Lead Archivist, CHHC Project (Storytelling) Fixed-Term

How You’ll Contribute The Storytelling team works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, and data visualization. As one of the largest funders to individual storytellers in this work, it also identifies key grantmaking, and fellowship opportunities with creative talent. Much of the team's programmatic activity is focused on identifying and building capacity for the next generation of diverse storytellers.

National Geographic Society’s Special Collections chronicle more than 138 years of Society history through historical documents, maps, oral histories, audio and video recordings, photographs, artifacts, and media assets from our current Explorer-led science, storytelling, and education programs. Special Collections shares the story of National Geographic Society's past and present by expertly managing its unique archival, media, and information resources.

We seek to create a more inclusive narrative by inspiring users to engage with and build on these materials. The Center for Human Histories and Cultures will transform the Society’s archives into a living, collaborative platform for research, digitization and global engagement. Through partnerships with descendant communities, scholars and institutions, the Center will ensure that our collections reflect a more inclusive and contextualized record of humanity.

Reporting to the Project Director for the Center for Human Histories and Cultures (CHHC), the Lead Archivist, CHHC Project will work as part of an embedded project team to plan and execute a strategy for multi-format archival assessment and processing that incorporates the participation of communities represented in the archives. Working closely with CHHC Project and the existing Special Collections team of archivists, digital asset managers, and user services professionals, they will lead a four-person team in conducting a collection survey, organizing, and describing archival collections in consultation with source communities, and applying appropriate legal, ethical, and cultural restrictions.

The role involves preserving physical items and preparing them for digitization, and participating in collection consultations. Initial work will take place at National Geographic Society’s basecamp in Washington, D.C. A future, additional, worksite will be established in Lanham, MD where the archival processing team will be expected to spend full days, alternating with the basecamp location as scheduled.

The Lanham work location is not accessible by company -provided or public transportation. Travel by car will be a requirement. This is a fixed-term role ending on December 31, 2032. Your Impact Responsibilities Include: Project Management and Strategy Development (30%) With the CHHC Project Director and team, plan a strategy and develop written guidelines for archival assessment and processing that incorporates the participation of communities represented in archives.

Advise on the design of a survey instrument, collection management and digital asset management system enhancements, and discovery interfaces. Lead an archival processing team of four in conducting an archival survey and assessment, and organizing and describing archival collections in consultation with source communities according to standards developed by the Project team. With the CHHC Project team, develop an approach for gathering and managing restrictions and access to collections and other community-defined prerogatives for the management of cultural collections.

In close collaboration with Special Collections’ Archival Collections subteam, make the necessary arrangements for the processing team to work in a safe, convenient, and comfortable manner. Track progress on collection survey and processing goals and report on both progress and roadblocks to the CHHC Project Director. Archival Assessment and Processing (60%) As the lead of a four person processing team, conduct an archival survey and