CURRENT OFFERINGS:
LEAD ARCHIVIST – New York, NY
ARCHIVIST – Rockville, MD
LEAD ARCHIVIST – New York, NY
The Winthrop Group is conducting a personnel search for a full-time Lead Archivist to work in the business archives of a Fortune 500 company. This is a 24-month contract with the potential for extension, subject to client requirements and other considerations. The Lead Archivist will be based onsite at the company’s headquarters in New York City, with some work at an offsite storage facility in New Jersey. Employment is subject to a background screening and signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Position Summary
The Lead Archivist will be responsible for upgrading the operations and services of the Archives, implementing a prioritized workplan that aligns with organizational priorities, and managing the day-to-day operations of the Archives. Tasks will include archival processing, digitization management, fulfilling reference requests, and supporting special projects. The Lead Archivist will serve as the primary onsite contact for client stakeholders and will collaborate closely with other Winthrop colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
Initial Assessment and Planning
- Meet with stakeholders to understand priorities, aspirations, and opportunities for the Archives
- Evaluate inventories, processes, and work completed to date for potential improvements
- Survey physical and digital collections to assess arrangement and description, identify processing/digitization priorities, preservation concerns, and collection strengths and weaknesses
- Prepare recommendations and prioritized workplan in collaboration with Winthrop team
Upgrade Operations and Archival Services
- Establish and/or revise workflows and other processes to expand access, use, and preservation
- Develop Mission Statement, Access Policy, and Collecting Policy
- Process archival materials and develop finding aids and other access tools
- Respond to reference requests and conduct archival research
- Promote heritage communications and outreach through content development, exhibits, tours, writing, and anniversary projects
Digital Archives & Digitization
- Implement a new ACMS in coordination with Digital Archivist and selected vendor IT team
- Expand access by improving metadata, discovery tools, and online resources
- Manage digitization of high-priority materials by outsourced vendor
- Develop and implement a process for transferring and processing born-digital assets to the Archives
- Advise, as needed, on software needs for collection management, exhibits, digital asset management, and digital preservation
Collection Storage & Space Planning
- Develop plan for onsite collections storage and workspace
- Oversee onsite and offsite storage in collaboration with Facilities and offsite storage vendor
- Coordinate transfer of records to/from offsite storage, as needed, with offsite vendor
Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as primary liaison between the archives, client stakeholders, and Winthrop team
- Meet on regular basis
- Submit brief monthly status updates
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues in coordination with Winthrop team and client liaison
Required Qualifications
- MLS/MLIS with a concentration in archives or other graduate degree with Certificate in Archival Studies or ACA certification
- Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in archives
- Minimum of 1 year in a supervisory or leadership role
- Project management experience
- Substantial archival processing experience
- Demonstrated track record of implementing archival standards and best practices
- Knowledge of preservation and conservation standards for archival collections
- Capacity to manage time effectively in a dynamic, high-paced corporate setting while maintaining productivity and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with precision and clarity, both orally and in writing, and collaborate with multiple teams across a large organization
- Unwavering commitment to privacy and confidentiality
- Proven experience working independently and collaboratively with non-archivist stakeholders
- Capacity to evaluate the effectiveness of archival services and adapt to changing user needs and/or priorities
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and software for organizing, managing, and preserving archival collections
- Ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 pounds
Preferred Skills
- Experience working in business archives or corporate setting
- Experience managing or launching an archival program
- Knowledge of and/or interest in the history of banking and financial services
Compensation & Benefits
Annual: $72,000 - $90,000 commensurate with experience. Includes strong benefits package (health, dental, and vision) and life insurance. All full-time Winthrop employees receive paid time off and annual funding and support for professional development.
Application Instructions
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three references to careers@winthropgroup.com with the subject line “Lead Archivist – New York City”
About The Winthrop Group
Founded in 1982, The Winthrop Group provides professional archives and history services to nonprofits, businesses, foundations, museums, educational institutions, performing arts organizations, families, and individuals. We help our clients capture, organize, preserve, and learn from their pasts, creating valuable resources of knowledge and insight with a multitude of practical applications.
EEO Statement
Winthrop welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status, or ability. Members of communities historically underrepresented in the archival profession are encouraged to apply.
ARCHIVIST – Rockville, MD
The Winthrop Group is seeking an experienced Archivist to establish the archives program for a mission-driven nonprofit that has been a leader in social enterprise for over 120 years. This full-time, salaried position is expected to begin in July 2025 and will last for 12 months. Work will take place at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Rockville, MD and at a nearby offsite storage facility.
The Archivist will work closely with a client liaison and Archives Committee, providing monthly updates and bi-annual reports. The role also involves close collaboration with an Archives Intern, Winthrop Digital Archivist and Senior Archivist, the latter of whom will oversee the project and provide both onsite and remote support from New York City.
Responsibilities
Archives Governance
- Collaborate with client stakeholders to identify and establish an Archives Committee to provide oversight;
- Draft and implement foundational policies, including a Mission Statement, Collecting Policy, and Access Policy;
- Meet regularly with stakeholders and Winthrop archivists involved with project;
- Prepare brief monthly updates for client liaison;
- Attend annual meeting with the Archives Committee to review progress, priorities, and upcoming initiatives.
Collection Management & Other Tasks
- Develop and implement a prioritized work plan aligned with organizational goals;
- Consolidate, weed, rehouse, and stabilize archival records;
- Process and catalog high-priority collections to enhance discoverability, use, and long-term preservation;
- Select and implement a Collections Management System (CMS) with Digital Archivist support;
- Improve physical collection storage conditions in coordination with Facilities staff;
- Manage digitization projects with third party vendors;
- Leverage the organization’s DAM to expand access to historical resources, in partnership with Digital Archivist;
- Develop metadata standards and controlled vocabularies for archival materials and digital assets;
- Potential travel to Boston for short-term work supporting the nonprofit network;
- Respond to reference requests from staff;
- Support content development, outreach, and tours.
Required Qualifications
Candidates for this role should possess the following qualifications:
- MLS/MLIS with an archival concentration or a related graduate degree with a Certificate in Archival Studies or ACA certification
- Minimum of 3–5 years of professional archives experience
- Strong archival processing experience
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including leadership, communications, IT, and facilities teams
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize competing tasks
- Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solutions-oriented mentality
- Familiarity with digital asset management systems, metadata standards, and digitization workflows
- Experience developing digital exhibits
- Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills
Preferred Qualifications
The following will also be considered:
- Experience in a nonprofit or corporate archives with a nationwide presence
- Experience working with non-archivist stakeholders
- Knowledge of or interest in social enterprise
- Experience working with committees or advisory groups
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $64,000 - $76,000, commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Annual professional development funds
Application Instructions
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three references to careers@winthropgroup.com with the subject line: “Archivist – Rockville, MD.”
About The Winthrop Group
Founded in 1982, The Winthrop Group provides professional archives and history services to non-profits, businesses, foundations, museums, educational institutions, performing arts organizations, families, and individuals. We help our clients capture, organize, preserve, and learn from their pasts, creating valuable resources of knowledge and insight with a multitude of practical applications.
EEO Statement
Winthrop welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences, and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status, or ability. Members of communities historically underrepresented in the archival profession are encouraged to apply.
