Archive & Photo Collections Specialist

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

History Colorado's Archive and Photo Collections Specialist works with the Head of Collections Management and Registration and colleagues in the Curatorial Services and Collections Access Department, to preserve and care for History Colorado’s large holdings of archive and photographic collections. They will work to manage the physical storage and tracking of collections, ensure the best standards of preservation, and work to improve collections accessibility for the organization and public.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Library Science (or related degree) with a minimum of 1 year of practical museum experience OR Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of relevant practical experience
• Ability to obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license
• Handling, storage, and experience with large collections or high volumes of activity at a medium to large institution (or comparable experience)
• Experience working with a range of collection types
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with collections management databases, metadata standards, and cataloging standards common to museums and archives, strong experience with Argus preferred
• Knowledge of or ability to learn Colorado history and history of the American West
• Knowledge of museum collection standards and conservation practices including the standard agents of deterioration, their effects on different types of artifacts, and how to best mitigate their effects (theft, fire, water, temperature, relative humidity, pests, light, contaminants, etc.)

Nice To Haves

• Proven application of collections management skills and inventory, survey, and inventory projects
• Strong ability to make decisions, be self-directing and work independently, and show motivation
• High level of proficiency with collections management databases
• Strong storage organization skills
• Collections management experience with large collections or high volumes of activity at a medium to large institution (or experience that is comparable)
• Experience in project management, meeting deadlines, and flexible multi-tasking in a fast-paced and sometimes ever-changing environment
• Innovative and/or motivated approaches for collections outreach and providing access to collections, especially with workflow
• Effective communication and cooperation with other museum staff, especially curatorial staff
• Ability to direct collections management tasks or make comparable decisions with or in absence of a supervisor

Responsibilities

• Provide high levels of accountability and collections stewardship for entire collection
• Rehouse new archival and photographic acquisitions brought into the collection by curatorial staff
• Work to improve current collections storage conditions and formats
• Conduct regular inventories of collections based on need and project demands
• Work with staff to manage large and small collections projects such as surveys, moves, rehousing, conservation/preservation priorities, etc.
• Work with various equipment to create archival quality scans of documents, maps, photographs, negatives, and other formats
• Provide recommendations and advice on archives management to other staff in the department as well as throughout the organization
• Work closely with History Colorado collections management database, Argus, to improve catalog records and ensure proper tracking of collections
• Periodically help to process new acquisitions of archives and photographs
• Work with Head of Collections Management and Registration to create, implement, and uphold policies and procedures
• Provide high level of project management
• Assist with collections and exhibit projects at community museums throughout the state
• Contribute towards the department’s various outreach and engagement efforts
• Provide behind the scenes collections storage tours
• Periodically travel to destinations across the state for outreach events and programs
• Create programming for any of the department’s established programs, including Museum Connections, How-To, and Meet the Collection
• Supervise contractors, interns, and volunteers

Benefits

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• State of Health employee wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level