Assistant Manager (The People's Archive)

Certifiedarchivists; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 86,533 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Annual and sick leave

Job summary

A prominent public library system in Washington, DC is seeking an Assistant Manager for The People’s Archive. The role involves managing technical services for archival materials, developing project plans, and overseeing staff workflows. The ideal candidate has a Master’s degree in Library Science and experience in urban public library settings. Join us in preserving diverse stories and serving all members of the community.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in managing department operations.
• Experience in urban public library providing oversight.
• Comprehensive knowledge of digital archives standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical services for archival materials.
• Develop project plans for resource optimization.
• Oversee daily workflow of subordinate staff.

Skills

Knowledge of archives best practices

Project planning

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to manage staff

Education

Master's degree in Library Science or related field

Tools

Digital asset management systems

Job description

Job Summary

For the past decade, the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) system has been undergoing an aggressive transformation to modernize its facilities and set the strategic direction for 21st century public library services in the District of Columbia. DCPL’s physical campus includes 25 neighborhood libraries and the newly modernized Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (Central) Library.

DCPL’s goal is for all District residents, regardless of income, educational attainment or geographic area, to have the opportunity to grow, excel and become successful contributors to their communities and society. As such, the Library is committed to introducing new programs and services and customizing its offerings to better serve each neighborhood – particularly in ways that help those who need it the most.

The Assistant Manager will work in The People’s Archive at the central facility of DC Public Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, managing the team providing technical services for digital and physical archival materials. This position will be under the direction of The People’s Archive Manager and will work closely with the Assistant Manager of the reference team. The Assistant Manager will assist in building and implementing procedures that support the department’s overall goals. The mission of The People’s Archive is: to connect you to unique resources that illustrate the District of Columbia’s local history and culture. We are a home of discovery, where diverse stories - past and present - are preserved and amplified.

The primary responsibility of this position is to provide welcoming services to all customers in an urban public library. Libraries at DCPL are an integral part of dynamic, overlapping communities, which includes both people who live in and travel through our neighborhoods. This can sometimes mean working with customers experiencing different kinds of trauma, including housing and food insecurity, joblessness, inadequate health care, substance use, and mental health challenges. This has the potential to manifest in challenging, and unfortunately, sometimes intimidating behavior in patrons of all ages. The ideal candidate is passionate about providing equitable public service for all members of the community and will be able to set appropriate boundaries as needed.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the department’s effort to optimize resource discovery; provide access; and preserve our digital and physical materials.
• Maintain comprehensive manuals for accessioning; processing; metadata creation; and other technical processes.
• Develop project plans to optimize resource discovery, access, and preservation; and ensure the team meets all project milestones.
• Oversee and implement programs and services that support the library’s overall goals.
• Plans, directs, and coordinate, through management level staff, the work plan for assigned functions.
• Coordinate and oversee the day‑to‑day workflow of subordinate staff in the department.
• Oversee caseload for subordinate staff. Provides regular feedback and evaluation to staff.
• Assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; provide direction and supervision on key projects.
• Assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training.
• Work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures. May hire and train new staff or assist supervisors with this process.
• Assist Manager with employment actions, including performance reviews, discipline and termination of employees in accordance with policy.
• Monitor departmental performance, identifying and facilitating opportunities to increase productivity and efficiency.
• Assist with data management and management of community resource information.
• Manage inventory, approving or facilitating purchases as needed; negotiate related pricing contracts and verify costs and receipts.
• Manage conflicts and resolve complaints about or within the department. Liaise between managers, customers and employees; help create and foster a respectful and inclusive team environment.
• May fill in for Supervisor in times of absence. Make executive decisions, hold meetings and provide accountability.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Library Science, Education, Social Work, Community Engagement/Development, History or related plus a minimum of two (2) years of experience in managing the operations of a department and/or organization preferred. Experience working in an urban public library providing oversight and delivering innovative services within a central library environment or diverse urban environment preferred or at least 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level. In addition, the following is required:

• Comprehensive knowledge of archives and digital archives best practices, standards, technologies, and trends.
• Experience managing information management systems; including digital asset management systems (DAMS).
• Proven ability to plan and execute complicated, long‑term projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of program development, supervision, public administration, operations, services, and activities including the organization, functions, and problems.
• Knowledge of documentation, evaluation, measurement and accountability practices.
• Skill in planning, organizing, coordinating the work of lower level staff.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Skill and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to report facts accurately in a concise, logically, and objective manner.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Residency Requirement

A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Educational Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney position in the Excepted Service (series 950) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10‑point residency preference over non‑District applicants, unless the person declines the preference points. If selected the person shall be required to present no less than 8 proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7‑year period will result in forfeiture of employment.

General Suitability Screening

This position is subject to general suitability screening; verification of employment history, reference checks and degree/license, as applicable. The appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory general suitability screening.

Enhanced Suitability Screening

The position for which the individual is applying has been identified and designated as requiring enhanced suitability screening; If tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check, traffic record check, consumer credit check, and mandatory drug and alcohol test will be conducted (as appropriate); and the appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory enhanced suitability screening.

Benefits

Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government's retirement plan. However, if selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re‑employment.

Licenses and Certifications

• Digital Archives Specialist (administered by SAA) or Certified Archivist as administered by the Academy of Certified Archivists, preferred.

Working Conditions/Environment

The work is performed in an office setting.

Other Significant Factors

Type of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service (MSS).

MSS At‑Will Statement: Positions in the Management Supervisory Service (MSS) serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under a collective bargaining agreement.

Promotion Potential – None

Appointed Salary - The selected incumbent will be appointed at the appropriate salary rate of a MSS 12 based on the DPM's guidelines.

Budgeted Salary - This position is budgeted for the minimum salary of $86,533 to a maximum salary of $98,000.

NOTE: We appreciate every applicant’s interest. However, only those who meet the qualifications and are considered by the hiring committee or interview panel will be contacted for the next steps in the recruitment process.