Technical Services Archivist

Description

The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation's premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The UW Libraries is one of the largest and most innovative libraries in North America with extensive collections in print, electronic, and other formats. Providing services to three campuses, the UW Libraries also plays a significant leadership role regionally and throughout the profession. The UW Libraries is recognized for its excellent service, innovative learning and research spaces, collaborative approaches, extensive assessment efforts and diverse award-winning staff. Total archival holdings in the UW Libraries Special Collections include ca. 70,000 cubic feet of archival records and manuscripts, 500,000 architectural drawings, and well over 1,000,000 photographs. These unique materials provide a valuable resource for the UW community and visiting researchers from around the country.

UW Libraries has an outstanding opportunity for a Technical Services Archivist

This position manages the Technical Services program for archival materials in the Special Collections. The Technical Services program encompasses policy, procedure, and standards development; accessioning; arrangement and description; physical processing; basic preservation; supply management; and archival storage management. Incoming collections are in varied analog and digital formats, and require varying amounts of preservation treatment and physical and conceptual organization. Major support for processing of collections comes from grants, gift funds, and volunteer effort.

Responsibilities:

Manage and implement archival processing, including accessioning archival collections. Perform initial arrangement, re-housing, and description of incoming collections. Evaluate incoming collections for preservation concerns and perform basic preservation and collection re-housing. Consult with Libraries preservation and conservation staff as needed. Prepare and encode new finding aids and update legacy finding aids in accordance with national and internal standards. Coordinate with the Special Collections curatorial and cataloging staff regarding cataloging of Special Collections archival materials.

Develop and implement standards, policies, and procedures for archival collections consistent with professional best practices. Prepare reports and planning documents as necessary. Write grants and assess funding needs for processing materials. Participate on LEAN process improvement team for Special Collections technical services.

Manage technical services workflow and consult with curators to set accessioning and processing priorities. Maintain collection management database (currently Archivists Toolkit) and supporting documentation tools.

Hire, train, and supervise student employees and volunteers.

Manage Technical Services workroom, archival supplies, and collection storage facilities.

May work on the Special Collections Reference Desk.

Communicates appropriately, effectively and positively. Plays an active role in staying informed and participating in Libraries and unit meetings, activities and events. Contributes to the development of Special Collections policies, programs, services, and to the achievement of Divisional objectives.

Other duties as assigned or required.

REQUIREMENTS:
- Master's Degree in Archival Management OR a Masters in a related field with archival training.
- 2-3 years' experience processing archival material.
- Technological expertise, including knowledge of MARC format and Encoded Archival Description (EAD). Knowledge of cataloging and records management systems such as Archivists Toolkit.
- Knowledge of standards and tools applicable to library and archival collections, including Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS).

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED:
- Minimum 2 years progressive experience in the management of archival resources in a research environment.
- Experience with LEAN process improvement.
- Experience analyzing workflows and documenting procedures and policies.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience with digital curation, digitization, and electronic records.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity in the workplace or community.

Condition of Employment:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Criminal Conviction History, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select Apply to this position. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your My Jobs page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.