Collections Specialist

BAHLT; Miami, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. seeks a Collections Specialist to steward the Foundation's physical and digital repositories, leading digitization of 15,000 prioritized items and developing a workforce pipeline for graduate interns and volunteers.

Responsibilities include managing end-to-end digitization, metadata refinement (DACS), supervision of internships, community preservation training, and integration with the organization's AI platform for public

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library/information science or related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of professional archival experience.
• Experience with digital preservation and metadata management.
• Knowledge of Afro-Caribbean history or South Florida archival context is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end digitization workflow and ensure digital surrogates meet standards.
• Create and refine metadata schemas (DACS) reflecting multi-ethnic archival context.
• Supervise Graduate Archival Internship program and mentor interns.
• Lead Community Preservation initiatives and coordinate with AI-enabled public access.

Skills

Cultural competency

Mentorship

Metadata development

Digitization workflows

Education

Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS)

Tools

Archival management software

High-resolution imaging hardware

Cloud-based DAMS

Job description

Collections Specialist (Archives & Research)

Institution: The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.

Location: Miami, FL

Salary: $60,000 Per Annum (Full-Time/Benefits Eligible)

Reports To: Archive Manager

I. Position Summary

The Collections Specialist serves as the primary steward of the Foundation’s physical and digital repositories. This role is a critical component of the IMLS-funded initiative, "From Preservation to People: Enhancing Collections and Workforce at The Black Archives." The incumbent will lead the digitization of 15,000 high-priority items related to the Black experience in South Florida and the Caribbean, while simultaneously managing a workforce development pipeline for graduate interns and community volunteers.

II. Key Responsibilities

Archival Stewardship & Digitization: Oversee the end-to-end digitization workflow, ensuring all digital surrogates meet FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) standards. Perform high-resolution scanning of fragile manuscripts, photographs, and large-format architectural drawings.

Nuanced Metadata Development: Create and refine DACS-compliant metadata schemas that accurately reflect the multi-ethnic complexities of the African Diaspora in the Tri-County area (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach).

Pedagogical Mentorship: Serve as the primary supervisor for the Graduate Archival Internship program. Provide clinical instruction in archival theory and practice, ensuring interns meet professional competency benchmarks in accordance with IMLS grant goals.

Community Advocacy: Lead the "Peer Preservationist" certification program, training community residents in basic preservation techniques and fostering a "service-focused" approach to community history.

Technical Integration: Collaborate with technical partners to integrate the digital repository with the organization's AI platform, ensuring the archives remain accessible and conversational for the public.

III. Qualifications

Education: A Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), Public History, or a related field from an ALA-accredited institution is preferred. A specialization in Archival Studies or African Diasporic History is highly desirable.

Experience: Minimum of 3–5 years of professional archival experience, with a demonstrated track record in digital preservation and metadata management.

Cultural Competency: A profound understanding of the social, economic, and political history of people of African descent in South Florida and the Caribbean.

Technical Proficiency: Mastery of archival management software, high-resolution imaging hardware, and cloud-based digital asset management systems (DAMS).

IV. Institutional Context

The mission of The Black Archives is: Collect, safeguard, and share the cultural treasures that chronicle the Black experience in South Florida; Inspire the community to cherish and document history; and Use our historic sites as gathering spaces to promote cultural heritage appreciation.

The Black Archives is a legacy institution and a major cultural stakeholder in South Florida. As the owner and operator of our historic campus, we provide a stable and independent environment for archival professionalization. Our status in the community underscores our institutional strength and our commitment to the permanent preservation of the Black narrative.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is an equal opportunity employer. The Black Archives prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, genetics, disability status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.