digitization and/or obsolete media.
- Provides information and assistance to other archival institutions and professionals on the preservation and management of historical materials. Serves within the library system, NARA, and/or the profession as a resource for information regarding archival issues and topics such as processing, preservation, review, automation, and web publication. Serves on professional committees, task forces, and/or working groups dealing with archival related topics.
- Collaborates with the museum staff in planning and preparation of exhibits involving archival material from the Library’s holdings. Assists with information regarding Library archival holdings for exhibits in other presidential libraries, the National Archives, and outside institutions. Represents the Library and NARA to external groups. Assists in planning the content and direction of public programs and other library outreach efforts. Speaks to or prepares material for high profile groups such as the media, Library partner institutions, and for large library sponsored public programs. Speaks to public and professional organizations about the Library.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
You must have a bachelor’s degree in archival science or a bachelor’s degree with a major that included 18 semester hours in archival science, history and/or in political science or government, and 12 semester hours in one or any combination of the following: archival science, history, American civilization, economics, political science, public administration, or government.OR
You must have a combination of education and experience – at least 30 semester hours that include courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to the above basic requirements, you must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level in archival science, or in a directly related field of work such as history, that involved the collection, appraisal, analysis, or synthesis of information having historical or archival values. The following are examples of experience that may be accepted as meeting the experience requirements: (1) experience as an archivist in Federal, State, religious institution, business, or other archives, or in manuscript depositories; and (2) experience of an archival nature that involved research in archival science, or in a directly related field such as history, government, economics, political science, international relations, or international law.