Head of Archives

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Archives to establish, lead, and grow our new archives department. This pivotal role will be responsible for the end-to-end development of our archival infrastructure, from setting up the physical facility to building a high-performing team and defining a long-term growth strategy. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in archival science, a proven track record in establishing and managing archives of repute, and a passion for preserving and providing access to valuable historical and institutional records. There may be some amount of travel to LVPEI’s centres.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Executive Chair of LVPEI and the Archives Advisory Group, the Head of Archives will deliver on the following:

·      Oversee the planning, design, and physical setup of a purpose-built archives facility at our Kismatpur campus, ensuring adherence to mutually agreed standards for preservation, security, and access.

·      Recommend and procure appropriate archival storage solutions, environmental controls (temperature, humidity), fire suppression systems, and security measures.

·      Establish workflows for the intake, processing, storage, and retrieval of archival materials.

·      Liaise with the IT department to implement and manage archival software systems for collection management, cataloging, access and display.

·      Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive archival policies, procedures, and best practices in line with national standards, including SOPs, accession forms and procedures.

·      Create and standardize all relevant archival forms and documents, including but not limited to:

·        Deed of Gift/Deposit agreements

·        Accessioning forms

·        Processing worksheets

·        Finding aids templates

·  Digitization guidelines

·      Conservation reports

·        Reproduction request forms

·        User registration and access forms

·      Ensure all documentation is regularly reviewed, updated, and compliant with legal and ethical requirements, along with the policies of the institute.

·      Establish robust reporting mechanisms to track collection growth, processing backlogs, access statistics, and preservation metrics. 

·      Prepare regular reports for senior management on departmental progress, challenges, and strategic initiatives, including managing the archives budget.

·      Help recruit, train, and cultivate a small archives team

·      Foster a culture of archiving among LVPEI staff and support professional development within the archives team.

·      Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of professional and dedicated archives professionals and develop nodal officers in relevant departments.

·      Develop plans and identify opportunities for collaboration and growth of the Archives.

• ·      Facilitate storytelling, education, research and deeper understanding of eye care and LVPEI in society.

Read the detailed Job Description here: JD_Head of Archives.docx