• be intellectually curious about Cranbrook’s history and eager to develop an in-depth knowledge of the community’s people, places, and events;

• serve as a portal, not a gatekeeper, to the Archives’ collections with the goal of facilitating new discoveries and knowledge;

• have a writing portfolio that gives clear evidence of superlative writing skills that can engage the general public and scholars alike;

• be comfortable speaking in front of audiences, from students to trustees, and excited about developing public programs that bring Cranbrook’s archival collections to life;

• be eager to work with the Center’s Director to create a new, permanent, state-of-the-art home for the Archives;

• have a proven record of writing successful grants and the ability to effectively partner with the Center’s Director and Director of Development to help raise funds for the Archives and its projects;

• have a deep understanding of the archival field’s best practices and be able to apply them at Cranbrook;

• keep current on legal, ethical, and copyright issues related to managing archival collections;

• have knowledge of existing and emerging digital technologies, an understanding of how technology has and continues to transform archives and digital scholarship, and the willingness to work aggressively towards the goal of a digitally searchable and digitally accessible Cranbrook Archives;

• take a proactive role in seeking out and acquiring new collections, both paper and digital, about key Cranbrook alumni, employees, friends, associates, and events with the goal of creating a permanent record of Cranbrook’s rich and diverse history;

• take the lead in developing a campus-wide strategy for preserving Cranbrook’s digital records; and

• be an inspiring team leader among the archivists, a generous collaborator with colleagues across Cranbrook’s divisions and departments, and a respected leader in the regional archival community.

• SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Head Archivist directly supervises archivists, interns, and volunteers. The Archives paid staff currently includes a part-time Archivist (20 hours/week), Associate Archivist (32-hours/week) and a temporary grant-funded Archives Assistant (approximately 20 hours/week).

The Head Archivist position requires a Master’s degree in Public History, History, Library Science, Information Science, Art History, or a related field with a minimum of seven years professional archival experience and three years administrative experience in an archival setting. Candidates need to have a deep understanding of the archival field’s best practices and their application. The position requires computer proficiency and knowledge of existing and emerging digital technologies, as well as extensive experience with digital database management. Knowledge of current metadata standards (EAD, Dublin Core, DACS, MARC21) and experience with CONTENTdm, OCLC, and Linked Open Data are highly preferred. Candidates also will have strong oral and written communication skills, including a proven record of writing successful grants. A valid State of Michigan driver’s license, a satisfactory driving record, and the use of a personal automobile are required to manage collections at various campus destinations.

This is a full-time, full-year position, with normal work days Monday through Friday. Periodic evening and weekend hours will be required to help the archivists staff the Archives reading room (which currently is open to the public the second Saturday of each month) and help implement programs and special events. Cranbrook offers a competitive salary and benefit package that includes medical, dental, life, and retirement.