Lead Archivist (Temporary)

The HR Team; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) seeks an experienced Lead Archivist for a temporary project in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. You will help process and catalog historic archival collections, mentor the processing archivist, and prepare records for digitization.

This full-time onsite assignment lasts up to five months and requires a Bachelor's degree in History or English, 2–3 years of archival processing experience, and familiarity with DACS, ISAD(G), and EAD-XML, plus ArchivEra.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in History, English, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of archival processing experience.
• Familiarity with archival metadata standards: DACS, ISAD(G), and EAD-XML.
• Ability to learn and work with collections management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Inventory and assess physical and born-digital archival records.
• Develop processing plans and organize, describe, and preserve archival collections using MPLP processing methods.
• Catalog collections in ArchivEra.
• Provide guidance and training to the processing archivist.
• Review completed work for accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Track project progress and provide regular updates to the Project Manager.
• Assist with preparations for future digitization and archival activities.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in History or English

MLIS with archives specialization

Tools

ArchivEra

DACS

ISAD-G

EAD-XML

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About History Associates

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) is a historical research and archival services firm headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Since 1981, we have helped corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and cultural institutions preserve, manage, and share their history.

Our team of historians, archivists, and researchers works on a variety of projects that help organizations protect their historical records and make them accessible for future generations.

About the Opportunity

History Associates is looking for an experienced Lead Archivist to join our team for a temporary project in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

In this role, you'll help process and catalog the historic archival collections of Securian Financial as part of an ongoing effort to build and maintain its corporate archives program.

You'll work alongside another archivist, providing guidance and support while also being directly involved in processing collections, cataloging materials in ArchivEra, and preparing records for future digitization efforts.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys hands-on archival work, has experience guiding others, and takes pride in preserving historical collections.

What You'll Do

• Inventory and assess physical and born-digital archival records.
• Develop processing plans and organize, describe, and preserve archival collections using MPLP processing methods.
• Catalog collections in ArchivEra.
• Provide guidance and training to the processing archivist.
• Review completed work for accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Track project progress and provide regular updates to the Project Manager.
• Assist with preparations for future digitization and archival activities.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in History, English, or a related field.
• 2-3 years of archival processing experience.
• Familiarity with archival metadata standards, including DACS, ISAD(G), and EAD-XML.
• Ability to learn and work with collections management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), with a specialization in archives.
• Experience training or providing guidance to other archivists.

Position Details

This is a full-time, temporary assignment expected to last up to five months. The position requires onsite work in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

Equal Employment Opportunity

History Associates Incorporated (HAI) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. HAI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process.

E-Verify Participation

HAI participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of newly hired employees in accordance with federal law.