Project Archivist

South Dakota Board of Regents; Brookings (SD); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum is seeking a Project Archivist for a two-year temporary role to lead cataloging and digitization of a 40,000-photograph collection. The position requires strong leadership, attention to detail, and collaboration with the Collections Coordinator to develop processing plans and timelines.

The role is based on SDSU campus in Brookings, SD, with emphasis on applying professional archival practices and metadata standards (DACS, Dublin Core).

Qualifications

• Experience in archives, museums, or cultural heritage settings.
• Ability to arrange, describe, preserve, catalog and digitize materials to professional standards.

Responsibilities

• Arrange, describe, preserve, catalog and digitize visual materials.
• Supervise student assistants and interns.

Skills

Archivist experience

Detail-oriented

Leadership

Digitization

Cataloging

Metadata standards

DACS Dublin Core

Job description

Join the Agricultural Heritage Museum as a Project Archivist and play a key role in preserving and expanding access to our historical collections. This temporary, two-year position will oversee the project of cataloging and digitization of a 40,000-photograph collection. This includes working with the Collections Coordinator in developing a processing plan and establishing an achievable timeline. We are seeking a detail-oriented professional with strong leadership skills who thrives in a collaborative environment.

SDState is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities.

The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum’s mission is to inspire a passion for the diverse history, culture, and science of agriculture in South Dakota. Its vision is to connect multi-generational audiences to the importance of agriculture to their daily lives. It is the official State museum for preserving the history of agriculture and rural life of South Dakota as well a department of South Dakota State University.

This position is located in the historic Stock Judging Pavilion on the SDSU campus in Brookings, South Dakota.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Job Responsibilities

• Arrange, describe, preserve, catalog and digitize visual materials in accordance with professional archival standards and national best practices.
• Supervise student assistants and interns.

SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university’s guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Working in archives, museums, or other cultural heritage settings
• Professional standards and best practices for digitization, digital asset management, and preservation of photographic materials. Experience Arranging and describing archival collections and creating archival descriptions and metadata using professional standards and schema, such as DACS and Dublin Core

Skills & Ability to

• Organize, prioritize, and maintain attention to detail while managing multiple projects and records.
• Digitize photographs and negatives and manage digital files in accordance with established professional standards and best practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as critical thinking and active listening abilities.
• Use basic computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases at a proficiency level.
• Train, direct, and delegate work assignments.
• Ability to lift boxes weighing over 40 pounds, climb ladders while carrying boxes, and push or pull fully loaded carts.

Preferred: 2 years of experience in photograph processing.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check. SDState is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land- grant access mission. SDSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits unlawful discrimination of all legally protected classes in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing [e-mail]. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: [phone].

Department Description and Cultural Expectations

SDState is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities.

Contact Information

For additional information regarding this position or questions about the online application process, please contact Human Resources at 605-688-4128.

Working Conditions

Cognitive Requirements

Physical Requirements

Balancing, Bending, Stooping, Twisting, Carrying, Climbing Ladders, Crouching, Fine Finger Manipulation (keyboarding, pipefitting, bench work, etc), Kneeling, Lifting Above Waist, Lifting Below Waist, Lifting moderate, Pushing/Pulling, Reaching, Use of Either Hand, Independently, Walking, Climbing Stairs

Sensory Requirements

Sensory Requirements

Color Vision, Hearing, Near Vision, Speaking, Vision (With and without corrective lenses)

Working Conditions & Exposures

Exposure to Dust, Walking/Standing on wood, metal or concrete

Notice to all applicants: If you are selected as a finalist, job references and a background check may be conducted.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Reference List

Optional Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Reference List

The South Dakota Board of Regents is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Board of Regents will take Affirmative Action to ensure that all employment practices are free of discrimination. In addition, the Board of Regents fully supports incorporation of non-discrimination and Affirmative Action rules and regulations into all of its employment practices. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by contacting the appropriate Human Resources office. Please see the Contact Us section of this webpage for more information.

South Dakota Board of Regents is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

South Dakota Board of Regents
306 E. Capital Ave, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501
605-773-3455