Lead Processing Archivist, Harvard University, (Cambridge, MA)

Posted October 9, 2024

Position Description:

• Processes archival and manuscript materials in all formats, analog and born digital, in accordance with local guidelines and priorities and national professional archival standards.
  • Arranges and describes archival and manuscript materials for research use, including providing appraisal/historical context for materials.
  • Assesses levels of processing, outlines plans for executing work, sets timelines, meets with stakeholders (collection development staff, digital archivists, and public services staff), and communicates project updates in timely way.
  • Identifies/provides guidance on identifying materials to be restricted in accordance with university records restriction policies, and federal laws, including HIPAA, FERPA, and local regulations.
  • Creates finding aids using ArchivesSpace and Encoded Archival Description
  • Creates MARC records.
  • Upgrades existing finding aids to meet current descriptive standards, including conversion from paper to electronic formats.
• Leads special projects, including work on collections of complex institutional records.
  • Prepares processing plans for large processing projects, assigning work as applicable to students, interns, or other professional staff.
  • Monitors progress and quality of work and assumes responsibility for timely completion of projects including delegated tasks.
  • Reviews finding aids for processing staff as needed.
  • Manages processing projects of students and interns and serves as unit resource for best practices and policies.
• Contributes to the development of local standards, guidelines, and preferred practices for the processing of archival collections.
  • Develops effective methodologies to accommodate a variety of processing, collection management, and access needs.
  • Creates and maintains documentation of local practices.
  • Writes reports, correspondence, procedural manuals, policies, and other documents in a manner suitable for distribution beyond the Technical Services for Archives and Special Collections unit.
• Acquires familiarity with Harvard University, including its history and organizational structure. Participates in occasional outreach activities such as guides, presentations, or tours. 
• Provides back-up support to Public Services for Archives and Special Collections including serving shifts on the reference desk and providing retrieval of collections for Reading Room usage.
• Participates in relevant Harvard Library committees and working groups as needed.
• Maintains currency with University, national and international descriptive standards and practices for the processing and intellectual control of archival materials.
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the functions of the work unit and level of responsibilities of the role.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBLITIES 

• This position may supervise students, interns, hourly, and/or project staff.
  • Identifies opportunities for interns to process collections in the Technical Services for Archives and Special Collections unit; directly supervises interns, providing mentorship and learning opportunities.
  • Identifies work for students, active in recruitment, and day-to-day management of student projects.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library/information science with archival concentration or equivalent.
• Four years processing experience in an archival setting. 
• Demonstrated experience with EAD and MARC metadata standards.
• Demonstrated experience using ArchivesSpace to create finding aids.
• Working knowledge of MS Office software applications.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and antiracism.
• Second Master’s degree in history preferred.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and writing skills.
• Ability to make distinctions between the needs of institutional records and personal papers and appraisal issues of both types of records.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with substantive, complex, and large collections (over 20 cubic feet).
• Experience describing and providing access to born digital content preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with highly sensitive information or confidential records.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both orally and written.
• Ability to work independently and with a minimum of supervision; ability to work effectively and collegially in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and team leader.
• Consults and works in a cooperative and collegial fashion. Communicates issues that affect plans, policies, and procedures in a timely manner.
• Ability to plan, manage, and complete multiple, concurrent projects, and communicate issues that affect plans, policies, and procedures in a timely fashion

Work Format: Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Annual Salary Range: $ 76,400 – $ 130,000

How to Apply:

To see the full job description and to apply visit the following site: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&Areq=66987BR#jobDetails=2011397_5341