Research Services Archivist, Moravian Archives, (Winston-Salem, NC)

Posted July 15, 2024

The Research Services Archivist for the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province has
primary responsibility for connecting researchers with our holdings in accordance with
professional standards and practices. The collection, which dates to 1753 when German
Moravians first settled in Piedmont North Carolina, includes current and historic records of its
churches, agencies, and institutions. The Research Services Archivist, working under and in
collaboration with the Assistant Director, manages the Reading Room, supports researchers,
and promotes the use of collections. They will be pivotal in establishing and implementing a
vision to create a modern research environment that provides easy access to the Moravian
Archives’ historical information.

The ideal candidate will be committed to broad and equitable access to archives and connected
to established and emerging archival principles and practices. Candidates with experience
supporting a diverse user community and range of research methodologies are strongly
encouraged to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Research Support (75%)

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Reading Room of the Moravian Archives,
  including the training, scheduling, and supervision of staff, interns, and volunteers
  involved in research services.
• Provides onsite reference services to external researchers, including responding to
  queries, supervising researchers onsite, providing access to materials, maintaining
  calendar for research visits, and fulfilling digitization and photoduplication requests.
• Provides remote reference services, including responding to queries, researching within
  the collection, and digitizing materials for remote access
• Continually evaluates the overall patron research experience and propose and
  implement changes as needed to improve that experience
• Maintains a healthy and safe environment for staff and researchers
• Supports in-house staff research by providing hands-on research assistance, answering
  reference questions, and providing staff access to materials
• Assists with research and loan of archival materials related to exhibitions and other
  initiatives, as appropriate
• Collect and report statistics on collection use

Outreach and Promotion (15%)

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director on outreach opportunities by assisting with
  collection research and access.
• Contribute user and collection stories to newsletters and social media initiatives.
• Collaborate with other archives of the worldwide Moravian Church and Moravian study
  groups/programs to support scholarship using the Archives’ holdings.

General (10%)

• Participate in monthly staff meetings.
• Contribute to the annual report for the Archives.
• Set annual goals as part of the annual performance management process.
• Participate in other projects (e.g., processing, digitization, etc.) as available and needed.
• Stay abreast of archival standards and ensure the Moravian Archives is in compliance
  with those standards.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• ALA Accredited MLIS or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience in Archives or special collection management in a research
  library (1-3 years minimum)
• Knowledge of professional standards and best practices for archives; understanding of
  metadata standards, such as Dublin Core, VRA Core, MARC, EAD, DACS, and
  controlled vocabularies, such as LCSH and Getty AAT
• Proficiency with image scanning and digitization; experience with digital asset
  management a plus
• Ability to plan and execute long-term projects without extensive supervision
• Proficiency in archival software, as well as Microsoft Office products.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Some proficiency in German; training to read German script is available
• Knowledge and appreciate of Moravian history
• Knowledge of EAD and HTML

POSITION CONDITIONS

• 5-year term position; the administration intends but cannot guarantee to secure funding
  for the role to become permanent.
• Full-time position/Monday-Friday
• Occasional same day or overnight travel
• Occasional evening events/meetings

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Located in Old Salem, a living historic village that offers great opportunities for
  partnership and programming. Old Salem is also home to the museum of Early Southern
  Decorative Arts and Salem College.
• Unique and rich collections that document the history of the church and region. The
  Archives have informed projects ranging from Hidden Town (the history of enslaved and
  free people of African descent in Salem) to the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears.
• Engaged regional partners, including Wake Forest University, through the Moravian
  Studies Collaborative.
• Excellent archival facilities located in the Archie K. Davis Center, which is shared with
  the Moravian Music Foundation.
• Located within walking distance to downtown Winston Salem, which offers vibrant arts
  and culinary options.
• Easy access to Charlotte, Raleigh, the Appalachian Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean,
  Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.

SALARY & BENEFITS
$50,000
$2,000 annual allowance for professional development expenses
Moving and relocation expenses stipend
10 paid holidays
14 days of paid annual leave
8 days of paid sick leave
Health insurance, including dental and vision, with a high-deductible HSA account to which the
Province contributes $600 annually
403(b) plan through our ecumenical partner ELCA. The Province pays a 5% annuity based on
annual salary. Employees have the option of investing it into their 403(b) or taking it as case to
invest otherwise.
Basic employee term life, dependent term life, supplemental employee term life, and long-term
disability insurance available.

TO APPLY

Ongoing review of applications. Position will remain open until filled. Submit resume/curriculum
vitae and cover letter to Director Meaghan O’Riordan at [email protected]
Applicant selected will be subject to background check and drug/alcohol screen testing.