Job Opening Title:
Project Archivist
Name of Employer:
Victoria Foundation
Job Site Location (City, State) :
Newark, NJ
Application Deadline:
Priority review given to submissions before January 15, 2025
Minimum Degree Requirement:
ALA-accredited Masters degree in Library Science, or equivalent professional experience in the archival field
Years of experience required:
Minimum 2 years
Salary Range:
Hourly rate of $65/hour, up to a maximum of $65,000 per year
Job Opening URL:
https://victoriafoundation.org/about-us/employment
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply.:
Project Overview
Victoria Foundation is one of the oldest private foundations in America. In honor of the Foundation’s Centennial in 2024, we are looking to contract with a project archivist to provide a level of processing for our paper & digital archives. Materials include Foundation artifacts, grant files, photographs, press, and other ephemera. The goal of this project is to preserve and digitize the historical significance of the Foundation’s family history and giving in the landscape of philanthropy and New Jersey.
Deliverables include
• Perform a records survey to understand volume and material type,
• Process analog and digital contents of the Foundation archives according to archival standards including DACS,
• Develop a preservation plan for archival materials through rehousing materials into acid free containers and digital scanning initiatives,
• Development of guidelines for Foundation staff for the creation and retention of archive materials, including finding aids and implementing systems for digitizing,
• Development of an emergency/disaster plan,
• Development of guidelines for the destruction of materials,
• Curate (in collaboration with Foundation staff) a selection of approximately 25-50 items that would be of particular interest to viewers online,
• Provide guidance on sharing archives with researchers and general public via reading room, social media, and website,
• Provide written status reports to supervisor throughout the project.
Qualifications
• ALA-accredited Masters degree in Library Science, or equivalent professional experience in the archival field
• 2-3 years of professional experience as an archivist, preferably in the philanthropic field
• Proficiency with archival content management systems and database management
• Experience with both analog and digital archives and understanding of digital best practice standards
• Show initiative and work independently when needed to bring projects to fruition in a timely and professional manner;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• This is a physically active job that requires the ability to push, lift and shelve boxes of records up to 35lbs, bending and kneeling and using step ladders. Ability to remain stationary for extended periods of time, operating computers, and scanning equipment.
Work Location and Schedule
• The Project Archivist will work on-site as needed at Victoria Foundation’s office located at 550 Broad St, Newark, NJ.
• Archivist work schedule will be determined collaboratively to meet project goals.
Timeline
• Project Start Date in early 2025.
• Completion Date to be determined collaboratively with Archivist.
• A detailed project timeline will be developed with milestones for assessment, processing, cataloging, and final reporting.
Terms
• Position Type: Independent Contractor
• Compensation: Provided at an hourly rate of $65 per hour, up to a maximum of $65,000 per year.
• Payment Terms: Payment will be made upon the submission of monthly invoices or at project milestones, as agreed.
Project Governance
• The Project Archivist will report to Vice President Sharnita Johnson who will provide oversight and guidance. Regular check-in meetings will be scheduled to ensure progress aligns with the timeline and foundation goals.
Confidentiality and Data Security
• The Project Archivist will be required to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive records and comply with the foundation’s data security policies.
How to Apply
• Please send an application consisting of a CV/resume and a cover letter to: info@victoriafoundation.org. Applications submitted by January 15, 2025 will receive priority review.
• Finalists for the position will be asked for at least 2 recent professional references. We anticipate conducting interviews in February, with a hire to start as soon as possible.
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.
Victoria Foundation is committed to inclusivity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, parental status, military service, or disability.
Victoria Foundation’s mission as of 2021 is to partner with Black and Brown residents and other marginalized communities in Newark and nonprofit organizations to champion bold strategies that strengthen community power, foster economic justice, promote youth self-determination, and respond to pressing needs. It is one of the oldest private foundations in the United States, founded in 1924 by Hendon Chubb and named for his mother, Victoria. Initially focused on providing assistance to needy individuals, it shifted in the 1960s to focus predominantly on Newark, especially on access to education, enrichment, and job opportunities as well as issues such as civil rights and poverty.
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