Lead Research Archivist

Overview

The Washington State Archives preserves and provides access to millions of legal and historical records of state and local governments. The Archives is expanding its staff and currently hiring for several positions, including a Lead Research Archivist for its State and Southwest Regional Collections located on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The Lead Research Archivist supports government agencies and the public with accessing records, including an increasing number of digital records.

This position oversees delivery of research services at the Olympia Branch to connect researchers with records and supports collection management, participates on Archives teams, and collaborates on planning and development of branch policies and procedures. Applications are invited from qualified candidates who aim to ensure archival records are preserved and available for present and future research.

• Directs and oversees day-to-day research services in Olympia, including developing and implementing policies, procedures, guidelines, workflows, research guides and response templates.
• Develops, updates and enforces collections use policies and procedures to ensure the security of archival records, publications, and archives equipment.
• Reviews and interprets complex state and federal law, statutes and rules to determine disclosure exemptions and ensures restricted materials are not made available.
• Identifies, researches, specifies, tests, implements and troubleshoots tools and systems for delivering research services and improving access to collections.
• Applies specialized knowledge of government records and the Archives collection to identify appropriate records for responding to research requests.
• Independently provides archival reference and research services to the public and government agencies and leads or advises staff on responses to complex requests.
• Consults collection catalogs, finding aids and inventories to locate archival records and guides staff on searches.
• Oversees retrieval and refiling of archival materials and ensures records are returned to preservation storage; provides copies or scans and ensures requests are answered within required time frames.
• Manages large or complex reproduction requests, including procuring quotes, coordinating with service providers, processing payments and delivering copies.
• Stays up to date with current trends in the archives and records management profession.

• Hires, trains, supervises, coaches and mentors research staff in Olympia, assigns and evaluates their work.
• Addresses performance issues and writes performance development plans and evaluations.
• Participates in the selection of student workers, interns and volunteers; oversees orientation and provides direction on their work.
• Monitors staff and volunteers’ performance to ensure compliance with agency policies and best practices.
• Writes and updates job description forms.

• Contributes to long-term planning and goals for the Archives.
• Supports development and implementation of policies, procedures and standards of best practice to support research and access of the collection.
• Collects statistics on research activities, documents reference questions and research requests, and analyzes data to identify trends and opportunities to enhance services.
• Manages accounting tasks to support research services and troubleshoots online order issues.
• Conducts facility tours and creates/sponsors special projects or initiatives to publicize the Archives’ holdings.
• Seeks speaking engagements with allied professionals and target audiences.

• Identifies, initiates and supervises projects to enhance description and accessibility of the collection.
• Performs complex arrangement, description and weeding projects and provides quality control on related work.
• Coordinates reformatting projects and applies professional practices to protect records accessed for research.
• Participates in appraisal deliberations on the value of incoming records and current holdings.
• Advises customers on routine records management programs and…