Processing Archivist, Bowdoin College, (Brunswick, ME)
Posted August 7, 2026
Description
Under the direction of the Archivist, the Processing Archivist works collaboratively within the department to arrange and describe archival and manuscript collections of varying formats, including paper, photographic, audio-visual, and born-digital materials. The Processing Archivist employs archival standards and best practices, including inclusive description, to survey, arrange, describe, and preserve a wide variety of archival collections with a focus on born-digital materials in our backlog that are awaiting description.
- The Processing Archivist is responsible for following local and national best practices to create EAD-encoded, DACS-compliant finding aids for these collections in ArchivesSpace.
- The Processing Archivist oversees the work of student assistants, delegating processing tasks as appropriate. The Processing Archivist provides excellent service to users by promoting and facilitating access to collections through archival arrangement and description.
Qualifications
Education/Skills
Required:
- A Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library program or an advanced degree in a related discipline with formal professional archival training or apprenticeship; or, substantial progress towards degree requirements in one of these programs that includes successful completion of coursework on archival management and theory.
- Knowledge of current approaches to archival arrangement and description, including anti-racist archival theory and inclusive descriptive practices.
- Familiarity with current approaches to processing and describing born-digital holdings.
- Experience with detail-oriented work, including the ability to analyze and repurpose legacy inventories and manipulate complex spreadsheets.
- Evidence of ability to attend to accuracy, attention to detail and discretion, and the necessity for confidentiality.
- Knowledge of efficient archival processing practices and standards.
- Familiarity with principles of archival appraisal
Preferred:
- Knowledge of efficient archival process procedures and standards. Familiarity with principles of archival appraisal.
Experience
Required:
- One year equivalent of archival processing experience, which can include paraprofessional, student, or internship experience. Facility with spreadsheets and databases, such as ILS or collections management database.
Preferred:
- Experience with an archival collection management system, such as ArchivesSpace.
- Project management experience, including creating processing plans.
Hours and Compensation
COMPENSATION
- The hiring range for this position is expected to be: $61,500-$64,800
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- A variety of health insurance plans (Medical, Vision, Dental)
- Generous Retirement Plan – 401(a) and 403(b)
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per calendar year, 12 days of personal/sick time
- Paid Holidays and Special Days Off: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/our-workplace/college-holidays-and-special-days-off.html
- Paid Parental Leave (Available after one year of service)
- Household access to many of the College’s facilities including the gym and pool
- Free fitness and wellness classes!
- And more: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/benefits-perks/index.html
Schedule
- Full-Time