Opportunities

Job openings

Assistant University Archivist for Records Management and User Services at Western Washington University

Western Washington University invites creative and collaborative applicants for the position of Assistant University Archivist for Records Management and User Services. Under the supervision of the University Archivist, this position is responsible for university-wide records management services, including the administration of the university’s retention schedules and their integration into departmental recordkeeping systems, the provision of training and consultation, and oversight of the University Records Center. Additionally, this position supports University Archives user services, including arrangement and description projects and mediated public and reference services in support of archival research, teaching and learning. The position is in the University Archives and Records Management unit of Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections.  

Apply here: https://hr.wwu.edu/careers-staff?job=500712  

Application deadline: Application review begins May 9; the position will remain open until filled. 

Monthly Salary: $4,656 – $6,260. Successful candidates typically begin at/near the beginning of the salary range and receive scheduled salary increment increases. The salary for this position is assigned to Range 55 of the salary schedule for represented employees under the Professional and Technical Employees (PTE) bargaining unit. 

WWU ADEI page: https://www.wwu.edu/diversity 

Temporary Digital Archives Specialist at MOHAI

Museum Vision and Mission:  

MOHAI is treasured locally and respected nationally as a vibrant resource where history inspires us to build a  better future. To serve our region, we bridge the past, present, and future by collecting, preserving, and sharing  stories through compelling, innovative exhibits and community engagement.  

Position Title: Temporary Digital Archives Specialist 

Reports to: Library Collections Manager 

Location: MOHAI Resource Center at Georgetown 

Classification: Temporary, Non-Exempt, Part-time, Hourly 

Schedule: Weekdays, approx. 20 hours per week 

Rate of Pay: $22-$24 per hour 

Employment Period: June – October, 2023 (exact start date flexible – maximum 300 hours total) 

Position Description:  

The Temporary Digital Archives Specialist will participate in a maximum 300-hour 4Culture-funded project to  inventory MOHAI’s Sophie Frye Bass Library’s digital materials, primarily born-digital or digitized photographs, oral  histories, or films. This inventory will primarily focus on entering descriptions into the Library’s collection  management system and identifying materials with highest preservation concerns for future digital storage and  migration priorities. The Digital Archives Specialist will have the opportunity to suggest materials to add to the  online collection. This position reports to the Library Collections Manager and is a member of the Collections  Resources department.  

Key Responsibilities:  

• Conduct an inventory of the Library’s digital media materials, from born-digital collections items to digital  copies of materials, identifying various types of files in a variety of locations and noting duplicates. • Assess materials for immediate preservation concerns, based on condition and informational value. • Create a baseline understanding of digital preservation storage needs for the collection to assist in  planning a digital preservation program. 

• Generate basic metadata and catalog in collections database Proficio.  

• Suggest items of high value to be added to MOHAI’s online collection  

(https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search), based on the Library’s  priority of telling stories of those under-represented in the historical narrative. 

• Ensure that all interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and based on a foundation of MOHAI’s  commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. 

• Other duties as assigned.  

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent museum work experience. Position may be suitable for current  information sciences student nearing graduation or recent graduate; however, candidate must have  required skills, as position is not an internship. 

• Knowledge of digital file types and previous experience with digital archiving or preservation required.  Experience with, or knowledge of, current best practices in digital preservation preferred. • Experience analyzing materials for their content and assessing them based on pre-determined criteria. • Experience working collaboratively with colleagues. 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.

• Good attention to detail in keeping track of workflow and in maintaining quality control. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with library information systems or collections  management databases preferred. 

• Enthusiasm for MOHAI’s exhibits, programs, and mission. 

Find yourself checking a lot of these boxes but doubting whether you should apply? If you meet some of the  requirements and you share MOHAI’s values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply. As part of our  ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a  wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. 

Museum Overview:  

For 70 years, MOHAI has been dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing, and teaching the diverse history  of Seattle, the Puget Sound region, and the nation. With a collection of over 4 million artifacts, photographs, oral  histories, and archival items, and an expansive schedule of exhibits and programs, MOHAI is the region’s premier  history center. MOHAI operates a dramatic and award-winning museum in Lake Union Park in Seattle’s vibrant  South Lake Union neighborhood, and a Resource Center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. MOHAI also hosts  the Bezos Center for Innovation, focusing on the history and future of innovation in the Puget Sound region.  MOHAI is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian  Institution. For more information, please visit http://www.mohai.org.  

MOHAI’s research library, known as the Sophie Frye Bass Library, preserves and provides access to more than 4  million historic items, including photographs, manuscripts, maps, books, motion pictures, oral histories, and  printed ephemera. Founded as the Seattle Historical Society in 1914, MOHAI began its collecting to tell the  histories of the city’s founding families and major industries. Since the 1990s, the curatorial team has refined the  museum’s collecting to tell more diverse and complete stories of our region. For the past twenty-five years,  MOHAI has been digitizing its historic photographs to share through online collections and now digitizes a variety  of audio and video materials, and beginning the mid-2010s, MOHAI has been collecting born-digital material. 

To Apply:  

Please email letter of interest, resume, and three references to Human.Resources@mohai.org. No phone calls, please. 

MOHAI is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team  and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We encourage  candidates of color to apply.

 Gates Archive Internship

Summary: Gates Archive is the private archive of the personal and philanthropic collections of our principals. Committed to creating a culture of learning and belonging, we are a team working to build an archive with a focus towards digital-forward processes.

Gates Archive is seeking two interns to gain experience working with archival materials. This opportunity is designed for interns to work with the Gates Archive team to acquire the skills essential for professional practice while contributing to the work of the organization. These are paid internships, scheduled to begin in July 2023 with full or part-time options. Interns will gain experience working in all archive program areas and may have the opportunity to complete a bounded project in an area of interest.

This position requires the ability to work onsite with our Seattle, WA based team with some flexible work from home days. 

This position entails a background check. 

Responsibilities: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the core responsibilities.

Work closely with and under the direction of the Gates Archive team to:

  • Learn about and support workflows for the acquisition, processing, digitization, preservation, and access of archival materials in all formats
  • Learn about and support archive technologies and project management 
  • Build a culture of belonging across the organization in alignment with the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals
  • Fulfill other organizational duties as required

Skills and Abilities:

  • Must be able to work collegially and collaboratively 
  • Highly organized with strong attention to detail
  • Ability to prioritize work, set goals and milestones, and meet deadlines 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office; familiarity with SharePoint, content management systems, and business communication platforms 
  • Familiarity with modern archival theory, standards, and practices and their implementation, including appraisal methods, arrangement and description, preservation, and access
  • Familiarity with common library and archive metadata and content standards (e.g., DACS, EAD, and AAT); familiarity with a variety of metadata standards
  • Familiarity with information technologies used in special collections and archives environments (e.g., collection management, digital asset management, and digital preservation systems)
  • Ability to handle sensitive/confidential information with a high level of discretion
  • Ability to use discretion with communications and ensure security and confidentiality of all information. 

Education and Experience: 

Enrolled in or a recent graduate of a program of graduate or undergraduate study in Archival Studies, Library & Information Science, or related field such as History, Public History, Communications, or Computer Science.

Pay rate: The hourly rate for this internship is $25.  Interns will be advanced 40 hours of sick time as of their date of hire. 

Deadline for applications: Review of applications will begin on April 6, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority will be given to applications received by the date the review begins.To apply, submit a résumé and cover letter to careers@gatesarchive.com

Job postings with a closing date older than one month will be removed from this page. If you have a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity you would like to promote with Seattle Area Archivists, please email us at seattle.area.archivists @gmail.com.