The Yale Center for British Art seeks a museum archivist to lead and manage the Center’s Archives as a professional
repository dedicated to the histories of British art, Paul Mellon, and the Yale Center for British Art. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Research in the Research Division, the Chief Archivist will be responsible for all aspects of the Archives, including
records management, collection development, accessioning, description, preservation, and access to the Center’s archival holdings. The Chief Archivist will manage and execute these activities in accordance with current national archival standards and practices
and will refine and implement policies and procedures in support of the collections.
The Chief Archivist will develop a dynamic museum archives fully integrated into all of the museum’s functions. The postholder will work in tandem with the museum’s curatorial departments
on acquisitions and cataloging initiatives and in consultation with its Conservation department on preservation-related activities. The postholder will forge programmatic relationships to further share and promote the Center’s archival collections by way of
exhibition and publication opportunities, the Center’s visiting scholars program, and its educational programs. The Chief Archivist will work closely with the Center’s IT department to implement technology-related initiatives, including those pertaining to
records management, born-digital records, and digital preservation, and assist with the Archives’ use of shared archives systems such as ArchivesSpace and Preservica. The postholder will also coordinate with staff members in the Collections Information and
Access, Communications, Imaging, and Study Room departments to provide access to and promote the Center’s archival collections to diverse audiences.
The Chief Archivist will directly supervise staff members, graduate research assistants, interns, and student assistants. The postholder will be responsible for the department’s annual
budget and for establishing priorities and fulfilling goals for the department as well pursuing funding opportunities, including grants. The postholder will manage the storage and transport of archival collections across the Center’s buildings and off-site
storage locations and will ensure that policies and protocols are in place for their care. The postholder will provide reference and research services related to the archival collections. The Chief Archivist will employ creative strategies along with rigorous
standards to advance the mission of the Archives.
Yale University offers substantial opportunities for collaboration, including working with other special collections units across Yale. The postholder also will liaise with institutions
outside of Yale including those associated with Paul Mellon.
This position will be assigned a rank of Librarian 3 or Librarian 4. Librarian ranking information can be found below.
Dept/Section URL
Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent accredited degree, with formal training in archival theory and practice and 5 years of professional experience. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in museum studies or a related discipline in the humanities or social sciences may be substituted for a master’s degree in library science.
Required Skill/Ability 1:
Experience arranging and describing or providing public services for manuscript and/or archival collections.
Required Skill/Ability 2:
Demonstrated knowledge of current national data content and structure standards related to the archival control of collection materials. Demonstrated knowledge of archival and library management systems.
Required Skill/Ability 3:
Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment.
Required Skill/Ability 4:
Demonstrated job or school experience with basic preservation and conservation standards for archival and manuscript collections.
Required Skill/Ability 5:
Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion.
Extensive professional experience in a museum archives. Master’s degree in art history.
Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 40lbs and climb ladders.