Digital Archivist

Digital Archivist (Job )
Agency:
Department of Education

Location:

Pierre, SD
Salary: $23.56-$26.50/hr (Pay Grade H)
Closing Date: 07/27/2026

The Digital Archivist is responsible for evaluating, acquiring, arranging, describing, preserving and providing access to electronic records of the South Dakota State Historical Society-State Archives. Duties include developing policies and procedures for electronic records; selecting and transferring electronic records from private donors and state agencies to the archives; preparing and ingesting electronic records into a digital repository; providing reference services; and improving access to digital collections.

The Digital Archivist also maintains statistics and reports to the State Archivist.

Benefits: paid employee health insurance, ten paid holidays, generous vacation leave accrual, medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. A member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Physical requirements:

must handle dust exposure and lift boxes up to 50 lbs. and climb ladders. Some travel is required.

• One year of experience working with born-digital records in an archives;
• Knowledge of metadata standards such as EAD, Dublin Core, MODS, METS, etc;
• Working knowledge of archival and/or digital content management systems, preferably Archives Space and Preservica;
• Project management experience;
• Experience with arrangement and description of archival materials;
• Familiarity with XML;
• Familiarity using Python and/or using AI software to generate/troubleshoot code;
• Master's degree from an ALA accredited university in Library and Information Science or the equivalent, with successful completion of relevant coursework in electronic records and digital preservation.

• Modern archival theory, standards, and practices and their implementation, including appraisal methods, arrangement and description, cataloging, preservation, access, and outreach;
• Current electronic records management theory, standards, and practices and their implementation, including hardware/software needs, naming protocols and migration plans;
• United States and South Dakota history;
• Historical research methods in both primary and secondary sources;
• Electronic information systems and specialized technology related to archival cataloging and patron information retrieval systems;
• Digital formats, their preservation and access issues and issues related to security/authenticity;
• Information storage systems;
• Standards such as technical, preservation, structural, packaging, and transfer metadata schemes;
• Copyright and data protection issues.

• Prioritize day-to-day tasks;
• Collaborate on the most cost-effective and timely means to preserve and provide public access to records;
• Determine how and at what level collections should be arranged and cataloged;
• Identify materials requiring supplemental preservation and determine the priority of electronic records collections for processing, based on knowledge of research needs, agency priorities, historical significance, and professional standards;
• Work with the archives team, provide on-site and electronic reference assistance regarding archival and manuscript collections to researchers.

• Build partnerships between representatives in various state agencies;
• Communicate effectively with both IT specialists and non-technical users about technology topics related to digital archiving;
• Communicate both simple and complex ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, to people with various degrees of knowledge of archival theories and historical research methods;
• Successfully work with a variety of people and assist patrons while maintaining a professional demeanor;
• Pick up and deliver records from donors;
• Answer requests for information regarding the archival collections;
• Prepare monthly status reports;
• Participate in communication efforts to inform the public about the historical society and archival collections;
• Participate in continuing education and professional development opportunities as needed to maintain required skills;
• Conduct site visits to historical organizations and collecting institutions to provide technical advice and assistance on archival practices and preservation issues upon request.

Please attach a cover letter, resume, and writing sample that describe your interest and address your qualifications for this position.

Veterans' Preference is available under ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicants will be required to undergo a background investigation.

Equal Opportunity Employer.