Background
The Graça Machel Trust works across the continent on three issues: women’s rights, children’s rights, governance and leadership. We catalyse action, support local initiatives, lend solidarity and offer support where it is needed. We connect people and groups that should know each other and work together; and engage both publicly and behind the scenes with power brokers to strengthen, multiply, and amplify the voices of African women and children. Our mission is to amplify women’s movements, influence governance, and promote women’s contributions and leadership in the economic, social, and political development of Africa; and advocate for the protection of children’s rights and dignity. We have an exciting and unique opportunity to work directly with our Founder and her direct team. We are seeking a motivated and professional Senior Archivist and Researcher with vast experience in building information management systems to be part of the Office of the Founder (OOF) team to spearhead legacy preservation efforts for our Founder Mrs. Machel. As part of the Office of the Founder team, the Archivist and Researcher will lead the acquisition, archiving and preservation of valuable information and historical records within our organization for the first time. Among others, some key internal and external relationships will include: the Foundation for Community Development, the Mozambican and South African Historical Archives, Samora Machel Documentation Centre, Nelson Mandela Foundation; International organizations such as UNICEF, GAVI, UN, PMNCH, ACCORD; Universities globally; International media channels such as BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN etc. We are looking for someone who has excellent educational and professional background and who sees this as an opportunity to bring their expertise to a growing and dynamic organisation.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
• Create a knowledge management strategy and oversee implementation of this strategy to build a bespoke physical and digital archiving systems for the Graça Machel Trust.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive archival system for storing documents, photographs, audiovisual materials, tributes, op-eds, letters, physical awards, and other artifacts.
• Locate, acquire, and catalogue assets from international and African sources.
• Implement preservation techniques to protect fragile or deteriorating items from damage.
• Collaborations and contracting of conservation professionals to ensure the proper care and handling of delicate artifacts.
• Foster and manage relationships with donors, collectors, and other institutions to acquire new materials for the archives.
• Write grant proposals, bid for funds and manage budgets related to archiving processes.
• Lead hiring efforts to grow the archiving team: train, manage and supervise team members.
• Facilitate access to archival materials for researchers, staff members, and external stakeholders.
• Develop user-friendly finding aids, indexes, and search tools to assist with the retrieval of information.
• Participate in outreach activities, such as exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs, to promote awareness of the organization’s archival holdings.
Required Qualifications And Skills
• Master’s degree in information systems, library science, archival studies, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years work experience in archiving required.
• Knowledge of international/African development issues (i.e., health/education/women’s rights/governance/political affairs/economics)
• Excellent writing skills, including drafting of reports, concept notes.
• Proficiency with archival software, databases, and other best practice technology tools relevant to the field. This may include collection management systems, digital asset management systems, and content management systems.
• Proficiency in cataloguing and classifying archival materials using appropriate standards such as DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) or EAD (Encoded Archival Description).
• Familiarity with digital preservation principles, including digitization techniques, metadata standards (such as Dublin Core, PREMIS), and digital repository management systems.
• Eligible to legally work in South Africa with ability to travel internationally , as needed
• Language Requirements: A strong capability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written English. Portuguese is desirable.
• Ability to manage archival projects effectively, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating resources.
• Understanding of ethical considerations and legal issues related to archives, including copyright,privacy, and access restrictions.
How to apply
Please submit a CV (maximum 3 pages) and cover letter, 3 contactable references to [email protected] with the job title in the subject line. Deadline for applications is 01 July 2024. Late applications and candidates who do not comply with the above requirements will automatically be disqualified. The Trust reserves the right not fill the position. Correspondence will 2 be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If you do not receive correspondence from us within one month of the closing date, please consider your application as unsuccessful. We encourage people with disabilities and from other diverse backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate based on disability. For more about the Graça Machel Trust, please refer to https://gracamacheltrust