Job Description

Job Description and Duties

If you enjoy working in a dynamic and engaging environment, this job may be for you. The Secretary of State’s Archives Division (California State Archives) is recruiting to fill a full-time, permanent Archivist I (Conservation Archivist) on our Collections Management Unit.

Under the direction of the Collection Manager (Staff Services Manager I), this position performs skilled preservation and conservation work to ensure the long-term care and stability of the State Archives’ historical collections; performs duties relating to the accessioning and processing of paper and electronic historical records and artifacts, including appraising documents for historical significance, organizing records according to professional principles and practices, and preparing various finding aids, and assist with preparing records and facsimiles for exhibits. This position will require the ability to lift at least 40 lbs. and can unpack, shelve, and shift large quantities of archival materials and be able to climb ladders, and use a hand truck to move records.

As the Conservation Archivist, you will also be responsible for:

• Performing preservation and conservation treatments to historical records, including but not limited to flattening, mending, de-acidifying, cleaning, encapsulating, stabilizing, and building custom storage enclosures for records.
• Conducting surveys and assessing the condition of the State Archives’ collections.
• Monitoring and maintaining stable conditions in collection storage and processing areas.
• Maintaining disaster response supplies for emergencies related to the State Archives’ collections.
• Preparing documents for physical and online exhibition and display.
• Developing and providing conservation training to staff and the public.
• Giving tours of the Archives’ Preservation Lab for legislative, genealogy, and other research groups.
• Constructively participating in division-wide initiatives to update public services, software, and tools to provide broader and more accessible public services. Utilizing archival knowledge to streamline preservation and conservation work and better integrate these workflows into other archival program areas, including but not limited to accessioning, processing, and reference.
• Assisting with implementing More Product Less Process (MPLP) strategies and expanded screening efforts.
• Preparing reports and serving on working groups to provide suggestions to the Archives Management Unit.
• Keeping abreast of current archival and preservation practices by reading professional literature and attending workshops and conferences.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Understanding of archival and preservation principles, practices, and terminology.
• Experience working in an archives, library, museum, or historical institution.
• Strong knowledge and experience in the care, preservation, handling, and conservation of historical documents and related materials, in addition to knowledge of current best practices, methods, materials, and equipment used in record preservation and conservation.
• Experience accessioning and processing historical records, including the creation of finding aids or tools.
• Experience providing trainings and reference services.
• Experience working with electronic records or digitization projects
• Knowledge of condition reporting and collection assessments.
• Knowledge of environmental standards and monitoring for the long-term storage of historical records of all formats.
• Knowledge of disaster response planning, procedures, and training.
• Experience with the preparation of historical materials for physical and online exhibitions or transportation.
• Good understanding of organization techniques and time management skills, including the ability to meet deadlines, take initiative, work independently, and have the willingness to learn new duties and skills.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position is considered onsite and may provide telework opportunities based upon the agency’s telework policy and business needs. The incumbent may be required to respond or work off business hours as determined by the operational needs of the Secretary of State. This job advertisement indicates whether this position is eligible for telework. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200, and may be required to report to the Secretary of State’s Office, when needed. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Special Requirements

Supplemental Questionnaire : Applicants must submit a Supplemental Questionnaire responding to the questions listed below, it should be no more than two (2) pages typed, using business professional font, font size, and formatting. Responses do not need to include the question but must be numbered in the same order. Applications submitted without the Supplemental Questionnaire will not be considered.

Applicants must answer the following questions:

1. Describe your responsibilities, knowledge, and experience performing preservation and conservation work for historical materials, disaster planning, and environmental monitoring.
2. Provide an example of an archival records collection that you have processed. What standard principles did you use to process the collection? What resources did you produce once the collection was fully processed?
3. Share your knowledge and experience installing an exhibit, conducting preservation trainings, making presentations, leading tours.
4. Describe your experience preparing historical materials for digitization, including the assessment of the fragile materials and analog media, creating metadata and knowledge of technical standards.

Education: When using education to meet minimum qualifications, please include all the required documents necessary to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications for this classification (i.e., degree, transcript, license, and certificate). Candidate may be required to provide a transcript prior to hire.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Supplemental Application - Please submit your responses to the supplemental questions as indicated in the Supplemental Questionnaire section above.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Work at office, Remote work, Shift work,

Similar Jobs