Community Engagement Archivist

The Community Engagement Archivist will play a key role in crafting practices of communally accountable institutional memory and stimulating dialog with Williams students, faculty, staff, and alumni about the relationship of local history to broader themes. The history of Williams College and its relationship to land, labor, and systemic inequities serves as a lens through which to support a wide range of curricular and extracurricular programs. The Archivist will oversee collection development and all aspects of campus and public engagement with the College Archives, including instruction, exhibits, and creative co-curricular programming. We also recognize that facing complex issues within our history and culture is necessary for sustaining an equitable, just, and environmentally responsible community. The Archivist will support research on institutional and local history and facilitate the communication of such research. The position reports to the Head of Special Collections in the Library and participates in the operations of the Special Collections Department.

• Builds relationships with alumni and other potential partners to develop the collections of the College Archives.
• Leads the Oral History Program with a focus on historically marginalized networks and individuals whose voices enrich our understanding of the College. Sets priorities and coordinates and trains alumni volunteers and student employees.
• Collaborates with campus and community partners (including the Stockbridge Munsee Community, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Center for Learning in Action, and the Williams College Museum of Art, among others) on programming and engagement relating to institutional and regional history.
• Develops and expands relations beyond the Williams campus in collaborative history projects.
• Collaborates in the operation of the Special Collections Department including research service, facilities and security maintenance.
• Leads instruction sessions on research with special collections materials, independently and in collaboration with faculty.
• Trains student assistants; plans, directs, and supervises student assistants, fellows, and interns.
• Keeps abreast of national and international developments in the archives and/or public history professions; establishes a record of service to the Libraries, the College, and the profession. Prioritizes professional development and training related to diversity equity and inclusion.

• Graduate degree in public history, library science, or equivalent advanced degree. We may consider candidates with relevant experience and a degree in progress.
• Programmatic leadership or project management experience.
• Superb people skills, patience, empathy, and the ability to bring diverse constituents and perspectives together.
• Experience in outreach and engagement, instruction, and interpretation of cultural heritage while connecting with a broad range of audiences.
• Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability.

Application review will begin on February 2, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Pay range is from $65,000 to $85,000, commensurate with experience. Job band 2-D. This role is eligible for visa sponsorship.

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable.

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597-2681 or email at hr@williams.edu.