Senior Archivist (PIDG/AR 6)

Key Responsibilities

Professional/Technical 

• Co-ordinates the arrangement, appraisal, and description of large, complex, multi-lingual archival collections according to professional standards and current archival procedures, using databases, office software, collections management software, and other appropriate technologies; 
• Develops in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, marketing/ promotional programmes for the collections; 
• Maintains a system of Finding Aids, in electronic and paper form, in accordance with internationally recognized archival descriptive standards; 
• Accessions, arrangement, and description of archival collections according to recognized archives standards (ICA Descriptive Standards: ISADG, ISDF, ISDIAH, ISAAR-CPF, DACS, EAD, Dublin Core); 
• Arranges public access and use of material for purposes of research, education, and exhibit, in accordance with approved NLJ policies and procedures; 
• Manages the rights and reproduction use of the collections; 
• Participates in the formulation and implementation of project planning, management, and workflow, determine project goals and schedules, and survey archival holdings to identify materials in need of additional attention; 
• Conducts preservation assessments to determine appropriate preservation treatments and archival storage decisions; 
• Identifies and prepares materials for digitization, including managing digital assets; 
• Develops and administers policy guidelines concerning public access to the collections; 
• Research potential acquisitions and make recommendations for collection development;
• Conducts orientations/induction and research consultations to provide instruction on accessing and handling archival materials, organize and deliver tours, course-specific presentations, and information literacy sessions for customers; 
• Assists in reference and retrieval of items requested by users; 
• Monitors researchers in the archive/library use area; 
• Keeps abreast of the changes and techniques in archives management and makes recommendations accordingly; 
• Assists in various aspects of archival work including packing, unpacking and moving boxes;
• Develops, implements and reviews operational systems, policies, and procedures to guide the operations of the NLJ and its Annex; 
• Conducts research to satisfy user needs; 
• Conducts research to determine that gaps in the collection and cascade same for new acquisition to the Collections Development Manager; 
• Develops comprehensive risk management framework and implementation plan as part of the overall business continuity planning process; 
• Prepares preservation and conservation plans to mitigate against endangerment and reputational risk; 
• Curates exhibitions; 
• Plans and organizes workshops, webinar and other training and awareness interventions to promote the collection and NLJ; 
• Develops and implement environmental control and monitoring systems;
• Develops security and safety management systems for both collection and staff;
• Investigates, recommends, and implements new strategies and technologies to address challenges to long-term preservation and access; 
• Identifies and selects materials for repair/restoration; 
• Identifies and selects items for digitalization; 
• Provides training through JAMLIN, throughout all JAMLIN locations island wide. 

Administrative 

• Prepares and submits to the Divisional Director the desk’s Unit Plan; 
• Prepares and submits to the Divisional Director the Workplans for self;
• Compiles and submits monthly, quarterly and annual Branch Reports; 
• Maintains a structured circulation system; 
• Prepares and submits to the Divisional Director, annual estimates of expenditure;
• Manages the inventory of collections; 
• Participates in and maintains professional network that enhances knowledge sharing, growth and development and advances the implementation of best practices through emerging trends/development; 
• Attends and contributes to meetings, conferences relating to information management, library, archive and records management as directed; 
• Keeps abreast of current professional practices and development, information technologies and research applicable to archives management; 
• Interact professionally with a broad range of clients concerning archives projects;
• Co-ordinates the organization’s membership in professional Archivists associations;
• Participates in meetings pertinent to role and function; 
• Co-ordinates to ensure that all legal and regulatory compliance provisions are adhered;
• Co-ordinate to ensure effective and efficient controlled data management and records management; 
• Conducts annual audit of the collection against established Audit Plan;
• Ensures occupational, health and safety plans are embedded in all programmes and activities. 

Human Resource 

• Conducts performance appraisals for direct reports; 
• Assists in the planning and execution of staff training courses; 
• Participates in Head of Branch and other related meetings internal and external to the NLJ;
• Participates in the orientation/induction of new employees, interns, fieldwork students and other joiners to the National Library of Jamaica; 
• Performs other duties, as assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Core 

• Good oral and written communication 
• Good customer & quality focus 
• Teamwork & co-operation 

Technical 

• Acquisition and collection development 
• Cataloguing & classification 
• Data management 
• Information communication technology 
• Leadership 
• People management 
• Planning and organizing 
• Preservation & conservation 
• Public relations and marketing 
• Records management 
• Research and reference skills 
• Training and development 
• Compliance 

Minimum Required Qualification and Experience

• A Masters Degree in Archival studies or 
• A Masters Degree in Library or Information Studies 
• Two years related working experience. 
• Experience working with archival materials in non-traditional formats and of cultural significance. 

Special Conditions Associated with the Job

• Exposure to dust and moldy environment, while wearing the appropriate Occupational Health and Safety protective gear, PPE, provided. 
• Exposure to colder than normal temperature in stock areas. 
• May be required to lift and arrange library material/resources. 
• Required to work outside of normal working hours to include weekends 

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.