Archives Technician

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), NMAI's Cultural Resources Center (CRC) in Suitland, MD. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The Archives Technician is responsible for assisting with the arrangement, description, preservation, cataloging and access to NMAI's moderately large archival collections. In this position, you will: Assist the Head Archivist and Archive Center staff in the physical collections management of a wide range of archival materials including but not limited to papers, photographs, film, video, and sound recordings. Be responsible for tracking, rehousing and storing of archival collections; monitoring temperature, relative humidity and storage condition; conducting archival collection inventories, surveys, reorganizing and refiling collections materials among other duties related to the care, preservation and management of archival collections. Process new and legacy archival collections, apply basic preservation methods including removing damaging residue or attachments; rehousing documents in acid free folders and containers; and identifying and maintaining a running list of fragile materials that require preservation treatment and digitization. Describe archival materials for both new acquisitions and unprocessed legacy collections. The description includes well-written and concise finding aids and collection level records entered in Archivists' Toolkit system in accordance with archival descriptive standards including DACS. Prepare small purchase orders to secure supplies and services from outside vendors. Work on administrative and program support tasks including arranging travel for staff and contracted consultants, including scheduling transportation, making hotel reservations, supporting staff en route and preparing travel authorizations and vouchers. Assist the Reference Archivist in providing reference and research services both onsite and remotely, to the public, Native American communities and constituents, researchers, and Smithsonian staff. Assists on-site researchers in the Archive Center reading room by identifying appropriate collections, pulling items, assisting in their use, and refiling them. Answers staff and public inquiries by performing necessary research about archival holdings and responding in a detailed manner via email, phone or letter.

Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

See above under qualifications..