Archivist

Archivist

Salary

$91,730.76 - $112,629.84 Annually

Location

Oakland, CA

Job Type

Full Time Civil Service

Job Number

26-SC256-07

Department

Oakland Public Library

Opening Date

07/30/2026

Closing Date

8/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

TW1

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the Oakland Public Library?

The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill one Archivist vacancy at the African American Museum and Library of Oakland, a division of the Oakland Public Library (AAMLO). The ideal candidate will possess archival experience pertaining to African American history and culture to curate best-in-class collections and to generate exhibitions and presentations that expose and share the wonders of these collections with the public. The Oakland Public Library seeks to hire a candidate who values all aspects of dynamic learning using technology, public forums, sensory experiences, scholarly research, and other tools to support and stimulate the curiosity of patrons who seek to discover the rich cultural and historical experiences of African Americans in Oakland and Northern California. The ideal candidate operates with a high level of enthusiasm and integrity, demonstrates cultural competence, and has a track record of responsiveness to diverse communities, staff, and stakeholders.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organized: You will possess exceptional organizational and management skills to successfully procure, archive, and preserve historical collections, adhering to federal, state, and local statutes relating to collections management.
• A Strong Relationship Builder with Excellent Communication Skills: You will engage with diverse clients, both orally and in writing, in the procurement of collections and represent the museum as an expert in the area of collection management and access.
• Proficient in Preservation Techniques: You will utilize technical knowledge in the preservation of documents and records, including handling techniques, technology migration, appropriate laboratory treatments, and/or recommending referral to technical experts.
• Creative: You will design and maintain organizational systems to correctly preserve, track, and easily retrieve archived materials. You will create exhibitions and presentations to showcase collections to the public.
• Analytical: You will analyze the physical condition of collections, including documents, film, and electronic materials, and make retention recommendations by appraising characteristics such as their legal, fiscal, administrative, informational, and/or intrinsic value.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Collecting, analyzing, organizing, and preserving archival resources about African American history and culture in Oakland and Northern California.
• Analyzing the current condition of donor materials including film, documents, maps, etc., to determine the appropriate preservation standards.
• Designing and maintaining systems to preserve, track, and easily retrieve archived collections.
• Communicating effectively with internal and external partners.
• Creating archival presentations that highlight the cultural experiences of African Americans in Oakland and Northern California.
• Collaborating with a variety of stakeholders including donors, staff, community members, and outside organizations to curate the best-in-class collections.

Read the complete job description by clicking here.

• Click on the link below to see a video on what its like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You love serving Oakland's community by sharing information and resources that highlight and reflect their lived experience, ancestry, and history.
• You value the preservation of history and want to share the stories that archival materials represent.
• You thrive on engaging with others and helping to meet their needs and achieve their research and education goals.
• You are excited to inspire others and tell stories through archival mediums.
• You seek to encourage and spread a deeper understanding of the history and culture of African Americans in Oakland and Northern California.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will need to manage your time wisely to complete your duties.
• You will often work independently and maintain a high standard of self-motivation and accountability.
• You will need to work effectively within a modest budget.

Competencies Required:

• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Professional Impact: Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Minimum Requirements for Application

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualification may be acceptable.

Education:

A bachelor's degree in archival studies, history, library and/or information sciences, public administration, political science, or a related field with coursework in archival methods and theory and library systems. A Master's degree in a related field is highly desirable (but not required).

Experience:

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in archival administration, preferably with experience in digital and print document collections utilized by museums and/or archives. Note: A Master's degree in a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.

License or Certificate / Other Requirements

Possession of a professional designation as a Certified Archivist (CA) is highly desirable.

Successful incumbents in this position may be expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of assigned duties. Due to the nature of the assignment and the hours worked, public transportation may not be a cost effective or efficient method for traveling to the various locations required. Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Deep knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of African Americans in Oakland and Northern California.

• Ability to create artistic, attractive, and clear exhibits and displays utilizing interactive technology and beautiful design.

• A vision for how this position might help the City of Oakland maintain diversity, eliminate racial disparities, and achieve racial equity.

Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam) (weighted 100%), which will be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The structured interview will be conducted as a one-way video interview, where you will record your responses to a set of questions. You will have 7 days from the time you receive the interview link to complete and submit your video responses. The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of August 17, 2026.

Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by clicking on this link or by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it: https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf. Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst: Christina Dennis at cdennis@oaklandca.gov.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you're applying to a "restricted" posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What's in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays

• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service

• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security

• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans

• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents

• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents

• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year

• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan

• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

• Benefits described here do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Christina Dennis, Human Resource Analyst, at cdennis@oaklandca.gov.

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation
• Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

01

Please be sure to answer the supplemental questions thoroughly and accurately. Applicants are responsible for clearly, completely, and accurately identifying their qualifications. Responses to the supplemental questions may determine your application status. By answering "yes" to this question, I certify that I have read and understand the statement above concerning submission of supplemental question responses.

• Yes
• No

02

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

Are you a current full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City of Oakland or Port of Oakland employee?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are a current City or Port of Oakland employee, what is your job title and employee ID number? If you are not a City or Port employee, type "N/A".

04

Have you previously been employed by the City of Oakland?

• Yes
• No

05

If you have previously been employed by the City of Oakland, please enter the dates and titles of the jobs you previously held at the City of Oakland below.

06

Please list other names used while employed by the City of Oakland. If you have not been employed by the City of Oakland put "N/A".

07

Do you confirm that the address on your application matches your current residency?

• Yes
• No

08

If the address on your application does not match your current residence, please enter your address and update it in your application profile. If not applicable, type "N/A"

09

What is the highest degree or level of education that you have completed?

• High school graduate, diploma or equivalent (for example: GED)
• Some college credits, no degree
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree
• Other

10

If you indicated your highest educational achievement is "Some college credits", how many units of college-level coursework have you completed?

• 1-14 semester / 1-21 quarter units / or equivalent
• 15-29 semester / 22-44 quarter units / or equivalent
• 30-59 semester / 45-89 quarter units / or equivalent
• 60-89 semester / 90-134 quarter units / or equivalent
• 90+ semester / 135+ quarter units / or equivalent
• N/A

11

If you indicated that you have attained a Bachelors degree or above, please list the field of study (major) in each degree attained. (for example: BA degree - Environmental Science & MA degree - Business Administration) If this doesnt apply, please indicate "NA".

12

If you selected "Other", please list the major for your degree.

13

How many years of experience do you have in archival collection management, including document acquisition, preservation, description, access, compliance, and staff oversight?

• I possess 7 or more years of experience as described
• I possess 6 or more years, but less than 7 years, of experience as described
• I possess 5 or more years, but less than 6 years, of experience as described
• I possess 4 or more years, but less than 5 years, of experience as described
• I possess 3 or more years, but less than 4 years, of experience as described
• I possess 2 or more years, but less than 3 years, of experience as described
• I possess 1 year, but less than 2 years, of experience as described
• I possess less than 1 year of experience as described
• I do not possess any experience as described

14

Please describe your experience and the related duties you performed in archival collection management, including document acquisition, preservation, description, access, compliance, and staff oversight. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A".

15

Acting assignments: If you have served in an Acting assignment that you would like considered as experience towards the minimum qualifications requirement, please list the Acting assignment(s) separately in the "Work experience" section of your application. For each Acting assignment, the description must include the Acting job title (use the word Acting as part of the job title), dates and hours served, and duties performed. I understand the above statement and will list any Acting assignments separately in the "Work experience" section of my application form.

• Yes
• No

16

Answers to the above supplemental questions MUST be supported by information contained in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of this application. Answers not supported by information contained in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of this application will NOT be considered. Resumes and cover letters will not be reviewed.

I have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Oakland

Address 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza - 2nd Floor

Oakland, California, 94612

Phone (510) 238-3112

Website http://www.oaklandca.gov/