Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections - Corning Museum of Glass

The Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections is a full-time (40 hours per week) onsite position, reporting to the Manager, Research and Collections Strategy and supervising the Project Archivist, Houghton Family Papers Archivist.

The Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections accessions, arranges, describes, and assists with providing access to and digitizing archival records and manuscript collections held by the Rakow Research Library of the Corning Museum of Glass (Museum), including institutional archives. This position implements user-focused, MPLP-informed descriptive practices for paper-based, analog, digitized, and born-digital materials. The Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections contributes to development and implementation of the institutional archive program. As a member of the Archives and Manuscripts Team, this position supervises project and processing archivists, carries out the team’s web-harvesting initiative, works towards continuous improvement of the team’s processing procedures, and sustains a team culture that is creative, openly collaborative, and dedicated to the unique needs of the Library’s collections and research communities.    

Archives and Manuscripts

• Accessions, arranges, and describes manuscript collections and historic institutional records in accordance with relevant professional standards and local practices.*
  • Determines appropriate levels of description and preservation actions informed by MPLP and specific needs of glass researchers, artists, students, and enthusiasts.*
  • Identifies sensitive information for restriction and removes extraneous materials.
  • Assists in the selection of materials for conservation treatment.
  • Prepares finding aids and agent records in ArchivesSpace.*
  • Prepares MARCXML and container list exports from ArchivesSpace for cataloging staff; works and experiments with emerging tools and standards as appropriate.*
  • Responds to public inquiries about archival collections and provides research support to virtual and in-person researchers.
  • Assists in the ongoing development of the Archives and Manuscripts Team’s processing procedures.*
• Collaborates with Library and Museum colleagues to develop and implement the institutional archive program.*
• Implements the capture of selected websites through Archive-It; monitors crawls, refines crawl parameters, and creates metadata to describe archived websites.
• Works with the Rakow Library Director and the Manager, Research and Collections Strategy to coordinate new acquisitions, including donor and dealer relations.*
• In the absence of the Manager, participates in the Collections Steering Committee for selection of materials for the Library.
• Collaborates with the Library collections management team on all aspects of conserving, digitizing, storing, receiving, and accessing archival materials.*
• Participates in the Library’s digital collections program, ensuring that Archives and Manuscripts materials are appropriately prioritized and prepared for digital access.
• Maintains the processing supply inventory.
• Oversees team member(s)’ work to house, arrange, describe, and assist with access to archival and manuscript collections.*
• Oversees and coordinates relevant work by supplemental staff and contractors as appropriate.*

General Library 

• Participates in the Library’s reference, outreach, and research support programs.*
• Serves on Library, Museum, and professional committees as appropriate.
• Supports the preservation of the collection by demonstrating and promoting the proper handling and storage of Library materials.*
• Actively participates in Library team meetings and serves on matrix teams and work groups, as needed.
• Actively engages colleagues throughout the Museum and promotes the importance of Archives and
• Manuscripts as essential elements of institutional distinction.

Staff Management

• Collaborates with the Manager to hire, train, and supervise staff.*
• Supports the development and effectiveness of the team member(s) through mentoring and coaching; provides growth opportunities as practical.*
• Demonstrates inclusive leadership; ensures effective staff relations based on trust, respect, and teamwork.*
• Encourages open communication with and among staff and conducts themselves in a manner which supports this practice.*
• Leads by example; conducts themselves in an ethical, positive, and professional manner at all times.*
• Is accountable for supervisory responsibilities outlined in all institutional policies, procedures, and guidelines.*

General

• Actively and intentionally supports CMOG’s commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.*
• Actively supports the Museum’s Advancement initiatives.

• ALA accredited Master’s degree, international equivalent, or substantial relevant experience preferred.
• Experience with archives management, substantial relevant coursework, or a combination of education and experience in archives required.
• Three to five years’ experience working in archives.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience implementing standards in archival arrangement and MPLP-informed description, including DACS, EAD, and EAC-CPF.
• Experience with archival content management systems, such as Archivists’ Toolkit, ArchivesSpace, Archon, or AtoM.
• Familiarity with web archiving best practices and applications, such as Archive-It.
• Familiarity with best practices in the accessioning, arrangement, and description of born-digital archival and manuscript materials.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and cloud services, MS Teams and SharePoint essential; ability to learn new job-related software and services.
• Involvement in or ability to become involved in regional and/or national professional associations.

• Respects and exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of the Corning Museum of Glass in all interactions with colleagues, staff, volunteers and the public.
• Represents the Museum in a professional manner at all times.
• Adheres to all prescribed organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and adapt to change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Highly accurate, detail-oriented and organized; focuses on follow-up.
• Works independently and as part of a team; strong collaboration skills.
• Works with minimum supervision.
• Some weekends and/or evenings required; flexibility in hours necessary.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, operate/use equipment, communicate, detect/distinguish, and reach. The employee is frequently required to move about, ascend/descend, and position oneself.  The employee is occasionally required to detect/distinguish (smell) mold or agent that would be dangerous to the collection. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to distinguish color and adjust focus.

The employee is frequently required to move/transport up to 50 pounds.

The work environment is usually indoor climate controlled and occasionally indoor not climate controlled during offsite work. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

The employee shall be fully acquainted with and comply with all safety policies and procedures of the Corning Museum of Glass.

Maintain confidentiality of information related to the Corning Museum of Glass and employees that may be encountered, either formally or informally, during the normal course of business. 

Email resume with cover letter, indicating which job you are applying for, to employment@cmog.org or mail to Corning Museum of Glass, One Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830, Attn: Human Resources.