30-Sep-2024
Lead Processing Archivist
Harvard Library
66987BR
Job Summary
Although this position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of day of Friday, October 18.
Under the direction of the Head of Archival Projects for Archives and Special Collections, the Lead Processing Archivist is responsible for all aspects of processing and cataloging archival and manuscript collections, including University records, faculty papers, and records of associated organizations. In addition to their own work, they serve as the leader for special processing projects and are the principal supervisor for the work of interns and student projects.
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
Physical Requirements
- Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds across the library for various needs.
Working Conditions
- The position is based on site in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There may be the opportunity for a hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University policies.
- Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs. Requests for flexibility will be considered consistent with Harvard University flexwork policies.
- The work associated with this position is performed in a library/office setting.
- May interact with collections that may contain dust, mold, or other contaminants.
- May process materials in temporary, off-site locations.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Job Function
Library
Department Office Location
USA - MA - Cambridge
Job Code
386057 Library Professional
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Sub-Unit
------------
Salary Grade
057
Department
Arts, Archives, and Special Collections
Annual Salary Range
$ 76,400 - $ 130,000
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Time Status
Full-time
Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal, Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Across the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success.
We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society.
Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support. Today, Harvard Library’s holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University's faculty, students, and researchers—now and in the future—with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.
Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://library.harvard.edu and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard.
The Harvard Library is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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