Position Description:

FFN is seeking an enthusiastic archival professional with interest and experience in digitization to join our team as Archival Digitization Specialist. The next team member in our archive will be a strategic thinker, leader, practical problem solver, and a positive team player. The candidate should be detail oriented and should enjoy working in teams as well as independently.

As a growing cultural nonprofit organization, we are searching for a person who can help take our extensive Finnish and Finnish-American archival collection to the next level and lead our digitization efforts. The next team member in our archive will bring with them a deep interest in history and archival practices as well as a passion for making history easily accessible to larger and more modern audiences. The Archival Digitization Specialist should possess an understanding and appreciation of modern technological applications to historical collections and, ideally, a passion for and experience in digitization efforts and / or AI applications in the field of history, archives, and / or museology.

The Archival Digitization Specialist is expected and encouraged to contribute their own strengths in this role to help increase the visibility and success of FFN. They will work on a team with the staff at the Finnish American Heritage Center as well as liaise with our national staff. FFN seeks to create a positive, motivating, and open work environment for all employees, and this depends on each member of the team contributing uniquely.

The Archival Digitization Specialist will work together with the Archivist of the Finnish American Historical Archive to help catalogue material, assess the current collection, and execute tasks associated with the digitization project. Additionally, together with the Archivist, the Archival Digitization Specialist will sit on relevant task forces and working groups of the FFN board to guide and shape efforts to increase the accessibility and visibility of the archive and its collection.

We are seeking a candidate who has both knowledge of and an affinity for current archival and museum best practices as well as a knowledge of current topics and themes related to the application of new and emerging technologies in archival collections. Previous experience in archival work, especially in digitization and museum collections assessment in a nonprofit, community-based, or university setting will be highly valued in the selection process.

Being a team player is central to the work culture at FFN. The Archival Digitization Specialist will be able to take part actively and constructively in in-person team settings as well as in virtual meetings and should be a motivated self-starter. Having a good sense of humor and can-do attitude, excellent presentation skills, being able to offer and respond to constructive criticism and differing perspectives, and adhering to timelines are characteristics we seek in a new team member.