October 27 Project Coordinator

The Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is seeking a Project Coordinator to perform a variety of tasks related to the October 27 Collections held by the Rauh Jewish Archives.

The October 27 Project Coordinator is responsible for digitizing and cataloging artifacts and archival materials according to a pre-existing metadata scheme; conducting research about objects within the collection to expand contextual knowledge; working with community partners to understand the significance and relevance of objects within the collection; working with individuals and organizations who wish to use materials from the collection; and helping to expand existing institutional policy for managing the collection. The October 27 Project Coordinator may also index oral histories using the OHMS/Aviary platform, crawl websites using Archive-It, and upload materials to an existing Islandora website using a custom Python script.

This is a full-time (temporary), salaried/non-exempt position reporting to the Director, Rauh Jewish Archives and taking occasional direction from the Collections Manager.
Project Description

The Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center was established Nov. 1, 1988, as a central repository for materials documenting the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania. The archive currently holds more than 1,500 collections documenting many expressions of Jewish identity and is still actively collecting. The Rauh Jewish Archives is a public-facing communal institution, operating two public history websites, publishing a weekly newsletter, participating in dozens of public programs each year, answering hundreds of reference requests annually, and working with many Jewish and non-Jewish partners on initiatives of regional significance.

Over the past five years, the Rauh Jewish Archives has assembled a large collection of materials documenting the local and global response to the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018. The Rauh Jewish Archives launched the October 27 Archive website https://october27archive.org/ in January 2023 as the public face of this collection and is beginning to open the collection for public access and use. The October 27 Collections are intricately interconnected with the existing repository of materials documenting the impacted community for more than 150 years before the shooting, including collections from all three congregations directly impacted by the attack as well as many of the responding communal organizations.

All aspects of the October 27 collecting initiative have attempted to be a victim-centered, trauma-informed, and deeply responsive to the impacted community, while also meeting high standards of archival care. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the organizational skills required to manage large amounts of complex metadata, while also demonstrating the maturity to gracefully navigate emotionally complex encounters with people and objects.

Requirements
 Master’s degree in library and information science, Public History, History, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
 At least three (3) years of experience in library/archival/museum work.
 Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.
 High attention to detail and good record-keeping ability.
 Comfort using and troubleshooting new technologies.
 Experience handling archival materials and artifacts.
 Experience with digital photography.
 Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
 Willingness to follow institutional practices and policies.
 Proficiency conducting online and person-to-person research about objects.
 Valid driver’s license.
Technologies utilized in project
The successful candidate will be comfortable using the following technology.
 Custom Islandora website with Python script
 Microsoft Excel
 Archive-It
 OHMS/Aviary
 ArchivesSpace
 Adobe Photoshop
 VueScan

The successful candidate will be required to prove that they have received the COVID-19
vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Why Work at the History Center?
• Rewarding, mission-driven work that makes an impact in the community!
• Smithsonian affiliated museum located in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District
• Voted the #2 history museum in the nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice poll – February 2023.
• Voted the Best Museum in Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine’s Reader Poll 2022 & 2023
• Flexible work schedule
• Full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(B) retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Nine (9) paid holidays
• Company paid life insurance / LTD
• Discounts in the Museum Shop and Cafe