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Archives Assistant

Application deadline: Open until filled

Part-time fixed-term position based in Beacon, New York
$30 per hour, February 2025–August 2026

About Dia Art Foundation

Dia is committed to advancing, realizing, and preserving the vision of extraordinary artists. A nonprofit founded in 1974, Dia collects the work of some of the most renowned artists of the last half-century, presents long-term, site-specific projects, executes new commissions, and produces scholarly publications related to its exhibitions and collection.

Position summary

Dia Art Foundation seeks a part-time Archives Assistant to assist the Archivist with archival collection processing and digital asset management. This is an 18 month position, from February of 2025 through August of 2026, with a schedule of 24 hours (3 days) per week, based at Dia Beacon in Beacon, New York. Work will be divided between ongoing arrangement, description, and rehousing of institutional records and manuscript collections, alongside digitization, cataloging, and metadata cleanup of digital assets. Other responsibilities include research support for Dia’s Oral History Project, documenting Dia’s deep and rich history of supporting artists, and other institutional and outreach programs developed in collaboration with Dia’s various departments.

Essential duties and responsibilities

  • Arrange and describe physical archives, manuscripts, photographic materials, and other special collections according to established national standards; help with processing, preservation, and preparation of collection inventories and finding aids
  • Conduct digitization of archival documents and photography to preservation standards; catalog digital assets in NetX DAMS; assist in the planning for and implementation of metadata clean up and consolidation of extant digital assets
  • Assist in the creation of research documents and digital collections, including institutional chronologies and exhibition histories, from processed archival materials that will be used to further the study of Dia’s rich history and support institutional initiatives set by the Archivist and other departments
  • Assist with reference services, including responding to email and telephone inquiries
  • Responsible for the archives in the absence of the Archivist
  • Other duties as assigned

Education, certification, and experience

  • Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or Archival Studies from an ALA accredited university
  • Two years or more of experience processing archival and special collections in both print and electronic formats

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

  • Demonstrated interest in arts archives, particularly those relating to postwar art movements of the 20th and 21st centuries
  • Knowledge and understanding of professional principles and best practices including national descriptive standards such as DACS, including context, provenance, original order, and evidence
  • Strong organizational, research, and analytical skills with a keen eye for details
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Flexibility to meet immediate priorities in a fast-paced environment while working toward long- and medium-term goals
  • Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with ability to practice discretion when working with confidential materials
  • Knowledge of German language, a plus
  • Knowledge of or interest in digital accessibility, a plus

Working conditions and physical demands

Work is performed fully onsite; typically, prolonged periods of sitting, use of computers and standard office equipment is required to accomplish work objectives.

Please note that to provide a safe workplace free of recognized hazards and to take every possible step to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 among our employees, Dia requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, except for those who obtain an exemption due to a medical condition, a religious belief, or pregnancy.

Part-time employees are eligible for paid sick days, holiday pay, and participation in the 401(k) savings program with employer match. Employees have the opportunity to learn about the collections through presentations by curators, artists, writers, and historians. Staff ID badges gain reduced or free admission to most American museums and arts organizations.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by completing the online job application, linked here and attaching a resume and letter of interest.

This position is represented by the Technical, Office & Professional Union, Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.

Dia Art Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, Dia will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and supports an equitable, inclusive, and neurodiverse workplace.

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