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Careers

History Is Made By

Explorers

Find Your Place in History Here

At History Factory, you won’t find big machines cranking out widgets and gadgets. Instead, you’ll work with smart, fascinating people doing interesting and unusual work–collecting, organizing and archiving materials found deep within a company’s history. Together, we interpret the gems of authentic content we find in a company’s past and develop programs to help it chart its future.

History degree not required

Only advanced degrees of curiosity and passion

To thrive here, the main requirements are an inquisitive mind, a collaborative spirit, infectious enthusiasm, and a strong desire to help our clients write the next chapter in their history.

 

Make History

Location: Washington, DC or Chantilly, VA
Published: May 19, 2023

At History Factory, you’ll discover smart, fascinating people building creative ideas and doing interesting and unusual work—collecting, organizing and interpreting materials found deep within a company’s history. Together, we design creative ways to interpret the gems of authentic content we find in a company’s past to help it chart its future.

We’re a community like no other, consisting of artists, writers, designers, historians, curators, researchers, planners…all drawn by the opportunity to use the power of history to shape the future. Don’t have a history degree? That’s ok. We prefer you demonstrate an inquisitive mind, a collaborative spirit, infectious enthusiasm, and a strong desire to help our clients craft the next chapter in their story.

We’re looking for a writer /  Associate Creative Director with a strong content and conceptual focus to help lead our teams to delivering their (and our) best work.

What you’ll do in this role:

  • Identify story topics and develop conceptual approaches for communications plans, publications, exhibits and anniversaries
  • Create content that consistently connects an organization’s past with its present and future
  • Translate researching findings and insights into compelling story topics
  • Develop written content for communications programs, including exhibits, websites, social media, publications and videos
  • Own the story of clients, maintaining and developing a deep understating of all aspects of their history, brand and vision
  • Prepare and conduct interviews with client contacts at all levels of an organization
  • Perform research within corporate archival collections and outside repositories to discover information, develop messaging, and assemble baseline factual information (timelines, leadership chronologies, product launches, etc.)
  • Under the leadership of a Creative Director, supervise the work of a cross-functional team of creatives (e.g., graphic designers, copywriters, curators, third-party vendors)
  • Support delivery of creative strategy/plans, concepts, and executions for all kinds of media: corporate publications, museum-quality exhibits and environmental branding, video and digital executions, to name a few
  • Work in the weeds of managing creative projects, shepherding deliverables from concept to completion
  • Identify and nurture the best ideas that are uniquely History Factory. Connect a client’s past with its future goals and opportunities by digging deep to uncover and understand a company’s historical insights.
  • Cultivate trusting relationships with clients, partners, and other internal teams.

What you’ll need for this role:

  • A strong portfolio of work showcasing your writing, content and conceptual expertise
  • An appreciation and passion for the craft of making things. You’re as much a doer as you are a strategic thinker.
  • Have a good understanding of the corporate world, how organizations function, and how corporate storytelling can be used to meet broader strategic goals
  • The ability to easily toggle between the big picture and the nitty gritty. You’re as comfortable working on a strategic level as you are diving in and getting your hands dirty.
  • The people skills to build cohesion and collaboration among a diverse group of creatives and third party stakeholders.

Application Details:

Interested? Please email your resume and a portfolio link to [email protected] In your cover letter, tell us about your favorite concept work in your portfolio and why you love it.

Interested? Please submit your resume and a portfolio/writing samples.

Preference is given to those who are located in the Washington, D.C. area or within drop-in distance, but we’re open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S.

Location: Washington, DC or Chantilly, VA
Published: May 12, 2023

The Director of HR & Talent Acquisition is responsible for planning, directing, developing, and coordinating the policies, activities, ensuring legal compliance, and implementing the organization’s mission and talent strategy.

Job Responsibilities

Department-Specific

  • Collaborate with senior leadership to understand the organization’s goals and strategy related to staffing, recruiting, and retention.
  • Plan, led, develop, coordinate, and implement policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support the organization’s human resource compliance and strategy needs.
  • Administer or oversee the administration of human resource programs including, but not limited to, compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; and training and development.
  • Conduct research and analysis of organizational trends, including a review of reports and metrics from the organization’s human resource information system (HRIS) or talent management system.
  • Monitor and ensures the organization’s compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations and recommended best practices; reviews and modifies policies and procedures to maintain compliance.
  • Provide professional expertise and support in designing, developing, and implementing the talent review process required to achieve business goals and create an internal bench of top talent.
  • Collect, analyze and maintain data gathered to inform targeted leadership development (e.g., succession planning).
  • Serve as a business partner with hiring managers to develop effective sourcing and recruitment strategies that result in client satisfaction. Develop effective relationships within the organization and the hiring community to influence and impact the recruiting process and hiring.
  • Develop, initiate and maintain effective programs for workforce retention, promotion, career path, and succession planning.
  • Manage the maintenance and execution of the performance management system, including current job descriptions, standards of performance, and performance evaluation instruments.
  • Promote an environment of equal employment opportunity, diversity, and competitive advantage to support the company’s diversity and inclusion strategic plan.
  • Recruit full-time, part-time, temporary, contractual, and intern personnel. Manage full life cycle recruitment (post, source, prescreen, schedule, background, references, offer, onboarding, etc.). Complete hiring process within defined metrics to minimize overall time-to-start. Develop appropriate marketing strategies, define roles and responsibilities of the hiring team, and develop service-level agreements to ensure an effective and efficient recruitment lifecycle while minimizing cost-per-hire.

People and Culture

  • Promote cross-functional collaboration and communications to ensure an “enterprise-first” culture and operation
  • Monitoring and enforcing the firm culture, reflecting an appropriate balance between financial results and respect, responsibility, behavior, community service, teamwork, client service, and loyalty.
  • Assess culture and employee satisfaction, recommending initiatives and actions for improvements necessary.
  • Devise/lead various culture-related initiatives (events/parties, holiday gifts, and cards, Day of Giving).
  • Consult to support the prioritization, development, and review of enterprise HR programs (e.g., performance management, job descriptions, etc.).
  • Provide a “voice” to staff and collaborate with the Executive Committee to resolve staff issues and challenges.
  • Draft, review and communicate job descriptions, subject to Executive Committee signoff.
  • Recommend and plan staff training programs under the guidelines provided or in support of department needs.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required;
  • At least five years of human resource management experience required.
  • Talent acquisition experience (preferably in a creative agency) preferred.
  • SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP highly preferred.

Skills, Abilities, and Behaviors

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
  • Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate.
  • Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
  • Proficiency with or the ability to quickly learn the organization’s HRIS and talent management systems

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Email only, please no phone calls.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

Regularly required to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; drive; use hands to handle objects and feel controls; talk; listen; and vision capabilities that enable reading and viewing a computer screen.

Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting (workstation). The employee is not exposed to weather conditions, and the noise level in the work area is minimal.

Location: Washington, DC or Chicago, IL
Published: April 21, 2023

Overview

We’re looking for an energetic, hard-working Account Executive to join our fast-paced, growing team. The Account Executive is the glue that holds projects together and serves as the face of the agency to our clients. They will manage planning and tactical implementation of assigned programs as well as manage client relationships relative to those programs. This role works in close collaboration with Account Managers and/or Account Directors on most accounts, but may lead some engagements independently. The Account Executive will serve as a primary day-to-day contact with clients and coordinate with the History Factory team. This job is in-person or remote.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Effectively manage creative and archival programs for assigned accounts, including program recommendations, project execution and results analysis.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with clients at appropriate levels, acting as day-to-day client point of contact.
  • Oversee assigned project team and supervise all activity related to the client account.
  • Possess minute-by-minute knowledge of all work in progress.
  • Organize, lead, and deliver follow-up communications and actions for recurring project meetings (internal and client).
  • Lead and/or assist in the generation of presentations, creative briefs, program reporting and status reports.
  • Establish and communicate client and internal team priorities and deadlines.
  • Work independently and with others as part of a team in a highly organized and detail-oriented manner while coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Collaborate with and oversee deliverables from project partners, vendors and freelancers.
  • Proactively manage project budgets for assigned clients, including budget tracking, external cost management, internal reporting, revenue forecasting and estimating new work.
  • Anticipate client needs and proactively offer solutions to internal and external challenges.
  • Proactively identify and communicate opportunities to grow the business on assigned accounts.
  • Engage in business development opportunities and new client business pitches when appropriate.
  • Forecast shifts in project schedule and revenue early and often.
  • Effectively negotiate client and agency needs and desires.
  • Develop strong personal client relationships that stretch beyond the lifecycle of a single project.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing or Communications. 
  • 2-4+ years with a Communications or Marketing agency or corporate marketing/communications department required. 
  • Proven track record in execution of detailed creative projects and ability to demonstrate critical decision-making skills.
  • Management of marketing/communications programs for one or more client programs, including strategic planning, project execution and results analysis. Knowledge and experience with internal and external channel a plus.
  • Intermittent travel required up to 10%.

Skills, Abilities and Behaviors

  • Excellent written & verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment. 
  • Proactive self-starter with demonstrated follow-through on assignments.
  • Good team player with ability to earn respect and trust of teams and clients.
  • Savvy relationship-builder.
  • Strategic thinker who stays one step ahead on assignments.
  • Strong business acumen.
  • Possesses ability to see the bigger picture and put collective goals above self.
  • Openness to new ideas and willingness to contribute.
  • Demonstrated flexibility with navigating shifts in client/project goals, strategy, budgets and timelines.
  • Positive attitude and winning mindset.
  • People person and sense of humor are a plus.

Tools & Technologies

  • MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint expertise.
  • Familiarity with Google Suite.
  • Experience working with project management tools/systems a plus.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Email only, please no phone calls.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

Regularly required to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; drive; use hands to handle objects and feel controls; talk; listen; and vision capabilities that enable reading and viewing a computer screen. Ability to travel as needed.

Work Environment

Work environment is an office setting (work station). Employee is not exposed to weather conditions and noise level in work area is minimal.

Location: Chantilly, VA
Published: April 20, 2023

History Factory is a specialized professional services firm that helps organizations leverage their heritage for strategic business purposes.  Central to this value is designing, building and implementing modern archives and content solutions that enable organizations to capture, access and apply their institutional memory.

Over our 40-year history, History Factory has developed unparalleled experience architecting physical and digital archives. Our capabilities, insights, and expertise have enabled us to build and maintain high-performance archives for industry leading corporations, associations, and non-profits.  The Consulting Archivist will be a key contributor to this legacy of leadership and future growth of our archives services.

The Consulting Archivist will work within diverse project environments to deliver innovative work that ranges from strategy to execution and ongoing management. The Consulting Archivist’s primary responsibility will be to work with senior client leaders and functional areas to develop a deep understanding of the organization’s current information landscape and recommend archival strategies and programs that will deliver business value.  Recommendations will reflect each client’s unique business environment as well as archival best practices, and industry, technology, and cultural trends. (S)he will also be responsible for building and managing client collections, supporting thought leadership and business development efforts, and helping inform future archives and content solutions.

The position will report to the Managing Archivist and indirectly to the Chief Administrative.

Key Responsibilities

Working independently and in collaboration with History Factory’s archives leadership, senior leaders, colleagues, account leads, and others the Consulting Archivist shall undertake the following efforts.

Strategy

  • Define engagements and plans for the analysis of clients’ archival assets, technologies, and associated operational processes.
  • Interview client leaders and teams to understand business and project goals and gather relevant information and insights to define requirements expectations, and opportunities.
  • Recommend archives designs, strategies, and architectures that will enhance business value by improving service, controlling costs, preventing unforeseen issues, promoting use, and providing for the future growth of physical and/or digital content.
  • Evaluate and recommend architectures and processes for capturing physical and born-digital content.
  • Educate clients regarding the value of archives and key aspects of archival program architecture and design (e.g. scalability, accessibility, manageability, relevance, affordability, always considering the appropriate incorporation of technology)
  • Ensure archival solutions align with the client’s program vision
  • Effectively present recommendations to client teams and executive management
  • Take responsibility for developing and delivering analysis reports on time and budget.

Thought Leadership and Business Development Support

  • Provide support for sales and business development including participating in client meetings and assisting in the creation of proposals.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on archives and digital content trends in support of innovation and transformation of archives and content solutions.
  • Contribute to firm-wide thought leadership and marketing materials.
  • Identify opportunities and support the conversion of assessments into broader engagements

Execution and Ongoing Service Operations

  • Process collections of archival assets in all formats
  • Build taxonomies and controlled vocabularies for archives and curated content solutions
  • Create descriptive metadata that supports the discovery and identification of resources
  • Perform activities necessary to conduct and manage digitization projects; including preparation of originals for digitization; project tracking; metadata creation and collection; and version control
  • Apply information retrieval techniques to meet the diverse research needs of end-user organizations
  • Curate and compile archival information on subjects, themes, and interests relevant to client needs
  • Oversee teams and/or work efforts at a client facility and/or within History Factory

Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited Master of Library Science (MLS)
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in archives
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience developing and implementing future-focused archives programs

Desired Experience

  • Deep knowledge of archival and content management technologies (legacy and emerging) and a commitment to continue to broaden technology skills
  • Experience working with executives, senior leaders, and administrators in large organizations
  • Demonstrated knowledge of business environments including an understanding of business case development and ROI considerations
  • Understanding of the archives and content needs of marketing and communications functions
  • Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
  • Proven project management and the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
  • Ability to creatively and analytically problem solve
  • Deep understanding of contemporary archives best practices, concepts, and challenges
  • Expertise in archival processing and digitization methods, procedures, and practices
  • Ability to convey complex technical issues in business terms
  • Experience in a business-to-business professional services firm
  • Ability to work independently and in collaboration with teammates and other areas within History Factory
  • Supervisory and leadership skills
  • Flexibility and willingness to travel and work off-site

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Email only, please no phone calls.

Location: Washington, DC or Chicago, IL or Chantilly, VA
Published: March 10, 2023

The Managing Editor serves as editorial lead on complex projects including content related to anniversary campaigns, publications, videos and exhibits. This position works to ensure editorial excellence through oversight of editorial operations and assists with talent recruitment and staff development. The Managing Editor also oversees editorial reviews of History Factory’s business development and marketing communications.

Editorial Responsibilities

  • Provide developmental editing and line editing for publications, web content, exhibit content, marketing collateral and presentations
  • Oversee editing and proofreading by staff and contractors, providing coaching as appropriate
  • Work closely with researchers, fact-checkers, writers and designers to uphold editorial quality and consistency within and across complex projects
  • Review and implement manuscript and design revisions, counseling clients and colleagues as appropriate

Operations, Administrative and Strategic Responsibilities

  • Track editing time and performance among copy editors
  • Coordinate recruitment and assignment of contract editors and writers
  • Collaborate with project managers and Sr. Manager of Creative Operations to resolve scheduling and resourcing conflicts
  • Follow best practices and share expertise and updates in support of organizational growth
  • Provide counsel on types of content and their applications, and best practices for content review

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Outstanding editing, writing, communication and analytical skills
  • Thorough understanding of professional editing and writing standards, methods and practices. Mastery of Chicago style and AP style is a must.
  • Strong business acumen and understanding of communications strategies that support corporate goals
  • Master’s degree in English, history or other liberal arts discipline preferred
  • Eight or more years of experience in editing business-related copy
  • Demonstrated strong writing ability
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal initiative
  • Possessing a high level of intellectual curiosity
  • Proven ability to anticipate issues and apply focused problem-solving skills in a deadline-intensive environment

Job Relationships

Reports to: Senior Manager of Creative Operations

Interactions: History Factory personnel and external contractors, clients

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected] Email only, please no phone calls.

Americans with Disabilities Specifications

Physical Demands

Regularly required to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; drive; use hands to handle objects and feel controls; talk; listen; and vision capabilities that enable reading and viewing a computer screen. Ability to travel as needed.

Work Environment

Work environment is an office setting (work station). Employee is not exposed to weather conditions and noise level in work area is minimal.

Location: Chantilly, VA
Published: October 24, 2022

The History Factory’s Archives Lab is a professional services firm focused on developing archives to meet real-world needs. We design, build, and implement high-quality solutions that enable organizations to use institutional memory and archival content to achieve strategic objectives.

The Archives Lab has an immediate opening for a Staff Archivist.

The Staff Archivist will deliver innovative work in a diverse project environment that offers multiple opportunities for growth. The position will be responsible for the day-to-day provision of archival outsourcing services to one or several clients. Archival outsourcing is the management and/or improvement of activities related to a part or to the whole of archival program operation.

Archives Lab team members can expect to:

  • Incorporate skills which support the management and maintenance services required to implement new archival solutions or maintain and improve existing archival programs for our clients.
  • Receive ongoing training to build and extend professional and technical skills in all areas.
  • Enjoy our comprehensive and generous benefits package.

Key Responsibilities

  • Oversee the acquisition, processing and maintenance of collections of archival assets in digital and physical formats.
  • Create descriptive metadata that supports the discovery and identification of resources; including building taxonomies and controlled vocabularies
  • Perform activities necessary to conduct and manage digitization projects; including preparation of originals for digitization; project tracking; metadata creation and collection; and versioning.
  • Apply information retrieval techniques to meet the research and analysis needs of knowledge workers in diverse industries and business functions.
  • Curate and compile archival information on subjects, themes, and interests relevant to client operational and strategic processes.

Basic Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited Master of Library Science (MLS).
  • Minimum of 1 year of experience in archives.
  • Knowledge of archival processing and digitization methods, procedures, and practices.
  • Applies principles of sound management to the administration of corporate and institutional archives.
  • Ability to interpret and apply data structure standards, data content standards, and data value standards.
  • Skill in developing information architectures and classification systems.
  • Curate and compile archival information on subjects, themes, and interests relevant to client operational and strategic processes.

Preferred Skills

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment.
  • Understanding of business parameters and drivers.
  • Ability to articulate technical issues in business terms and vice-versa.
  • Experience and knowledge of major archival management technologies (legacy and emerging) and desire to continue to broaden technology skills.
  • Understanding of, and ability to apply, modern business archives management concepts.
  • Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration in a professional setting.
  • Ability to work autonomously and independently, yet integrate appropriately with other areas within History Factory.

Work Environment

Work environment is an office setting (work station). Employee is not exposed to weather conditions and noise level in work area is minimal.

Regularly required to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; use hands to handle objects and feel controls; talk; listen; and vision capabilities that enable reading and viewing a computer screen.

Must be able to lift and carry a forty-pound box, climb a ladder to retrieve materials, and work in environments which may contain dust and mold.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Email only, please no phone calls.

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