Archivist

Job Summary:

Working closely with, and under the supervision of, the Manager of Archives and Historical Records, and with other members of the Curation and Collections Team, the Archivist will preserve, organize, and make accessible the rich heritage of the Ilitch Companies. The position will be responsible for maintaining the collections according to best practices; managing the collections to the highest legal, ethical, and professional standards; and, supporting and facilitating access to the collections for projects across the companies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the management of the Ilitch companies collections in collaboration with internal colleagues and external Archival Services.
• Play a lead role in the accessioning and processing of new acquisitions and backlogged items from all Ilitch companies.
• Use professional standards to review, arrange, assess, describe, and preserve archival material, and enter information into the Collections Management System.
• Play a strong support role in the management of the collections, including establishing policies and procedures, planning workflows, setting priorities, and making purchase/ budget recommendations.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Archives and Historical Records to establish and document workflows for processing, including assessment, and ensuring best practices are followed.
• Respond to research requests from internal and external stakeholders for material from the archives.
• Help with the packing, moving, and shipping of artifacts.
• Participates in the process of digitizing archival collections and the creation of metadata.
• Analyze, develop, assign, and oversee appropriate metadata for physical and digital assets to enhance descriptions, harmonize conflicts and inconsistencies, and optimize search capabilities, and when necessary, ensure proper usage rights.
• Assist Digital Archivist and Manager of Archives and Historical Records with all collections management and processing work, including:
• physical and digital processing
• revision of processing workflows documentation
• legacy data cleanup
• Collaborate with the Digital Archivist on workflows for managing intellectual relationships between physical holdings and digitized surrogates.
• Help maintain the collection management database for processing, tracking, metadata generation, and stacks management.
• Help manage and maintain archival supplies for collection processing and storage
• Collaborate with Curation Team to plan and develop special exhibitions and outreach activities.
• Assist with installation of artifacts off-site when needed.
• Ensure appropriate archives environment is maintained in conjunction with facilities and engineering, including securing and cleaning the archives facility.
• Play a strong role in communications between representative teams from different Ilitch companies, the Archives Team, and external Archives Services.
• Maintain and promote awareness and understanding of developments and trends in the field of preservation.
• Other responsibilities as required.

 
Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in Library and Information Science, or Archival Studies, or Museum Studies, and 1-3 years of experience. Combination of equivalent education and experience will also be considered.
• Knowledge of conservation and preservation needs of archival collections.
• Experience assessing, arranging, and describing archives and museum collections.
• Foundational knowledge of digital best practices and real-world applications, trends and emerging technologies, and willingness to learn.
• A demonstrated ability to work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively with a team, sometimes across organizational boundaries, as well as independently.
• Evidence of analytical, organizational, communication, project, and time management skills and demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget and in accordance with task/project parameters.
• Must be organized and have excellent attention to detail
• Work well under pressure and adaptable to change
• Possess a “can do” attitude and good problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional customer service skills and interpersonal skill.
• Excellent oral and written communications.
• Experience with PC based software such as Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.

Working Conditions:

• Exposure to storage areas with cool temperatures (60 degrees) on a frequent basis.
• Exposure to damp, dusty, and dirty areas, occasionally .
• Able to physically handle collection items and boxes, including the ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Able to do a significant amount of walking daily.

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