Cisco Archivist

Computer History Museum; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Computer History Museum seeks an Archivist to manage day-to-day Center for Cisco Heritage operations, handling acquisitions, oral history program administration, reference services, and digitization. You will oversee cataloging, digital preservation, and exhibit support in a hybrid setup with 40% onsite work.

The role demands a Masters in Library Science or related field with archival emphasis and at least 3 years in an archive, museum, or library, plus strong organizational and communication

Qualifications

• Masters in Library Science, Public History, or Museum Studies with archival emphasis
• 3 years progressive experience in an archive, library, historical society, or museum
• Familiarity with preservation and conservation standards for archival and museum collections (digital and physical)
• Willingness to embrace new technologies and processes for streamlined archival practices
• Experience in manuscript processing
• Experience creating, capturing, and processing images and documents digitally
• Knowledge of intellectual property issues
• Experience with relational databases and/or content management systems
• Experience with descriptive standards and metadata schemas
• Experience providing reference services
• Interest in computing history
• Detail-oriented and flexible
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to lift 40 lbs and climb ladders

Responsibilities

• Take a leadership role in the Center for Cisco Heritage outreach
• Implement and manage an oral history program
• Direct and respond to reference requests related to the Center for Cisco Heritage collection
• Survey, acquire and accession incoming donations
• Assist in archival procedures, workflows, and metadata/cataloging
• Assist in processing or cataloging archival collections
• Supervise and train interns, engage in reference services
• Digitize materials according to professional practices
• Compile quarterly statistical reports
• Support CHM and Cisco events or exhibits as needed
• Other duties as assigned
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Organize resources and establish priorities
• Apply archival principles and practices
• Act as a lone arranger spanning corporate and museum workflows

Job description

Classification: Exempt, Full time, 1-year contract with benefits and open to renewal, Hybrid - with 40% onsite work

Department: Collections & Exhibits

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Corporate Archives Coordinator, the Cisco Archivist will manage the day-to-day operations of the Center for Cisco Heritage. Primary duties will include acquisitions, outreach, implementing and managing an oral history program, research, reference, and exhibit maintenance. Other duties will include processing or cataloging historic materials, database management, digital preservation functions, and digitization.

Responsibilities

• Take a leadership role in the Center for Cisco Heritage outreach at Cisco;
• Implement and manage an oral history program;
• Direct, facilitate access to and respond to all external and internal reference requests related to the Center for Cisco Heritage collection;
• Survey, acquire and accession incoming donations;
• Assist in the creation of archival procedures and workflows including access, metadata, cataloging, processing, and digital content;
• Assist in the processing or cataloging of archival collections;
• Supervise and train interns, engage in reference services;
• Digitize materials according to accepted professional practices;
• Responsible for compiling quarterly statistical reports;
• Support Computer History Museum and Cisco special events or exhibits as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities
• Knowledge and ability to apply archival principles and practices
• Flexibility in being a lone arranger spanning both corporate and museum workflows

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• Masters in Library Science, Public History, or Museum Studies, with archival emphasis
• 3 years progressive experience working in an archive, library, historical society, or museum
• Familiarity with preservation and conservation standards for archival and museum collections both digitally and physically
• Willingness to embrace new technologies and processes for streamlining traditional archival practices
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in manuscript processing
• Experience creating, capturing, and processing images and documents digitally
• Knowledge of intellectual property issues
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and implementation of relational databases and/or content management systems
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and implementation of descriptive standards, metadata schemas
• Experience providing reference services
• Interest in computing history
• Detail-oriented and ability to be flexible
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to lift 40 lbs. and climb ladders

Preferred

• Experience working in a corporate archives setting
• Experience in exhibit creation
• Experience managing an oral history program
• Experience working with interns
• Fully sponsored Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Partially sponsored Health dependent costs
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with employer contributions
• 403(b) retirement plan with 1:1 employer matching
• Fully sponsored Life and Disability Insurance
• Employee Discounts in museum store and onsite cafe

About CHM

At the Computer History Museum our mission is to decode technology—its computing past, digital present, and future impact on humanity. From the heart of Silicon Valley, we share insights from our research, our events, and our incomparable collection of computing artifacts and oral histories to convene, inform, and empower people to shape a better future.

At CHM, we believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success. We provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Our Values

At CHM, we strive to create a culture that is collaborative, caring, and fun, where we hold ourselves accountable, look for the best in each other, and learn together. We value integrity, inclusiveness, innovation, communication, and curiosity.