Job title: Researcher and Archivist.
Contract type: Full-time, fixed-term project-related contract ending on 31/01/2027.
Location: The Palestinian Heritage Museum-Jerusalem
Department: Curatorial and Collections.
Scope of work: Documenting and archiving materials for the Palestinian Heritage Museum-Jerusalem
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Collections Unit Manager, the researcher and archivist will work to document and classify the archival collections of the Palestinian Heritage Museum – Hind Husseini Foundation (Dar Tifel al-Arabi) in Jerusalem, and participate in completing the digital archiving process; and carry out the following tasks and responsibilities:
1. Carrying out research and documentation of the archival material of The Palestinian Heritage Museum-Jerusalem per project requirements and established protocols and/or any other areas required by the project’s interest and the requirements of the workflow.
2. Sorting, reviewing, auditing, organising, classifying, documenting and arranging the materials and collections, and preparing them for photography by the photography and digitisation team per the approved instructions and procedures.
3. Archiving archival collections, including -but not limited to- photographs, documents, digital materials, and museum artifacts.
4. Adding and modifying Metadata for collections and archival materials using available programmes, and carry out the field and office research required to collect and document this data.
5. Writing research reports with academic standards on the archived collections and materials, for use by project management in publications, media, or any other mediums as seen fit.
6. Assisting and guiding researchers, curators, and artists to search within archival collections and materials, and answering research inquiries posited to the researcher and archivist.
7. Carrying out research and archiving tasks per the project’s priorities and planning in any location the Museum deems appropriate, locally or internationally.
8. Any other related tasks and responsibilities at the request of the direct supervisor
Scope of Prerogatives and Supervision
The Researcher and Archivist position holder is responsible for searching for materials and collections, documenting them, and archiving them according to the agreed-upon work plan for project completion.
- Direct subordinates: None
- Internal relationships: The project team and other related Museum staff members.
- External relationships: Owners of archival collections, donors of archival materials, and external researchers.
1. Academic qualifications and work experience
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in history, humanities, social sciences, or any related major.
- Documented practical experience in the field of archiving, content writing, cultural institutions, or related fields, for no less than 3 years.
- Documented practical experience in the principles of research, collecting data, and conducting interviews for no less than 3 years.
2. Skills and Capabilities
- Excellent knowledge of workplace principles, field research, data gathering and interviewing.
- Familiarity with the basics of museum work, historical research methods, and academic production about Palestine and the Palestinian culture.
- Mastering digital archiving methods and practices, especially in the field of archiving museum artifacts.
- Advanced knowledge of Metadata standards and methods for preserving and managing archives.
- Knowledge of the basics of digitisation, restoration, and preservation of archival materials and how to deal with them.
- Knowledge of information and communication technology (ICT) and digital image processing programmes.
- Proficiency in using databases and office work programmes such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of Arabic and English, reading, writing and speaking.
3. Personal Characteristics
- Excellent communication skills, written and spoken.
- The ability to analyse and implement project requirements and tasks.
- The ability to work within a multi-tasking team.
- Initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Hold a Jerusalem ID card to facilitate his work in Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.