DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HOUSTON  

 ARCHIVIST JOB DESCRIPTION

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Dominican Sisters of Houston (DSOH) are seeking a qualified candidate to assist in their efforts to professionally standardize their religious community archives and manage its operations. The Archivist will perform the Archives’ mandated mission of accessioning, organizing, preserving, describing, and supporting the access and utilization of those research materials of enduring value to the study of the history of the Dominican Sisters of Houston. The Archivist will collaborate with archivists from other Dominican congregations of religious women in the United States to standardize processes for archival holdings and to share ideas and best practices.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1882, the Dominican Sisters of Houston have served Houston, Galveston, the Sabine area and other parts of Texas, California, and Guatemala.  The Sisters primarily ministered in education until the Second Vatican Council when they expanded their ministries to include social work and justice ministry, among others. Today, the Sisters’ two college preparatory schools, St. Agnes Academy and St. Pius X High School, continue to thrive, and their active ministries include teaching, school administration, parish ministry, justice advocacy, and their mission school in Guatemala. The mission of the Dominican Sisters of Houston is to study and address the crucial justice issues of our time, to preach and teach the Gospel without regard to risk, and to help transform social structures that oppress the powerless.  For more information about the history of the Dominican Sisters of Houston, please visit www.domhou.org.

ABOUT THE ARCHIVES

The DSOH Archives is located at the Sisters’ administrative office in Houston near the medical center and Hermann Park. The Archives serve as the official repository for the historical records and archives that document the administrative functions and congregational activities of their congregation since their arrival in Galveston in 1882. The archives collections are reflective of the Sisters’ early and pioneering efforts in providing education primarily in Galveston, Houston, and the Sabine area of Texas. The archives include historical records of the DSOH’s institutions, governance, and community life, photographs, manuscript materials, and artifacts

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implements archives policies and procedures
• Accessions and appraises materials transferred to the archives from institutions, administrative departments, and individual sisters
• Preserves, arranges, describes materials according to archival standards
• Creates finding aids according to archival standards
• Provides education about archives and file management to the congregation and administration
• Trains and supervises volunteers if needed for discrete tasks
• Provides reference services to internal and external researchers, as needed
• Performs administrative and operational responsibilities such as ordering archives supplies and developing yearly goals and budget

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Required:  Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives from an accredited institution.

Preferred: Certification with the Academy of Certified Archivists or evidence of continuing archival education or professional development

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Required:

• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working in archives
• Extensive knowledge in the principles of archival arrangement and description for personal papers and organizational records
• Experience in applying preservation standards used for a variety of formats including paper, photographs, and audio-visual
• Strong communication and writing skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Detail-oriented and ability to be flexible

Preferred:

• Experience in managing or supervising projects
• Knowledge of records management principles
• Demonstrated knowledge about privacy and confidentiality matters in archives
• Experience working in a non-profit environment
• Experience working in the archives for a Catholic organization or community
• An appreciation for and understanding of Catholic women religious and a willingness to learn about the Dominican mission, charism, and congregational history

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work requires continuous activity, and an ability to lift boxes weighing up to 35 pounds.

POSITION DATA

Reports to:                    Leadership Team

Department:                 Archives

Schedule:                       Full time

Gross Annual Salary Range: $65,000 minimum, with hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

Salary and Benefits: PTO, 403B retirement plan, long-term disability, medical and dental coverage, Health Savings Account, workers’ compensation, group term life and AD&D insurance, and professional development assistance.

HOW TO APPLY

Send a resume and cover letter in a single attachment by August 31, 2020 to Paula Porter, Human Resource Director at pporter@domhou.org