Project Archivist (NPS, Yellowstone National Park)

The Great Basin Institute • Gardiner, MT

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) at Yellowstone National Park, is recruiting one Project Archivist for the Cultural Resources Program and Yellowstone team. The position supports the park’s archives program and works under the direction of the NPS Supervisory Museum Curator. Its primary focus is assisting with the processing, digitization, and access of archival and manuscript collections. Duties also include preventative preservation, reference services, and staffing the library reference desk one shift per week. The role is full time at 40 hours per week, with a schedule of either four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days. The anticipated duration is six months, with a start date as soon as possible.

The position is duty stationed in Gardiner, Montana, at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The area experiences summer temperatures averaging about 75 degrees and below-freezing temperatures at other times. The job is primarily indoors and office-based, with a usually low noise level and occasional exposure to heat, cold, and temperature changes. Government housing may be available for around $400 per month, but is not guaranteed.

Compensation is $29.57 per hour. Benefits include company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with an option to upgrade coverage), and vision insurance premiums; $25,000 in basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost; sick leave; holidays; and access to Pro Deals. Employment is contingent on successfully completing a pre-employment background check. The successful applicant must complete a Department of the Interior Background Investigation or provide NPS Human Resources documentation of an active, fully adjudicated investigation before starting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to archives or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of archival arrangement and description practices.
• Knowledge of archival standards such as Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Library of Congress Subject Authorities, and/or Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative (FADGI).
• Experience applying basic preservation techniques such as archival rehousing, humidification, and/or encapsulation.
• Knowledge of archival digitization processes and metadata development, and skill in conducting bibliographic research and locating relevant primary resource materials.
• Experience working with diverse researchers or customers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, members of the public, and agency personnel.
• Self-motivation, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills to plan and complete assigned work within defined timelines.
• Flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities with a positive attitude.
• Ability to work productively, consistently, and cooperatively, independently or as part of a team, to accomplish shared goals.
• Clean, valid state-issued driver’s license.
• Ability to perform prolonged deskwork; lift and move heavy items weighing 50 pounds or more; and regularly walk and drive between facilities.
• Must complete a Department of the Interior Background Investigation or submit documentation to NPS Human Resources showing an active, fully adjudicated investigation before beginning the position.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of More Product, Less Process (MPLP) and/or extensible archival techniques.
• Experience assisting with the arrangement and description of large collections.
• Experience working with government or institutional records.

Responsibilities

• Arrange archival materials in logical groupings or incorporate additions into existing series, revise and update descriptions, and create container lists according to professional standards, agency guidelines, and institutional best practices.
• Conduct basic preservation work, including rehousing, humidification, and encapsulation.
• Enter descriptive data in the Museum Collection Management System (MCMS) and update narrative finding aids.
• Assist with oversight of a National Archives and Records Administration affiliate.
• Perform in-house digitization, including preparation, scanning, editing, and metadata development.
• Maintain internal documents, data, and reports.
• Perform weekly and monthly archives housekeeping tasks.
• Act as project lead for archives projects.
• Assist the museum, archives, and library team with monthly Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Respond to onsite and distance reference requests, staff the reference desk, monitor researchers, research and answer specific queries, and help researchers locate relevant materials.
• Assist with outreach, including leading public tours and writing social media posts.
• Participate in team meetings and provide status updates and project data as needed.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Supervisory Museum Curator or other designated leadership.

Benefits

• Company-paid comprehensive medical insurance premiums.
• Company-paid dental insurance premiums, with an option to upgrade coverage.
• Company-paid vision insurance premiums.
• $25,000 basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost.
• Sick leave.
• Holidays.
• Access to Pro Deals.
• Government housing may be provided for around $400 per month; availability is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time