Lead Archivist, CHHC Project (Storytelling) Fixed-Term

National Geographic Society; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On‑Site Flex

Job summary

National Geographic Society seeks a Lead Archivist for the CHHC Project to guide archival assessment, processing, and community‑engaged work across multiple formats in collaboration with source communities.

Reporting to the Project Director, you will lead a four‑person team, design survey instruments, and ensure ethical, legal, and cultural restrictions are applied, with work anchored in Washington, DC base camp and Lanham, MD, through 2032.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of management experience in GLAM or related institutions with archival processing leadership.
• Experience with archival, museum, and library systems and standards (e.g., DACS).
• Ability to manage community engagement within archival projects.
• Experience with digitization programs and workflows.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan strategy and guidelines for archival assessment and processing with community participation.
• Lead a four‑person archival processing team and describe collections with source communities.
• Catalog collections using Axiell and apply legal, ethical, and cultural restrictions.
• Preserve, prepare and digitize items in line with community wishes.
• Facilitate in‑person and remote collection consultations.
• Report progress and roadblocks to the CHHC Project Director.

Skills

Management experience

Archivist expertise

Team leadership

Writing and communication

Community engagement

Organizational skills

Knowledge of digitization workflows

Education

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Tools

Axiell cataloging system

Survey instruments

Workflow trackers

Digital asset management systems

Discovery interfaces

Job description

How You’ll Contribute

The Storytelling team works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, and data visualization. As one of the largest funders to individual storytellers in this work, it also identifies key grantmaking, and fellowship opportunities with creative talent. Much of the team's programmatic activity is focused on identifying and building capacity for the next generation of diverse storytellers. National Geographic Society’s Special Collections chronicle more than 138 years of Society history through historical documents, maps, oral histories, audio and video recordings, photographs, artifacts, and media assets from our current Explorer‑led science, storytelling, and education programs. Special Collections shares the story of National Geographic Society's past and present by expertly managing its unique archival, media, and information resources. We seek to create a more inclusive narrative by inspiring users to engage with and build on these materials. The Center for Human Histories and Cultures will transform the Society’s archives into a living, collaborative platform for research, digitization and global engagement. Through partnerships with descendant communities, scholars and institutions, the Center will ensure that our collections reflect a more inclusive and contextualized record of humanity.

Lead Archivist, CHHC Project – Role Overview

Reporting to the Project Director for the Center for Human Histories and Cultures (CHHC), the Lead Archivist, CHHC Project will work as part of an embedded project team to plan and execute a strategy for multi‑format archival assessment and processing that incorporates the participation of communities represented in the archives. Working closely with CHHC Project and the existing Special Collections team of archivists, digital asset managers, and user services professionals, they will lead a four‑person team in conducting a collection survey, organizing, and describing archival collections in consultation with source communities, and applying appropriate legal, ethical, and cultural restrictions. The role involves preserving physical items and preparing them for digitization, and participating in collection consultations.

Initial work will take place at National Geographic Society’s basecamp in Washington, D.C. A future, additional worksite will be established in Lanham, MD where the archival processing team will be expected to spend full days, alternating with the basecamp location as scheduled. The Lanham work location is not accessible by company‑provided or public transportation. Travel by car will be a requirement.

This is a fixed‑term role ending on December 31, 2032.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

Project Management and Strategy Development (30%)

• Plan a strategy and develop written guidelines for archival assessment and processing that incorporates the participation of communities represented in archives.
• Advise on the design of a survey instrument, collection management and digital asset management system enhancements, and discovery interfaces.
• Lead an archival processing team of four in conducting an archival survey and assessment, and organizing and describing archival collections in consultation with source communities according to standards developed by the Project team.
• Develop an approach for gathering and managing restrictions and access to collections and other community‑defined prerogatives for the management of cultural collections.
• Make the necessary arrangements for the processing team to work in a safe, convenient, and comfortable manner.
• Track progress on collection survey and processing goals and report on both progress and roadblocks to the CHHC Project Director.

Archival Assessment and Processing (60%)

• Conduct an archival survey and assessment, and organize and describe multi‑format archival collections in consultation with source communities.
• Create, and oversee the creation of, processing plans.
• Catalog collections using Special Collections’ collection management system, Axiell, using methods informed by source community wishes.
• Apply appropriate legal, ethical and cultural restrictions to archival materials.
• Preserve and store physical items and identify and prepare items for digitization, with respect to source community wishes.
• Participate in and facilitate in‑person and remote collection consultations.

Professional Development and Networking (10%)

• Remain apprised of emerging best practices in shared‑collections stewardship, repatriation, cultural knowledge management, and source community engagement.
• Promote the CHHC project internally and externally through communications, conference presentations and other outlets.
• Maintain relationships with professional and peer organizations undertaking similar initiatives.

Educational Background

Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Minimum Years And Types Of Experience

3+ years of management experience and 7+ years of progressive responsibility in Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) or related institutions with demonstrated experience leading archival processing projects.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Experienced processing archivist, with demonstrated management ability.
• Experienced with using and designing archival, museum, and library cataloging systems, survey instruments, workflow trackers, digital asset management systems and discovery interfaces.
• Knowledgeable about the application of archival descriptive standards like DACS.
• Experience processing text‑based records, photographic and AV material.
• Knowledgeable about digitization programs and workflows.
• Ability to identify and apply restrictions to institutional records and cultural material.
• Highly organized with excellent writing and communication skills.
• Adept at respectful communication with source communities with the ability to translate community wishes into technical solutions.
• Ability to manage the physical demands of archival processing, such as climbing ladders, lifting 20‑lb record cartons, pushing carts, exposure to dust and other irritants, and periodically working in storage facilities.

Desired Qualifications

• Grasp of best practices while comfortable with innovation and out‑of‑the‑box thinking.
• Strong team leader, able to direct and motivate staff.
• Comfortable with managing multiple demands as part of a highly collaborative, informally matrixed team.
• Experience implementing concepts from established and emerging literature and best practices for cultural material management and community engagement such as NAGPRA legislation, SAA’s “Protocols for Native American Archival Materials” and “Principles in Indigenous Archival Repatriation”; School for Advanced Research’s “Guidelines for Collaboration,” “Standards for Museums with Native American Collections,” and “Indigenous Collections Care Guides,” CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, and “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

Supervision

3 direct reports.

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry‑specific market data for similar‑sized nonprofit organizations. The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The salary range for this position is $95,000.00–$100,000.00.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (may not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre‑tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer‑paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

On‑Site Flex – Staff members who must be physically present at Base Camp to do the vast majority of their work supporting overall building and museum operations. On‑Site Flex staff hours are determined in consultation with supervisors, and are responsive to the needs of the MOE and other building operations, often including non‑traditional (M‑F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) work hours.

Employment Eligibility

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.