Archivist (Part-Time), The Winthrop Group, The Plains, VA
Posted October 18, 2023
Job Overview
The Winthrop Group is conducting a personnel search on behalf of a private family to identify an experienced Archivist to manage the family’s historical archives. The selected individual will be responsible for ensuring the organization, accessibility, and long-term preservation of the archival collections. Work will take place on-site at the private family archives located in The Plains, Virginia.
Hourly rate: $38.00-$48.00, commensurate with experience.
Schedule: Approximately 16-24 hours per week (2-3 days per week) with the possibility of increased hours for short-term special projects.
Responsibilities
- Implement work plans that support ongoing maintenance of the Archives and development of its services
- Engage in active communication and outreach to promote the Archives and its resources to family members
- Collaborate with family principals to establish and administer policies and procedures for effective and safe management of the physical and digital archival collections
- Identify and implement an online platform to serve as a ‘virtual forum’ by which family members can communicate and collaborate on matters related to the Archives.
- Manage and maintain orderly physical file collections and database of digital records
- Respond to reference and research inquiries by family members through the ‘virtual forum’ platform and requests from outside researchers
- Respond to offers to donate materials to the Archives, determine if materials are within scope, and develop donor agreements for new acquisitions
- Ensure long-term preservation of and access to collections in all formats
- Process archival records in all formats
- Digitize selected materials or oversee digitization projects (as requested)
Qualifications
Required
- MLIS with concentration in archives, graduate degree with certificate in archival studies, or ACA certification
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in archival settings
- Extensive knowledge of archival standards and best practices
- Demonstrated experience
- establishing and administering policies and procedures for archival collections
- providing reference services for archival collections
- identifying preservation concerns (i.e., environmental, storage, physical condition of papers, photographs, and artifacts)
- working with Collections Management Systems and Digital Asset Management Systems
- facilitating digitization projects
- Able to collaborate with a range of individuals (i.e., family members of two active generations, staff, and authorized outside researchers)
- Flexibility and ability to evaluate outcomes and respond to shifting priorities
- Ability to work proactively while keeping within the purview of the position’s responsibilities
- Excellent communication, thoughtful interpersonal skills, and strong command of writing
- Excellent and efficient time management skills
- Trustworthiness and firm commitment to maintaining privacy and confidentiality
- Interest in developing a long-term professional relationship with the family
Preferred
- Knowledge of American Civil Rights Movement history
Work Environment
Work will take place in-person at the Family Archives located in The Plains, VA. The Archivist must be comfortable working alone much of the time. Selected candidate will be required to pass a background check and sign a confidentiality agreement.
Contact Information
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to [email protected] with the subject line “Archivist – The Plains, Virginia”.