Griffith Observatory Foundation

Institution/Company Organization Type - Museum or other Cultural Heritage
Position Title - Archiving Consultant
Position Type - Full-Time, Temporary
Benefits - No
Salary Range - $45,000-$55,000
Is ACA Certification required or preferred? - Preferred
Able to apply if a provisional CA or agree to take CA exam within 1 year of hire? - Yes

Title: Archiving Consultant
Location: Los Angeles, CA (On-site)
Status: Contract, Full-time, Four months

Griffith Observatory Foundation is the exclusive non-profit partner of Griffith Observatory, which is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department. Our mission is to support and promote Griffith Observatory as a home for science literacy, education, and public astronomy through resource development and advocacy in partnership with the community.

The Foundation is seeking to contract an experienced, self-directed archivist to survey Griffith Observatory’s extensive collection of artifacts, photos, and historical documentation and create a comprehensive, actionable plan for establishing and maintaining an organized and easily-accessible archive. Griffith Observatory has conducted a preliminary inventory of its collections, but they are not systematically organized, fully cataloged, consistently digitized, or easily searchable. The Observatory does not have any staff with formal archive training or experience. 

The final deliverable will be a detailed, actionable strategic archiving plan that: addresses efficient and standardized systems for the cataloging, storing, and tracking of collections, using appropriate archival and museum best practices; outlines how to best make the archive accessible to staff in the near-term and to the public in the future; proposes which archiving software to purchase and identifies any operability issues; determines storage needs; and identifies financial and staffing needs for each component of the plan and for long-term archive maintenance.

The strategic archiving plan will form the basis of Griffith Observatory Foundation’s next grant application, due in November 2024, which will request funding for the execution of the plan and the establishment of the archive. 

The job is on-site at Griffith Observatory (2800 East Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90027) full-time, from July 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

Master’s degree in library and information science, archives management, or a related field
10+ years of experience in archival work with demonstrated expertise in collections management and preservation
Experience with all aspects of the archiving process 
Proficiency with archival software and cataloging systems
Knowledge of current best practices in digitization and digital preservation
Strong organizational and project management skills
The ability to work independently
Knowledge of observational data, scientific records, and specialized materials relevant to an observatory is a plus

RATE: $13,750 per month for four months

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please email a letter of interest and resume to development@griffithobservatoryfoundation.org with the subject line “Archiving Consultant.” The application deadline is June 14, 2024.

Griffith Observatory Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, as such applications are encouraged from all persons, regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical/physical/mental condition, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the criteria. Griffith Observatory Foundation encourages you to break that statistic and apply.