Careers at American Ancestors

Position Description: 

The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center (JHC) at American Ancestors is an archive and educational center dedicated to collecting and preserving New England Jewish history, exploring Jewish heritage, and advancing understanding of the American Jewish experience. The JHC holds more than four million documents in its collections pertaining to New England Jewish individuals, families, businesses, and institutions, and has a digital archive of more 700,000 searchable documents.

Reporting to the JHC Executive Director, the Collections Management Archivist oversees and provides physical and intellectual management of the JHC’s archival collections; sets collection policies and procedures; manages the Digital Archivist and interns; manages the ArchivesSpace repository; and manages relationships and communications with collection donors, often in partnership with the Executive Director. The Collections Management Archivist is responsible for processing collections and updating processing and digitization priorities for the archive as needed. This is an exciting opportunity to have an impact on the use and focus of the JHC’s collections and to be a key member of the JHC team. 

This is a full-time, exempt, position located at our headquarters on beautiful Newbury Street in Boston. Some of our outstanding benefits include; medical, dental, vision, generous paid time off, paid holidays, 403(B) retirement, AFLAC, and much more!

The successful candidate will start on or after December 15, 2024.
     

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collections Management
• Prioritizes workflows and develops processing plans for archival collections.
• Manages the JHC ArchivesSpace repository, including creating and updating new finding aids, and interfacing with vendor.
• Manages and updates, as needed, policies and procedures such as collection policy, preservation projects, processing procedures, and access policies, in agreement with the Executive Director.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, identifies and cultivates relationships with prospective individual and institutional collection donors.
• Evaluates potential new archival collections, and recommends areas for collection growth and expansion. 
• Ensures proper provenance is recorded for all donations; completes Deed of Gift and Accession process; ensures that all collections are appropriately housed and inventoried. Manages off-site transfer of collections and relationship with storage vendor.
• Tracks environmental controls in archive to ensure proper storage conditions are maintained, and does periodic assessments of overall conditions.

Collections Processing

• Maintains physical and intellectual control of and access to archival collection resources through processing and documentation.
• Inventories, researches, arranges, describes, rehouses, and labels physical archival materials.

 Digital Archives and Reference 

• Manages and coordinates digitization projects with Digital Archivist.
• Develops procedures for born digital materials in collections with Digital Archivist.
• Creates resource materials for reference use, such as Subject Guides. 
• Manages and provides reference services to on-site researchers, and remote reference via email and phone.

Management

• Supervises the JHC Digital Archivist; oversees digital archive procedures and policies.
• Coordinates processing and digital archives projects for hire, and supervises interns.
• Coordinates graduate interns with Simmons MLS program’s practicum experience.

Tracking

• Tracks and reports quarterly on collections accessioned, processed, and digitized.
• Reports on monthly volunteer stats to American Ancestors volunteer coordinator.
• Manages archival supply budget

Other

• Gives occasional online and in-person presentations about archival processes or content for JHC and American Ancestors educational programs; collaborates with other JHC and American Ancestors staff on projects as required.
• Works with JHC Programming and Outreach Manager to create facsimiles, educational content, and materials for JHC exhibits and events.
• Collaborates with American Ancestors Collections staff on storage needs, preservation policies, use of collections software, and facility use. 
• Attends/staffs JHC and American Ancestors events as needed.
• Contributes data and archives content, as needed, for communications, proposals, and budgets. 
• Attends weekly JHC staff meetings and other American Ancestors meetings as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education level for the position: 

Master’s in Library Science with a focus on archival management.

Skills and Qualifications for the position:

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archives.
• 3-5+ years of archival work with demonstrated increasing responsibilities.
• Excellent project management skills. 
• Proficient with metadata standards and schema, particularly DACS and Dublin Core.
• Computing and technical skills (Microsoft Office 365, scanning software, photo editing software, Cloud-based storage, XML, HTML).
• Experience processing analog, analog-to-digital, or born-digital collections.
• Experience with online collection management resources, such as ArchivesSpace and CONTENTdm.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others.
• Excellent communication and writing skills. 
• Comfort and ability to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Interest in Jewish history and/or family and community history a plus. 
• Knowledge of Hebrew and/or Yiddish a plus.

To apply, please email a resume and compelling cover letter to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources, mmajor@nehgs.org. 

No phone calls please.

Apply by:

November 29, 2024

Salary:

$58,000 - $61,000 

Function of the Position:  

Reporting to the Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer, the Manager of the Family Heritage Experience serves a critical role in fulfilling American Ancestors’ mission of creating a welcoming and engaging Family Heritage experience. 

On a day-to-day basis, the Visitor Experience team greets and orients visitors, generates revenue through library admission, membership, provides guests with information about American Ancestors and the local area, and assists with initiatives to better understand our visitors. Additionally, the team supports retail operations, contributing to merchandise sales and promoting related products. 

This full-time hourly position is located at our beautiful Newbury Street location in Boston and is not eligible for remote work. The days of this position are Tuesday- Saturday.  Some of our outstanding benefits include medical, dental, vision, generous paid time off, holidays, employee assistance program, and much more!

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise daily operations including opening and closing procedures, visitor support, security, and exhibit maintenance.
• Oversee retail operations, including inventory, merchandising, and sales strategies to maximize revenue and enhance the visitor experience.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive visitor services strategy that supports a carefully curated guest experience and reflects our mission and brand.
• Develop departmental training programs to ensure staff members understand their job responsibilities and deliver a high-quality visitor experience.
• Responsible for the daily staffing schedule.
• Become familiar with AA’s collections, exhibitions, and programs to provide information to visitors and train the Visitor Experience team members.
• Ensure security, monitoring guests as they move through spaces.
• Listen to and resolve visitor questions and issues.
• Consistently manage communication with Visitor Experience Assistants to keep them informed and updated on exhibitions, programs, events and other activities.
• Develop materials and train staff in the cash management process.
• Generate attendance reports for use in various reporting across teams.

Skill and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to oversee complex daily staffing schedule
• Excellent customer service and diplomacy skills with ability to interact with a diverse audience, in terms of age, economic status, and cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strict attention to detail
• Must be able to work a schedule, which includes weekends, some evenings and holidays.
• Experience coaching and evaluating staff in a customer service role.
• 3+ years supervising staff in a fast-paced customer service role within a cultural institution, such as a museum, historical society, or heritage center with experience in retail operations.
• Ability to exercise composure and diplomacy at all times; demonstrate creative problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience in inventory management and merchandising required.
• Experience with YellowDog inventory management software a plus. 
• Interest or experience in the field of genealogy or history a plus.

Education Level:  

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, or a related field.

Please send resumes to Michelle Major, Director of Human Resources mmajor@americanancestors.org

No phone calls please.  

Apply by:

February 21, 2025

Salary:

$60,000