Assistant Curator And Archivist

Position Summary

Assists in the responsibility of processing, storage, digitization, preservation, finding aids, access, reference, and outreach for archival records. Scans photographic images and archive items in support of the museum and for archival preservation purposes. Assists in maintaining and developing the Corporate Archives collection. Works as directed in the development and planning of the Erie Insurance Heritage Center.

• There are two (2) positions available

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates in vital records identification and protection activities for disaster recovery to support business continuity.
• Acts as Assistant Curator for a large and valuable collection of ERIE records, materials, artifacts and special collections, such as the H.O. Hirt and Hirt/Hagen Family Collections, photographs, other related materials. Participates in appraisal of records for permanent retention and evaluates preservation needs and related projects, such as imaging for paper and electronic records. Determines under guidance the document acquisitions, transfer and deaccessions.
• Conducts research and assists in responding to research inquiries from internal and external sources. Locates and delivers requested information to meet business needs.
• Assists in the implementation of the Erie Insurance Heritage Center museum's vision, mission and plans (strategic, business, project, action). Works to establish partnership and links with related archives, museums, historical societies and colleges and universities.
• Provides assistance in the development of education and outreach activities and participates in planning and design of exhibits of material, signs and labels supporting exhibits, web resources and tour scripts for the Erie Insurance Heritage Center museum.
• With direction, scans photographs, archives records and images at a fundamental level and archives these items in support of the collection. Ensures the organization and storage of documents is within designated guidelines.
• Assists in the responsibility for the care of a large collection of company records, photographs, quotations and other related material, including projects to digitize the collection.
• The first four duties listed are the functions identified as essential to the job. Essential functions are those job duties that must be performed in order for the job to be accomplished.
• Assists in the development and design of various types of marketing outreach, take-always, publications, brochures, and reproductions, and changes to the museum website.
• Supports the Director and Exhibit Specialist in all aspects of their job duties.
• This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor, or as become evident.
• Assists in the chronological maintenance of company milestones and historical events and changes and participates in company anniversary planning activities.
• Participates in continuing education programs, and attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations within program area.

Competencies

Qualifications

The minimum education and experience requirements are as follows:

• Associate’s degree in art, history, museum science, information management, or any social science field, and two years’ experience required; or
• Bachelor’s degree in art, history, museum science, information management, or any social science field required; or
• High school diploma and four years' experience required

Graduate degrees in related subjects and professional designations in insurance and museum subjects, preferred. Some exposure to archival, museum, public library, public history environment or maintaining college/business historical materials, preferred. Knowledge of digitization standards and best practices and with procedures and guidelines regarding proper archival document handling required. Working knowledge of database software, word processing and spreadsheet software, required. Knowledge of presentation software, preferred.

All Erie Employees with a telecommuting arrangement in which they consistently work remotely during part, or all, of their work schedule must have in their regular remote work location, access to business class internet service providing 3 megabytes (3 MBs) or more of bandwidth. For this purpose, business class internet means internet service with a static IP address, dedicated connections and guarantees or service level agreements (SLAs) addressing relevant performance characteristics. The internet service bandwidth requirement is subject to revision from time to time based on the requirements of ERIE’s systems.

Physical Requirements