Processing Archivist, Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Posted November 4, 2026
Description:
John J. Burns Library of rare books, special collections, and archives at Boston College is seeking an adept Processing Archivist to support the mission of the Boston College Libraries by facilitating access to primary source material. Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,654 full-time undergraduates and 5,072 graduate and professional students. Ranked 37 among national universities, Boston College has 923 full-time and 1,336 FTE faculty, 2,822 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.9 billion.
Position Duties:
The Processing Archivist will prepare processing plans, follow best practices and standards for arranging and describing archival collections in all formats across many collecting areas, and publish hierarchical description (finding aids) in alignment with professional standards and practices, efficiently utilizing technology and student support. This person will participate in digital archives preservation and collaborate on workflows for reformatting and providing access to time-based media and born-digital content. They will prepare announcements to publicize available holdings and work with the department on collections management tasks.
The ideal candidate will be committed to describing archival material for use in research and teaching, responsive to changing priorities, curious and innovative, and willing to solve problems independently and collaboratively. Archives experience working with a variety of record types, strong communication skills, and a Master’s degree in library/archives/information science or equivalent degree are required. This position will work in shared office space with other Processing Archivists; collegiality is essential. Experience with ArchivesSpace and skill documenting preferred name forms, including creating robust ArchivesSpace Agent records and Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC) entities, are preferred.
Qualifications:
- ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library Science or Information Science with a concentration in archival work, or equivalent.
- Experience or coursework pertaining to archival and library preservation and conservation practices.
- Minimum of at least one year archival processing experience with a variety of record types (literary, historical, and organizational records).
Hours and Compensation:
- This is a full-time, in-person, on-site position on the Boston College Chestnut Hill campus.
- Title and salary commensurate with relevant experience based on the following titles and full-time equivalent hiring ranges:
- Senior Librarian: $78,100 – $97,650; 5+ years related professional experience
- Librarian: $70,850 – $88,550; 3-5 years related professional experience
- Associate Librarian: $64,100 – $80,100; 1-3 years experience
- Additional benefits can be found on https://www.bc.edu/employeehandbook
How to Apply:
To learn more and apply, visit the position listing on Boston College career site at https://bc.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/11375?c=bc. Please share both a cover letter and resume with your application.