Preservation Hall Foundation is the non-profit arm of Preservation Hall. Our mission is “Protect, preserve and perpetuate New Orleans music and culture.” The Foundation supports an important part of New Orleans musical past and present through the programs of Education, Community Engagement, Legacy and Archives. The remarkable archival collections document 60 years of music, performance, and life at Preservation Hall. It includes artworks, artifacts, costumes, musical instruments, photographs, papers, and audiovisual materials. 

As the inaugural PHF archivist, the position is focused on organizing, rehousing, and processing the varied and unique Preservation Hall physical collections. Currently housed in storage units, the collection will be moved to a renovated archives space in 2- 3 years. The archivist is responsible for developing management policies and processing collections. A grant-funded holistic preservation assessment was recently completed, which has outlined next steps toward rehousing and processing. 

The Archives Manager position will report to the Foundation Executive Director and work closely with the Programs team.

Duties:

50% 

• Implement procedures for the rehousing of collections and continued preservation activities.
• Develop and implement procedures and workflows for anticipated collections move to a new space.
• Develop policies around collection management, accessioning, and access.
• Arrange and describe archival materials in multiple formats and prepare online finding aids.
• Supervise interns and staff.

20%

• Prioritize, oversee, and participate in accessioning, arrangement, and description archival collections in physical formats.
• Develop, implement, and maintain preventive collections care programs, such as environmental monitoring and integrated pest management.

20% 

• Research and write grant proposals for funding opportunities.

10% 

• Collaborate with staff of Preservation Hall Foundation to determine goals and priorities.
• Meetings and administrative duties.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree and formal coursework or training in archival management and preservation, or a combination of education and experience.
• Experience working in an archives setting for 3 - 5 years.
• Experience in accessioning, arrangement, processing and description of archives, manuscripts, and multi-format collections, including audiovisual and photographic materials.
• Familiarity with content management systems such as ArchiveSpace, or an ability to learn new systems and technologies.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and online document sharing applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and understanding of archival theory and practice, national standards, relevant legal and ethical regulations and best practices that govern the arrangement, description and use of archival materials, including EAD, DACS, and MPLP.
• Knowledge of preventive preservation programs, such as environmental monitoring and pest management.
• Familiarity with audiovisual preservation, both physical and reformatting best practices.
• Experience with project management.
• Experience with supervising staff and managing budgets.
• Sensitivity to matters of confidentiality, copyright, and other policy and legal aspects of managing and providing access to personal information, creative works and other archival materials.
• Enthusiasm for or familiarity with New Orleans history and musical culture.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching. 
• The position may require occasional lifting of products weighing up to 20 pounds

Compensation

• Salary Range: $55k-$65k, commensurate with experience
• Full benefits package