Summary
Winthrop Group is conducting a personnel search on behalf of The Episcopal Church to identify an experienced archivist to lead and advance the Archives of The Episcopal Church and manage a team of archivists. The selected candidate will be employed directly by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (the “DFMS”), the New York not-for-profit corporation under which The Episcopal Church does business and supports its ministries, with Winthrop Group serving in a search and recruitment capacity.
The Archivist will report to the Chief Administrative Officer and serve on the Archives Advisory Committee. The Archivist will collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer, Records Manager, IT Director, and other officers of the DFMS, and the church’s General Convention.
This is an exciting opportunity to guide the Archives during a period of transition into new state-of-the-art headquarters currently under construction and cultivate a program that responds to organizational needs, unlocks institutional memory, strengthens connections with communities, and expands access to a rich documentary heritage.
The role requires substantial professional experience in archives and administration. Overseeing a complex archives program, the Archivist will manage staff, direct policy and program development, and support legal and strategic planning initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Archives Leadership
- Administer the Archives program and associated policies, procedures, and priorities.
- Advise organizational leadership on archives, preservation, access, and information governance matters.
- Collaborate with the Records Manager on records management matters. Provide updates to stakeholders about ongoing work, priorities, and strategic initiatives.
Program and Staff Administration
- Supervise archives staff of 5-6 people, including recruitment, training, performance management, and professional development.
- Administer departmental budgeting, operations, project management, and reporting.
- Coordinate with Operations and IT staff regarding facilities, environmental controls, collections security, and archives software.
Archival Stewardship and Collections Development
- Oversee appraisal, acquisition, accessioning, arrangement, description, preservation, storage, and retrieval of archival records in all formats.
- Identify gaps in the documentary record and collect materials that address underrepresented aspects of the organization’s history.
- Ensure security and appropriate access to archival collections.
- Facilitate rights management, permissions, and access review, when applicable.
Research and Reference
- Provide research and reference service for organizational leadership, governance, legal, communications, and the triennial General Convention.
- Support educational, interpretive, and outreach initiatives that promote awareness and use of the Archives.
Outreach
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders, affiliated organizations, researchers, and external parties.
- Support Church storytelling initiatives using archival resources.
- Enhance internal access to archival resources and expand external visibility through web content, exhibits, publications, and outreach activities.
- Advise departments and affiliated organizations on archives management.
Required Qualifications
- MLIS with concentration in archives, graduate degree with certificate in archival studies or Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) certification
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in archival settings
- Minimum of 5 years supervising staff
- Proven record of building an archives program through strong relationships, communication, and stakeholder engagement
- Demonstrated experience:
- applying archival standards and best practices in various archival domains establishing and administering policies and procedures for archival collections
- researching and delivering reference service
- appraising and processing archival records
- identifying preservation concerns and recommending appropriate treatment using and managing Collections Management Systems, Digital Asset Management Systems, and other discovery tools
- facilitating digitization projects
- Technical aptitude and ability to apply digital tools and systems to archival workflows
- Highly collaborative and able to work with colleagues at all levels of the organization to foster effective working relationships.
- Experience navigating access and confidentiality.
- Flexible problem solver who evaluates results and adjusts approach in response to shifting priorities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and a collaborative approach to working with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently
- Ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 pounds
Preferred Qualifications
- Understanding of Episcopal Church Constitution, Canons and governance structures
- Member of the Episcopal Church or a related denominational body
- Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French
Work Location
The Archivist will work onsite at the Archives in Oakwood, Georgia. During the initial period of employment, the Archivist will work for approximately one week per month in Austin, Texas.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $130,000 – $145,000, commensurate with experience, with generous benefits package
As a condition of employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete successfully all Church-required background screenings and pre-employment checks.
Contact Information
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and contact information for three references to [email protected] with the subject line “Archivist – Oakwood, GA”
