Archivist
Sealaska Heritage Institute
Juneau

Department: Culture and History Department

Reports to: Culture and History Director

Location of Work: Juneau, Alaska

Salary Grade: DOE

Hours of Work: Approximate 8:00am-4:30pm

Employment Category: Regular, Full-Time

Classification: Exempt

Date: April 5, 2016

  
SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

  
The mission of the Archives, Library and Collections Program of Sealaska
Heritage Institute (SHI) is to collect and preserve materials that document
the history, culture, heritage, and languages of the Tlingit, Haida, and
Tsimshian people and to make these materials available to the public for
educational purposes. SHI collections constitute 3,100 linear feet of archival
and historical manuscripts and papers, photographs, and audio and visual
recordings, as well as a collection of 500 art and ethnographic objects and a
library of 2,500 books (historical and contemporary). The archives include
historical documents, manuscripts, and papers of individuals of importance to
both the indigenous people of the region and in Alaska history, as well as
over 60,000 digital and historic photographs. SHI currently houses more than
5,000 historical and contemporary audio and audiovisual recordings documenting
the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian language, culture, and history. Most of
these recordings are wholly unique and cannot be found in other libraries,
archives, or repositories. These collections come to SHI through donation and
purchase on a regular basis, and materials are continuously collected by SHI.
SHI serves the general and academic Native and non-Native community by making
its extensive library, archival, and ethnographic collections available to the
public for research and educational purposes; hosting public lectures;
advising and assisting visiting scholars and researchers; publishing academic
essays and books; and having SHI staff present papers at scholarly
conferences. SHI has contributed significantly to the documentation of Tlingit
oral traditions through major publications and enjoys an ongoing relationship
with the University of Washington Press. SHI's culture and history, language,
education, and art programs rely heavily on its library and archival
collections in the development of their activities and publications.

  
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Major Responsibilities:

1. Primary responsibility for appraising, accessioning, processing,
cataloguing,

preserving and describing SHI's archival collections (manuscripts,
photographs, and

audio and video recordings) utilizing professional archival procedures and

practices.

2. Responsible for developing and managing the SHI archival collections and
making

these records available and retrievable for public research.

3. Surveys the collection and prioritizes collections for preservation
treatment,

reformatting, rehousing, and other improvements.

4. Manages a small library of scholarly publications and rare books, makes

recommendations for new acquisitions, and maintains electronic catalog records

for the archival and book collections in Archon, OCLC Connection (including
MARC

records), Workflows (SirsiDynix), and the library catalog.

5. Manages ongoing digital preservation projects and advance efforts for
metadata

documentation of indigenous language recordings working with Native speakers.

6. Develops and manags grants for the physical and digital preservation of
collections

and other specialized areas to support the work of the SHI Archives and
Library.

Duties:

1. Arranges the collections; creates, edits, and indexes folder lists and
box/container

lists; and updates lists and indexes as needed.

2. Conducts baseline condition surveys, condition assessments, and inventories
of

collections.

3. Conducts archival appraisals and reappraisals.

4. Manages digital collections including audio and visual recordings and
photographs;

maintains systems for digital preservation of collections.

5. Processes new accessions and donations.

6. Rehouses SHI Archival and Manuscript Collections as needed.

7. Prioritizes materials for preservation treatment, reformatting, rehousing,
and other

improvements; makes recommendations for treatments.

8. Monitors and evaluates the collections environment; carries out IPM
procedures;

and recommends modifications to improve conditions and mitigate agents of

deterioration.

9. Improves collections management through digital preservation techniques,

developing strategies, and installing new systems for audio and video
recording and

photograph preservation.

10. Develops metadata documentation and finding aids.

11. Manages SHI automated collections management system.

12. Conducts strategic planning including short-term and long-term
preservation

planning, disaster plans, etc.

13. Updates, refines, and develops archival collections management strategies,

practices, policies, and procedures for improving the preservation and
accessibility

of SHI collections while meeting professional standards and best practices.

14. Trains staff, contractors, interns, etc. on best practices and procedures.

15. Provides archive and library reference services.

16. Develops and maintains effective working relationships with Alaska Native
clans

and communities, agencies, scholars, and the public.

17. Organizes and analyzes cultural and historical information and materials.

18. Supervises interns, temporary employees, and contractors on occasion.

19. Assists Culture and History Director in hosting visiting scholars.

20. Recommends purchases of equipment, supplies, books, etc.

21. Provides organizational representation in local, state, or regional
organizations and

at professional meetings, conferences, and gatherings.

22. Initiates, develops, and submits grant proposals for Department activities
and

needs in association with Department Director and SHI Development Director.

23. Administers budgets, grants, and contracts.

24. Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Advanced knowledge of the principles, concepts, techniques, and guidelines
of

professional archival work

• Professional training in archives management

• Knowledge of information technologies and techniques of digital preservation

• Knowledge of library systems and technology appropriate for professional

management of a small library

• Good communication skills

• Good interpersonal skills and a team player

• Cross-cultural communication skills

• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

TBD.

DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY

Spending Authority: As delegated

Other Authority: As delegated

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position's duties are performed at the Walter Soboleff Building. This
role routinely uses

standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing
cabinets, and fax

machines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly
required to talk and

listen. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending,
kneeling, stooping,

crouching, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move
objects up to

20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time benefited position working 37.5 hours a week. The standard
operating

hours expected for the incumbent is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

TRAVEL

Occasional travel may be required for this position.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• B.A. in Cultural Anthropology or related field

• Two years of professional archival experience

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• MLS or MLIS with Archives Concentration or related field

• Three or more years of professional archival experience

• Knowledge of Northwest Coast cultures and culturally relevant archival
practices

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a
comprehensive listing of

activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for
this job. Duties,

responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without
notice.

CONDITIONS OF HIRE

SHI employment is "at will." This means that the employee or SHI may terminate

employment at any time and for any reason. Unless specified in writing, no
term of

employment is expressed or implied for this position.

To apply, please send resume to [log in to unmask] or go to www.sealaska.com
"careers"

link to submit application.



Brought to you by code4lib jobs: http://jobs.code4lib.org/job/25227/
To post a new job please visit http://jobs.code4lib.org/