Archivist II - Audiovisual Archivist

City of Austin•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. Under limited direction, processes archival collections and City of Austin records, provides reference services to the public, and provides public programs. Job Description: Archivist II Purpose: Under limited direction, this position processes archival collections and City of Austin records, provides reference services to the public, and provides public programs.

Requirements

Knowledge of archival and Encoded Archival Description standards, issues, practices, and trends.
Knowledge of reference tools and procedures.
Knowledge of records management issues and practices.
Knowledge of digital imaging issues and trends, especially in regard to archival practice.
Knowledge of electronic records management and preservation.
Skill in processing/arranging archival collections.
Skill in oral and written communication including presentation.
Skill in organizing and interpreting historical records for public presentation.
Skill in using computers and related software, including Microsoft Office products.
Skill in prioritizing work assignments.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with City employees and the public.
Ability to use and apply standards for archival description, cataloging, and networked resource sharing for archival objects and descriptions.
Ability to appraise records for archival and/or historical significance.
Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Master’s degree in Library or Information Science, or related to the assigned program from an ALA accredited university, with specialization in archival enterprise and/or administration, plus two (2) years professional experience working in an archives, library, museum, or other cultural heritage institution
Master’s degree in History/Public History with coursework in archival administration, or a Master’s Degree in a related field, may substitute for the required Master’s degree in Library or Information Science.

Nice To Haves

Experience with legacy audiovisual collections and playback equipment
Experience troubleshooting to solve technical problems.
Ability to determine preservation priorities and expertly perform preservation best practices for a wide range of analog audiovisual materials.
Experience leading large-scale digitization projects, establishing and adhering to digitization workflows and file naming conventions, and knowledge of video codecs and best practices for encoding video files for preservation and access.
Experience managing large sets of digital assets in a digital asset management system, ensuring files are organized and accessible, and experience creating metadata records for archival objects.
Experience answering archival/historically-related reference questions from the public.
Demonstrated commitment to implementing outreach activities highlighting Austin’s diverse communities.
Demonstrated commitment to proactively promoting and embracing diversity in ideas, people, and organizations, and to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Responsibilities

Appraises, organizes, processes, catalogs and conserves archival collections and materials.
Curates one or more of the collection units (Periodicals, Maps, Recordings, Photos, etc.) by making selection and acquisition decisions, processing and cataloging materials in that unit.
Compiles finding aids, reference guides, articles, statistics and reports
Provides archival reference and research services.
Assists with the acquisition and appraisal of collections by helping to determine whether the collection or acquisition is suitable for inclusion in the AHC collections; generally done under supervision of the AHC manager or a supervisor
Provides public liaison activities including lectures, media appearances and interviews.
Explains research policies and procedures, demonstrates research methods, explains the use of reference materials/equipment and explains fees to customers.
Coordinates and conducts meetings, training, tours, and public programs to the public and staff.
Assists in planning exhibits by organizing and interpreting historical records for public presentation.
May serve as the collections registrar by registering donations into the collection (this is an archives and museum function) and maintaining donor records]
Serves as ‘in-charge’ staff person in management’s absence.