Archives Collection Management Assistant

Location

Halifax, NS | Canada

Job description

Archives Collection Management Assistant
Catholic Diocesan Centre
Halifax, NS
Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

(offer of summer employment are contingent on government funding approval)

Job Description:

Accountability : The Archives Assistant directly reports to the Archivist

Summary:

Through a government student grant program, the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth is looking to hire an Archives Collection Management Assistant with us for a 10 weeks placement starting April until the end of August. This position is ideally suited for a student with an interest in Library and Information Sciences, Religious Studies, History, Sociology, creative writing, or other Humanities. The student will be working in a faith-based environment and must possess a well-rounded knowledge of and respect for the teachings and structure of the Roman Catholic Church. The candidate need not be a practicing Roman Catholic.

In keeping with the government grant, applicants must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status in Canada, legally entitled to work in Canada and must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the work assignment. The successful candidate must be able to commit to the full duration of the work assignment (summer through the end of August) and have been a full-time student in the past semester and planning to return to full time studies in the fall.

Duties and Responsibilities :

(Main functions but not limited to the following)

• The student will be called upon to assist with a complete re-organization of our Archival storage space. The collection was moved from another building to this one in 2019. The configuration of the shelving and arrangement of material at that time has, over time, proven to be less than ideal. Additionally, as the collection has grown and the space has not, the need to re-configure the space has become more pressing.

• The student will work with the Archivist to implement a re-organization plan currently in its development stage. Shelving will need to be emptied, dismantled, moved and reconstructed. The material housed therein will need to be re-shelved, in a more cohesive manner, so as to make the retrieval of material for researchers more efficient.

• Working closely with the Archivist, the student will also assist in the “culling” of duplication of material within the collection and the condensing of boxes so as to create more available storage space. The student may also be called upon to assist in the appraisal and processing of backlogged material. Once the re-configuration of storage space and shelving of material has been completed, the Archival storage location database will need to be updated to reflect the new configuration. This database will then be able to function as a finding aid for staff and researchers. This student may be called upon to assist researchers as need arises.

Key Competencies

• Possess above average attention to detail
• Ability to cope with tedium and repetitive tasks
• Ability to physically lift up to 50 lbs
• Fluency in English required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Possess a well-rounded knowledge of and respect for the teachings and structure of the Roman Catholic Church
• Must be able to read cursive writing.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality
• Must meet the requirements of grant application details
• Previous archival or library experience would be an asset
• Working knowledge of the principles of archival practices, sound knowledge of archival/record-keeping concepts, principles and theory, and skills in the application of archival/recordkeeping.
• Ability to work independently.
• Competency in word-processing, computer and data base function
• Demonstrated research, analytical, organizational and planning skills and the ability to prioritize and work well in a high-pressure, multi-task environment and as part of a team, with the ability to shift between and among different initiatives

Note:

Offer of employment is contingent on Canada Summer jobs funding approval and on upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of references and credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer.

Responsible Ministry:

The person who fills this position is required to consent to a Police Record Check and to sign an agreement to abide by the Responsible Ministry protocols of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

Apply:

Please email a cover letter and résumé outlining your qualifications and experience and why this position appeals to you to with Archives Collection Management Assistant in the subject line. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications will be accepted until position is filled .

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Salary