Digital Records Archivist

The Digital Records Archivist is responsible for the strategic planning, collections management, and daily operations of the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s physical and digital archives. This includes the development and implementation of archival policies and procedures.

Located in Behchokǫ̀, within the Department of Culture and Lands Protection (Dedats’eetsaa: Tłı̨chǫ Research and Training Institute), under the direction of the Manager, Research Operations, the Digital Records Archivist will develop and maintain Tłı̨chǫ Nàowoò Deghats’etsaa: The Tłı̨chǫ Cultural Commons Digital Archive (TCCDA). TCCDA is a central digital location for Tłı̨chǫ cultural knowledge, and contains over six terabytes or over 100,000 files worth of audio, video, photos, maps and documents, with the archive still growing.

The Digital Records Archivist takes an innovative approach to archival management, with the inquisitiveness, flexibility, and drive to promote and enhance preservation of and access to the TCCDA. The Digital Records Archivist manages and promotes archival collections, develops partnerships, implements best practices, and serves as a leader and a peer, responding to and working with a wide variety of requests from colleagues, communities, researchers, and the general public.

As the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s lead for archival collections and services, the successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal skills and practical technical knowledge to coordinate the preservation and access of archival records in diverse formats including photographs, maps, electronic records, sound recordings, written records and other.

The Digital Records Archivist will specifically help to develop and implement the standards, workflows and processes for a digital archives program enabling the effective acquisition, description, access, management and preservation of a broad range archival content.

Conducts research and advises on an archival program for digital records.

• Researches and recommends methodologies and standards for ingest of digital records.
  
• Researches and recommends methodologies and standards for the administration and management of digital records.
  
• Researches and recommends methodologies and standards for the provision of access to digital records.
  
• Researches and recommends standards and protocols related to technical architecture, metadata schema, data structures, and file formats necessary to preserve digital records.
  
• Researches and recommends file and data preservation strategies related to migration, preservation and accessibility to ensure acquisition, preservation, maintenance and accessibility of authentic, reliable, and useable digital records.
  
• Provides advice on the technical framework (including technical infrastructure, software tools, metadata schema, data structures, and file formats) related to the digitization of analogue records.

Oversees the design and implementation of a relational archival database management system (including engagement of contracted database developers) that:

• Is capable of different levels of access, privacy and security;
  
• Is compatible with Tłı̨chǫ-language materials, including Tłı̨chǫ and Dene unicode fonts;
  
• Has the capacity for map-based searches; and
  
• Stores all information on Tłı̨chǫ Government’s internal servers located in the Northwest Territories.

Conducts collections management activities for the holdings of the TCCDA.

• Coordinates the transfer of digital materials from a variety of current and legacy media formats such as tape, floppy disks, CDs, and hard drives. This work will require collaboration with colleagues and external vendors.
  
• Analyzes and interprets legislation, archival theory and general professional guidelines in conjunction with institutional policies and procedures to ensure activities are completed in accordance with professionally accepted principles.
  
• Maintains descriptive and administrative controls according to institutional and professional standards and practices.
  
• Monitors the physical state of archival records and provides for its maintenance as needed.
  
• Updates and maintains current database of holdings.

Arranges and describes recorded information

• Accessions archival information to established standards.
  
• Creates finding aids, guides to the holdings and descriptive inventories to established institutional and professional standards.
  
• Analyzes and develops methods of arrangement based on established archival practice.
  
• Appraises, selects, arranges, and describes recorded information to appropriate levels.
  
• Prepares descriptive information for dissemination.

Provides reference services and promotes access to holdings, including developing an expanded online presence.

• Assists with identifying appropriate archival information.
  
• Supervises, mentors and assists colleagues, community members, interns and others on projects to provide access to digital content. This requires demonstrating an inclusive approach to other stakeholders’ ideas.
  
• Manages TCCDA’s online presence, implementing a strong user-centred approach and interaction with the DCLP website and other communications media.
  
• Coordinates efforts to promote and highlight content through collaboration with colleagues.
  
• Participates in or leads internal/external meetings, training sessions, task forces and/or committees.

Depending on the project, this position may be required to collaborate with independent contractors, resource people, post-secondary students and other researchers conducting research in the region, as well as occasionally coordinating the work of interns in training programs, summer students, casual workers and other staff.

The Digital Records Archivist typically has the following educational background, work experience, knowledge and skills:

• Master’s degree in Archival Studies, Information Studies, Archival and Library Studies, or another graduate degree in a relevant field.
  
• Minimum of 1 year work experience in archives and 1 year work experience working with relevant digital tools, technology and metadata standards in an archival repository.
  
• Thorough knowledge of archival standards and practices related to digital records including the ingest and management of digital records; technical requirements for digital preservation including hardware, software and file formats; and the provision of access to digital records.
  
• Understanding of the deterioration and preservation of archival materials.
  
• Cataloguing skills.
  
• The ability to interpret and analyze archival theories and principles.
  
• Practical experience with one or more platforms, computer database or management systems used to manage and provide access to archival collections, such as Access to Memory.
  
• Experience documenting and/or revising archival management policies and procedures.
  
• Experience developing research guides, exhibits, or other tools to promote and support use of archival and manuscript holdings.
  
• Experience providing reference and research services to colleagues and the public.
  
• Ability to relate to a wide range of users in order to provide the appropriate resources and/or services.
  
• Strong analytical, planning and organizational skills.
  
• Ability to conduct research and write reports and proposals.
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work as part of a team and with Tłı̨chǫ Elders;
  
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work in stressful situations amongst projects with changing deadlines, emerging issues and conflicting demands;
  
• A strong interest in and preferably knowledge of Tłı̨chǫ history, geography, language, culture and way of life.
  
• An understanding of the Tłı̨chǫ Government, its programs and services;

The Digital Records Archivist is expected to demonstrate the following:

• Ability to work in cross-cultural settings with a wide variety of people.
  
• Ability to work independently on multiple tasks with minimum supervision.
  
• Ability to make effective decisions under pressure and meet tight timelines.
  
• Willingness to work overtime as necessary when directed.
  
• Willingness to travel locally, regionally and nationally on behalf of the Tłı̨chǫ Government.
  
• Ability to sit for extended periods.
  
• Ability to focus and attend to details for extended periods of time.
  
• Ability to work in and manage stressful situations.
  
• Ability to make effective decisions and solve problems.
  
• Ability to work with confidential material.
  
• May need to perform light physical labor such as lifting archival boxes.
  
• May be exposed to mouldy and dusty materials, which have the potential to create respiratory discomfort and/or other health hazards.

During the performance of his/her duties, the incumbent may gain knowledge of personal and/or confidential information related to the employees, leadership and or business of the Tłı̨chǫ Government. The incumbent will not use for his/her own benefit, or divulge to any persons, firm, company, government or other organization, any confidential information gained as a result of this position.

To apply, submit your resume + cover letter or to request Job Description, email [email protected]