What are the responsibilities and job description for the Strategic Collections Lead position at Heritage Werks, Inc.?
Bring History to Life in Meaningful Ways
Are you an experienced archivist who not only preserves history, but also sees the opportunity to bring it to life in meaningful and impactful ways?
At Heritage Werks, we are seeking a Strategic Collections Lead to play a key role in preserving, organizing, and helping clients use their archival collections in practical, real-world applications. This role goes beyond traditional archival work, offering the opportunity to partner closely with clients and help them leverage their collections for storytelling, brand initiatives, and engagement.
Who We Are
At Heritage Werks, we believe every story deserves to be preserved and shared. We partner with world-class brands, sports organizations, and cultural institutions to safeguard their most meaningful materials and bring them to life in ways that inspire connection.
We preserve history, protect generational legacies, and take a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to making the past relevant for today and meaningful for the future.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will lead and manage complex archival initiatives while serving as a trusted partner to both clients and internal teams.
You will:
- Lead archival projects from initial assessment through organization, cataloging, and final delivery
- Conduct collection assessments and content surveys to evaluate archival needs
- Organize and process archival materials both physically and intellectually
- Perform advanced descriptive cataloging and maintain accurate metadata
- Prepare and review finding aids, inventories, and supporting documentation
- Recommend and apply archival preservation best practices
- Help identify materials for digitization and support prioritization efforts
- Work closely with clients to align archival work with their goals and intended use of materials
- Help translate historical content into practical, usable assets for storytelling and engagement
- Mentor junior team members and support overall workflow planning and execution
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including digitization, project management, and client services
What You Bring
You are a detail-oriented and thoughtful archival professional who is comfortable managing both hands-on work and client-facing responsibilities.
Qualifications:
- 5 years of progressive archival processing and project experience
- MLIS with Archives and/or Cataloging specialization
- Certified Archivist (CA) strongly preferred
- Experience leading archival projects and working with clients or stakeholders
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Comfortable working independently while collaborating across teams
- Proficiency with DAM platforms, databases, and Microsoft Office
- Willingness to travel occasionally for project needs
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and work with physical materials as required
- Willingness to work at any Heritage Werks location based on business needs
Core Competencies
- Advanced archival judgment and decision-making
- Client orientation and consultative communication
- Accountability and ownership
- Focus on quality and precision
- Team leadership and mentorship
- Alignment with company values and project goals
Why Heritage Werks
Heritage Werks is not just about the work—it’s about the people behind it. This is an opportunity to apply your archival expertise in a way that is both meaningful and impactful across a variety of industries.
We offer:
- Opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and diverse projects
- State-of-the-art archival facilities and workspaces
- Generous PTO, paid holidays, and end-of-year winter break
- Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, insurance, and a 401(k) with company contribution
- A collaborative, respectful, and team-oriented culture
Equal Opportunity Employer
Heritage Werks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe no one should be discriminated against based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law. We proudly support veteran employment opportunities for service members and their families.