The Senior Archivist serves as the administrative head of the Peabody Museum’s Archives Department, overseeing the Museum's archival collections (paper records, manuscripts, photographs, works on paper, and audio-visual materials), managing archives staff and daily operations, determining plans and priorities, establishing and maintaining workflow, and managing the departmental budget. Reports to the Deputy Director for Collections. For additional information or to apply, please go to https://hr.harvard.edu/search-jobs, position 67023BR.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hires, trains, and supervises Archives staff of two permanent archivists and temporary hires, overseeing workflow and processes, assigning ongoing tasks and short-term projects, and evaluating performance and performance management.
• Implements and updates Archives Department policies and procedures in accordance with current archival standards and best practices and with a strong focus on ethical stewardship, including implementation of the SAA Protocols for Native American Archival Materials and protocols for reparative description.
• Plans and oversees processing of archival collections, including appraisal, arrangement, and description, producing ArchivesSpace finding aids. Catalogs photographic and audio-visual collections in accordance with Museum protocols.
• Evaluates legal issues relating to unpublished collections including copyright, privacy, confidentiality, and ownership.
• Plans and manages archival digitization projects in collaboration with the Director of Collections Technologies.
• Assists Museum staff with implementing Harvard’s records management policies and procedures.
• Oversees on-site and off-site archives storage, assessing and monitoring environmental conditions and collaborating with Museum administration and Facilities management to ensure appropriate preservation standards for collections.
• Manages public access and research services for the Archives Department, including hosting visits by faculty, visiting scholars, students, Harvard classes, Indigenous community groups, and external researchers.
• Plans and implements departmental tactical plans in alignment with overall Museum strategic goals and develops and oversees departmental and special project budgets.
• Identifies grant opportunities as required, writing grant proposals, collaborating with the Curatorial Department, and administering post-award grants.
• Serves as a contributing member of select Museum committees including the Collections Review Committee and Collections Online Access (Web Coding) Committee.
• Represents the Peabody in the archives and museum fields and develops relationships with other archival repositories including those at Harvard.
• Coordinates and manages additional special projects and duties as required to support the Museum’s mission and goals.

Additional Qualifications     

• Understanding of and commitment to the ethical stewardship of museum collections in partnership with Indigenous communities required.
• Experience in supervising permanent staff in a variety of archival functions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival standards and best practices, including managing an archive, processing collections, care and handling of archival materials in a variety of formats, preservation, and access.
• Second master's degree or other academic experience in anthropology preferred.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team; multitask, manage complex projects, and meet competing deadlines; strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to establish priorities and achieve goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.

 About the Peabody

The Peabody Museum is situated on the ancestral and traditional land of the Massachusett people. It cares for over 1.2 million items from across the world, including cultural, archaeological, and osteological collections as well as extensive photographic and archival materials. The Museum is committed to the ethical stewardship of its collections through implementation of collaborative and culturally responsive care, interpretation, and engagement. We strive for a diverse, inclusive and equitable working environment and to act in ways that address the global challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability.

Basic Qualifications

• ALA-accredited MLS degree with an archival concentration or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience in archival administration.