Archivist - Processing And Description (Melbourne)

About the Role This role is not just an archivist position – it is an opportunity to help build an Aboriginal-controlled institution that seeks to reshape Australia's historical narrative. You will steward the evidence of Aboriginal self-determination and resistance movements, ensuring communities control their own stories while enhancing database quality and embedding Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance (IDS&G;) principles into descriptive practices. You will join a cooperative, culturally grounded team, working alongside fellow archivists, community members, and Aboriginal interns whom you will co‑mentor and train. Position Key Duties
- Contribute to the development and implementation of processes for the accessioning, arrangement, and description of physical and digital archival collections.
- Conduct conservation assessments and perform essential stabilisation tasks for physical materials, coordinating with conservation specialists for complex preservation requirements.
- Provide high‑quality advisory services to develop, enhance, and maintain detailed finding aids, catalogue records, and metadata that ensure consistent, accurate, and culturally respectful descriptions.
- Lead the systematic review and cleanup of legacy database records, ensuring resolution of inconsistencies and enrichment of incomplete entries to maintain data integrity.
- Apply IDS&G; and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property principles in all descriptive and metadata practices. Position Details Classification: HEP7 Salary: $101,288 per annum – $109,639 per annum Employment Type: Fixed term Hours per Week: ***** Location: Footscray Park About You You bring archival expertise – whether gained through formal qualifications or through caring for community records, organising collections on Country, or working within community organisations. Your Background And Experience
- Demonstrated hands‑on experience in processing, accessioning, arranging, and describing physical and digital collections.
- Proficiency with an archival collection management database and metadata standards in a culturally responsive way.
- Experience with database quality control, legacy data clean‑up, or auditing descriptions for accuracy, consistency, and discoverability.
- Understanding of preventive conservation principles and basic stabilisation tasks for physical materials. What Makes You An Ideal Fit
- Demonstrated application of IDS&G; principles in collection management.
- Willingness to learn about the history of Aboriginal resistance.
- Experience collaborating with Aboriginal communities (or a genuine commitment to doing so). Eligibility and Requirements This position is an identified prospect under "Special Measures" of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act ****; only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply. Applicants must have full and permanent working rights in Australia. The University is a Child Safe organisation; applicants are required to hold a current Employee – Working with Children Check (WWCC) or be willing to obtain one prior to commencing employment. #J-*****-Ljbffr #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rprf7