Career Opportunity: Full-Time Archivist

South Peace Regional Archives is seeking an Archivist for a full-time, continuing position beginning November 1, 2016. The Archivist oversees the process of acquisition and the preservation of archival records. S/he participates in developing educational programs and events to enhance public awareness, and reports to the Executive Director.

South Peace Regional Archives is a community Archives, established in 2000 and funded by four municipalities. There are three staff members. It is currently housed in the Grande Prairie Museum, with a new building planned for in 2017-2018. The job description can be viewed on the website at www.southpeacearchives.org.

Qualifications/Abilities:

• A degree in Archival Studies, Library and Information Studies, History or related discipline.
• A solid understanding of the principles and standards of archival science.
• Familiarity with primary historical research techniques.
• Awareness of Canadian and Alberta history.
• Strong organizational, communication, analytical and research skills.
• A strong aptitude for independent decision making and acting with initiative.

Salary Range is $42,000-$55,000 (commensurate with education and experience)

Please forward a resume and cover letter no later than September 30, 2016 to South Peace Regional Archives Executive Director at director@southpeacearchives.org.

Here is the complete job description:

South Peace Regional Archives

Archivist Job Description

The purpose of the South Peace Regional Archives Society is to encourage the appreciation and study of the history of the south Peace River Country of Alberta by acquiring, preserving, and making accessible to the public, records in any format which reflect the cultural, social, economic and political history of this area. The Archivist at South Peace Regional Archives oversees the process of acquisition, preservation and accessibility of archival records. S/he participates in developing educational programs and events to enhance public awareness. S/he works with and reports to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities and Activities

1. The Archivist draws on extensive knowledge of archival science to acquire authentic records of enduring value to develop a “full spectrum holdings”; meaning a full range of both public and private records related to the south Peace River Country of Alberta regardless of media.
   1. Appraises records offered for donation to determine whether or not they should be acquired.
   2. Guides members of the public through the records donation process, advising them on the legal transfer of ownership, and negotiating access and use conditions.
   3. Maintains the accession register and the accession files.
   4. Assists in producing and implementing policies and procedures regarding acquisitions.

2. The Archivist supports the mission and business goals of the SPRA by overseeing the physical control and permanent preservation of the records.
   1. Evaluates and assigns use and value priorities to the archival holdings so that the appropriate preservation and conservation measures are applied to the records.
   2. Performs tasks and supervises the preservation activities of archival technicians, volunteers, contractors and interns.
   3. Examines the records and uses technical knowledge to identify formats and determine specific care and storage requirements.
   4. Provides instruction to other staff, members of the public, and other institutions on the proper care, handling, and preservation of records of all media.
   5. Assists with grant applications for preservation projects.

3. The Archivist establishes intellectual control of the records according to national archival standards.
   1. Conducts research to determine the provenance, arrangement, composition, scope, informational content, and internal and external relationships of the records.
   2. Prepares detailed descriptions about the structure, function and content of the records and records creator according to the Canadian Rules of Archival Description.
   3. Reformats the material as necessary for public access, including scanning and uploading to provincial databases and the SPRA website.
   4. Manages the reference library in the reading room by assigning Library of Congress numbers to each volume.
   5. Assists researchers and members of the public, providing access to holdings and advising them with respect to provincial access and federal use legislation.
   6. Processes requests for reproductions of photographs and digital media.
4. The Archivist participates in planning educational programs and special events in accordance with the South Peace Regional Archives Society’s goal to promote appreciation for the historical resources and culture of the south Peace.
   1. Develops exhibits to increase the profile of the SPRA.
   2. Provides archival education by conducting workshops, giving presentations, and writing articles for publication.
   3. Participates in provincial and national associations, advisory boards and cross-government initiatives to foster partnerships with various stakeholders groups.
   4. Provides professional advice to archives staff and members of the public.
   5. Provides advice regarding national and provincial legislation as it relates to archival practice.

5. Performance and Evaluation.
   1. The Archivist position carries with it a probationary period of six months, during which time employment may be terminated by either party without penalty.
   2. A formative evaluation of the Archivist will be conducted by the Executive Director on an annual basis to support the goals of the organization and the individual.
   3. A summative evaluation will be activated only in extreme situations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A degree in Archival Studies, Library and Information Studies, History or related discipline. A Master’s Degree is preferred.
• A solid understanding of principles, standards and methodology of archival science and records management, and proven skills in the interpretation and application of archival theories.
• Familiarity with primary historical research techniques and trends and awareness of the needs of disciplines that utilize archival sources.
• Awareness of Canadian and Alberta history, political climate, and social context in which records were created.
• Good understanding of system requirements for the Archives.
• Strong organizational, communication, analytical and research skills.
• Supervisory and interpersonal skills to motivate staff, volunteers, members of the public, outside organizations and other stakeholders.
• Good conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• A strong aptitude for independent decision making and acting with initiative.