The Winthrop Group is conducting a personnel search on behalf of a private family to identify an experienced Archivist to manage the family’s historical archives. The selected individual will be responsible for ensuring the organization, accessibility, and long-term preservation of the archival collections. Work will take place on-site at the private family archives located in The Plains, Virginia.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement work plans that support ongoing maintenance of the Archives and development of its services
• Engage in active communication and outreach to promote the Archives and its resources to family members
• Collaborate with family principals to establish and administer policies and procedures for effective and safe management of the physical and digital archival collections
• Identify and implement an online platform to serve as a ‘virtual forum’ by which family members can communicate and collaborate on matters related to the Archives
• Manage and maintain orderly physical file collections and database of digital records
• Respond to reference and research inquiries by family members through the ‘virtual forum’ platform and requests from outside researchers
• Respond to offers to donate materials to the Archives, determine if materials are within scope, and develop donor agreements for new acquisitions
• Ensure long-term preservation of and access to collections in all formats
• Process archival records in all formats
• Digitize selected materials or oversee digitization projects (as requested)

Required Qualifications

• MLIS with concentration in archives, graduate degree with certificate in archival studies, or ACA certification
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in archival settings
• Extensive knowledge of archival standards and best practices
• Demonstrated experience
  • establishing and administering policies and procedures for archival collections
  • providing reference services for archival collections
  • appraising and processing family/personal papers and confidential records
  • identifying preservation concerns (i.e., environmental, storage, physical condition of papers, photographs, and artifacts)
  • working with Collections Management Systems and Digital Asset Management Systems
  • facilitating digitization projects
• Able to collaborate with a range of individuals (i.e., family members of two active generations, staff, and authorized outside researchers)
• Flexibility and ability to evaluate outcomes and respond to shifting priorities
• Ability to work proactively while keeping within the purview of the position’s responsibilities
• Excellent communication, thoughtful interpersonal skills, and strong command of writing
• Excellent and efficient time management skills
• Trustworthiness and firm commitment to maintaining privacy and confidentiality
• Interest in developing a long-term professional relationship with the family

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of American Civil Rights Movement history

Compensation and Work Schedule

Hourly rate: $38.00-$48.00, commensurate with experience.

This part-time position has a schedule of approximately 16-24 hours per week (2-3 days per week) with the possibility of increased hours for short-term special projects.

Work Environment

Work will take place in-person at the Family Archives located in The Plains, VA. The Archivist must be comfortable working alone much of the time.

Selected candidate will be required to pass a background check and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Contact Information

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to careers@winthropgroup.com with the subject line “Archivist – The Plains, Virginia.”