Project Goal
This project aims to mitigate the loss of critical data and at-risk knowledge within Wisconsin’s twelve Native Nations by deploying a full-time Rapid Response Community Archivist (Archivist).

Position Summary
The Archivist will provide culturally relevant technical expertise and targeted support to tribal libraries, archives, and museums across Wisconsin. This position is part of a larger effort to address the urgent digital preservation and curation needs of Wisconsin Native Nations, as exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Archivist will collaborate with tribal cultural workers to mitigate the loss of critical data and at-risk knowledge, ensuring the culturally significant materials are preserved and accessible in alignment with community priorities.

Prioritizing a “slow archives” approach, this role emphasizes deep engagement, ethical considerations, and respect for cultural protocols. By focusing on relationship-building and community-led decision-making, the Archivist will help develop sustainable practices that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and sovereignty.

This is a limited-term, grant-funded position for two years, offering opportunity to contribute to meaningful, community-driven initiatives that safeguard cultural heritage while creating a model for equitable archival support. The position will include both on-site and remote work, with regular travel across the state of Wisconsin to meet the needs of participating Native Nations. Wisconsin residency or willingness to relocate to Wisconsin is required for this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with at least six Native Nations over two years to address urgent digital stewardship needs. Pre-arranged projects exist with the Hoocąk Waaziija Haci Language Division (HLD) and the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community.
• Work with tribal cultural workers to identify future digital stewardship projects based on urgency, cultural significance, and feasibility.
• Develop project plans and timelines in collaboration with tribal partners.
• Assist with tasks such as:
  • Cataloging collection items
  • Assessing and strategizing digitization efforts
  • Transferring materials to stable digital formats
  • Establishing policies and procedures for managing digital assets
  • Creating accessioning and cataloging policies
  • Conducting inventories
  • Digitizing at-risk materials
• Leverage the Culture Keepers Collective Advisory Council to connect participants with available expertise and resources.
• Gather data and insights into ongoing digital stewardship projects.
• Provide expert guidance on established best practices for digital preservation, while respecting the sovereignty and self-determination of Wisconsin’s Native Nations.
• Recommend appropriate technological frameworks and software, such as FADGI-compliant scanners and Mukurtu CMS.
• Advise on culturally appropriate metadata standards and description practices.
• Collaborate on safe handling procedures for cultural and historical resources during digitization.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of foundational aspects of cultural heritage and digital stewardship work, including key terminology and best practices for creating, organizing and maintaining physical and digital materials. 
• Wisconsin residency, or willingness to relocate to Wisconsin.
• Access to reliable high-speed internet to facilitate remote work.
• Capacity to travel to various Native Nations in Wisconsin.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library Science, Archival Science, or a related field, or equivalent cultural and technical experience.
• Strong understanding of digital preservation best practices, with a focus on Indigenous information issues and digital cultural heritage.
• Experience collaborating with Indigenous communities, including knowledge of tribal sovereignty and tribal history in the Great Lakes region.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

Work Environment
While we are a remote work environment and much of our work is conducted remotely, the person in this position will frequently be placed in Native Nations throughout Wisconsin. Candidates must be located in Wisconsin for this reason. Physical work environments at project sites will vary and are somewhat unknown until the remaining project partners are chosen. WiLS will work with the selected candidate on reasonable accommodations as needed. 

Start date: April 1, 2025 (negotiable)

Annual salary: $48,000
Compensation also includes a monthly phone and internet stipend, generous paid time off, and travel expense reimbursement. This is a full-time, grant-funded position 24-month limited term position. As a limited term position, the position is not eligible for health insurance or other benefits through WiLS. 

How To Apply
To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two professional references to ehughes@wils.org. Applications will be reviewed by WiLS staff in close consultation with Native Nation stakeholders. If you have specific questions about the position, please contact Erin Hughes, WiLS Digital and Community Outreach Archivist, at ehughes@wils.org. We’ll be accepting applications until the position is filled. The first round of interviews will start no later than the week of March 3, 2025.

This position is made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About WiLS
WiLS (formally Wisconsin Library Services) is a non-profit membership organization that facilitates collaborative projects and services to save our members time and money and to advance library service, primarily in the state of Wisconsin. Most of our members are libraries, but we also work with cultural institutions, government agencies, and other non-profits to develop partnerships and projects.

If you’d like to learn more about our mission and values, see our website.

About the Culture Keepers Collective
The Culture Keepers Collective is an alliance of cultural workers in Wisconsin serving Native Nations. The Collective works to plan and share culturally relevant professional development opportunities around digital preservation and stewardship. It is guided by an all-Native Advisory Council and administered by WiLS.

Job Posting: https://www.wils.org/blog/wils-is-hiring-a-community-archivist/