What are the responsibilities and job description for the Conservation Specialist position at Cesar Chavez Foundation?
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Summary
The National Chavez Center's Archives Department is a growing department in charge of overseeing the physical and digital assets of the legacy of Cesar and Helen Chavez. The National Chavez Center archives aims to consolidate, stabilize, preserve, and make accessible these primary sources to support the organization's efforts to integrate the organizational history into their everyday decisions and the efforts to share this knowledge with others. The Archives Department is seeking a meticulous and organized Conservation Associate to support the growing archival operations of our institution. The Conservation Associate will assist in managing, preserving, processing, digitizing, and providing access to our archival collections. This role will have a heavy emphasis on decontamination, re-housing, and pest management.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.
Share
Tweet
Share
Summary
The National Chavez Center's Archives Department is a growing department in charge of overseeing the physical and digital assets of the legacy of Cesar and Helen Chavez. The National Chavez Center archives aims to consolidate, stabilize, preserve, and make accessible these primary sources to support the organization's efforts to integrate the organizational history into their everyday decisions and the efforts to share this knowledge with others. The Archives Department is seeking a meticulous and organized Conservation Associate to support the growing archival operations of our institution. The Conservation Associate will assist in managing, preserving, processing, digitizing, and providing access to our archival collections. This role will have a heavy emphasis on decontamination, re-housing, and pest management.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Collection Management: Assist in the cataloging and classification of archival materials, including documents, photographs, and digital files.
- Preservation: Implement conservation techniques to ensure the physical and digital preservation of records. Monitor the condition of collections and report any issues.
- Decontamination and Rehousing: Collaboratively create and oversee plans to decontaminate and rehouse potentially contaminated archival items to temperature-controlled and supervised locations.
- Pest Management: Oversee the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management plan across multiple archival repositories to protect archival assets from further contamination.
- Construction Planning: Collaboratively create and present preservation plans for the renovation or new construction of archivally safe collection spaces.
- Research and Retrieval: Assist researchers and staff in locating and accessing archival materials. Provide reference services and respond to inquiries about the collections.
- Data Entry and Maintenance: Update and maintain archival databases and catalog records. Ensure data accuracy and integrity.
- Organization: Help organize and arrange archival materials according to established guidelines and best practices.
- Administrative Support: Perform clerical tasks such as filing, scanning, and labeling. Assist with inventory management and preparation of reports.
- Compliance: Adhere to legal and institutional policies related to records management and data protection.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Library Science, History, Archives Management, or a related field preferred.
- Experience: Previous experience working in archives, libraries, or a similar setting is encouraged.
- Physical Requirements: Ability to lift and carry archival materials (up to 50 lbs) and perform tasks involving standing, bending, reaching, and carrying items for extended distances.
- Work Conditions: Typical office environment with occasional need to work in storage areas. May involve working with materials that require special handling.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.