Head Archivist

**Description**:
**OPEN DATE: May 10, 2024**

**POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund**

**APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite**

**SCHEDULE: Full Time**

**DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC**

**Position sensitivity and risk**:Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

**Open to all qualified applicants**

**What are Trust Fund Positions?**

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

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**Conditions of Employment**
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
- Complete a Probationary Period
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

**OVERVIEW**:
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a national museum for the study and exhibition of African American history and culture. The Head Archivist is responsible for the administration and management of the Archive Collections at NMAAHC containing a wide variety of formats, including traditional paper-based document, photographic materials, analog audiovisual forms, born-digital formats, and related three-dimensional materials.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
The Head Archivist will:

- Develop, write, implement, and maintain formal policies and procedures for all facets of work involving the Archive.
- Direct registration and cataloging procedures for analog and digital archival material within overall processing plans and assure accuracy, completeness, and currency of cataloging files and implements a system for efficient location of and access to the collection.
- Work with Registration and Cataloguing and Digitization teams to implement integrated cataloguing standards for NMAAHC archival collection.
- Oversee the organization and entering of collection information into the archival collection management system.
- Facilitate museum-wide initiatives and effectively implements core initiatives for the NMAAHC Archive Program.
- Contribute to developing plans for the JPC (Johnson Publishing Company) Archives research center and coordinate with NMAAHC Collection staff on integrating the JPC Archives programming with other NMAAHC archive collection programs.
- Attract, develop, support, and retain a high-performing team.

**QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS**:
**_ Education Requirements:_**

To qualify for this position applicants must possess a bachelor's degree in archival science **or** bachelor's degree with a major that includes 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 _

**_Experience required for this position is as follows_**_:_
- Experience in archival processes and procedures including collections development arrangement, preservation, and documentation.
- Professional understanding of the needs, methods, and techniques of scholarly research.
- Knowledge of the principles and theoretical concepts of professional archival work for document, photo, and film and video collections.
- Knowledge of systems for describing, organizing, and managing archival holdings, including those involving digitized text and image information.
- Knowledge of archival procedures for the registration, cataloging and the creation of finding aids for archival collections of documents, images, and media.
- Skill in oral and written communication to draft guidelines, policies, procedures, and proposals for all facets of archival work and to communicate with a wide variety of individuals.
- 3-5 years managing staff, setting work expectations and supervisory responsibility including assigning and reviewing work, counseling subordinates, appraising performance, and resolving complaints.