Archives Technician

Smithsonian Institution; New York (NY); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Archives Technician

Application Deadline: 2 July 2025

Department: Archives of American Art

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Part Time

Location: New York, NY

Reporting To: Benjamin Gillespie

Compensation: $58,876 - $76,543 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: 06/18/25

CLOSING DATE: 07/02/25

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary - Not to Exceed (NTE) 1-Year

SCHEDULE: Part-Time

DUTY LOCATION: New York, NY
Grade/Series: IS-1421-07
Promotion Potential: IS-1421-07
Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to the Public

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution is a unique complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and nine research centers. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute plays a leading role in the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists.

The position is located at the New York Research Center of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. The Archives of American Art is the nation's largest repository of documentation of the visual arts and culture in the United States. The Archives' mission is to collect, preserve, and make available for study records, original papers, photographs, diaries, sketchbooks, and oral history interviews. On the subject of art in America, the Archives is the largest archives in the world holding more than 20 million documents. The Archives is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a regional center in New York City. The primary purpose of the position is to support the acquisition of regional collections and operations of the Archives' New York office.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Archives Technician plays a critical role in supporting the collecting, administrative, and public-facing activities of the Archives of American Art’s New York office. Reporting to the Head of Collecting, the incumbent assists with the acquisition and pre-processing of archival collections, supports donor communication and outreach, and provides office coordination and technical assistance. This position also contributes to public programs and exhibitions, enhancing engagement with the Archives' collections and mission.

In this position, you will conduct the following duties and responsibilities:

• Archival Collecting and Pre-Processing
• Office and Technical Support
• Outreach and Engagement Assistance

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Library and Information Science, Museum Studies, or a related field preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience in an archival, museum, or administrative setting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional demeanor and discretion.
• Experience with archival handling, packing, and basic cataloging procedures.
• Familiarity with oral history practices and audio-visual equipment is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and digital asset management systems preferred.
• Ability to lift and transport boxes and archival materials as needed.

HOW TO APPLY: CV/Resume must include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. CV/Resume must include the month and year of all degrees earned; professional and relevant volunteer experience; peer-reviewed publications; competitive funding received; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional societies; presentations given at national/international meetings; and names, addresses, and phone numbers of four persons familiar with your scientific stature, contributions, and recognition. Earned, academic degrees must be verified with copies of official university transcripts that clearly state the classes taken, degree awarded, the major, and date of conferral.

CV/RESUME MUST CLEARLY IDENTIFY HOW YOU WILL FULFILL THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE TO BE CONSIDERED. Failure to provide this information and documents will result in your application receiving no further consideration.

A cover letter can be included with the application materials to summarize the applicant’s training, experience, and interest in the position.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume and cover letter will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.