Req #:	227319
Department:	UW LIBRARIES
Job Location:	Seattle Campus
Posting Date:	10/05/2023
Closing Info:	Open Until Filled
Salary:	$5,953 - $7,500 per month
Union Position:	Yes
Shift:	First Shift
Benefits:	As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

See full post and apply here

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The UW Libraries has an outstanding opportunity for a Processing Archivist.

POSITION PURPOSE
Under the general direction of the Interim Director of Special Collections, the Processing Archivist works closely with the Accessioning Archivist to identify, organize, and process collections for all curatorial collecting areas.

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.  

Special Collections is comprised of the rich Pacific Northwest Collection that documents the historic and contemporary life and culture of the region including members of Congress, pioneer settlers, citizen activists, civic and communal leaders, the forest products industry, environmental organizations, ethnic and other special communities, and major cultural figures. Other Special Collections collecting strengths include Architecture, 19th-century American Literature, 20th-century American and English Literature, Photographs and Moving Images, and Travel and Exploration. Special Collections is also home to a world-class Book Arts Collection, the Labor Archives of Washington State, and the Ethnomusicology Archives and the University Archives which documents the life of the University from athletics to student life to academics.

The archivist is responsible for coordinating the process of making new archival collections available for use by researchers by, establishing rudimentary physical and intellectual control over the materials by recording brief information in a standard way. Once accessioned, initial processing occurs to create an inventory and/or description of the collection so that researchers can discover the materials by way of the library catalog, or our consortial finding aid database, Archives West.

The archivist is also responsible for helping set processing priorities and overseeing the work of student employees assigned to this work. The archivist is part of a technical services team comprising the Processing Archivist and Accessioning Archivist, together with the Processing and Monographic Receiving Specialist.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Archival Processing (70%)

• Organizes and rehouses manuscript materials.
  
• Assists in research of background information for collections.
  
• Uses an established template in XMetal XML editing software to enter collection information into an EAD (Encoded Archival Description) finding aid. 
  
• Arranges and describes manuscript material and archival collections in all formats (paper, photographic, electronic, audiovisual, etc.). 
  
• In collaboration with curators, develops processing plans for collections, including determining level of granularity at which to process, assuring appropriate housing of materials, identifying and recommending materials for conservation/preservation treatment, writing and editing finding aids according to DACS (Describing Archives: a Content Standard) specifications, and participating in digitization projects. 
  
  Supervisory (20%)
  
• Trains and supervises the work of students, support staff, volunteers, and interns working on archival projects. Assists in training peers (archivists) in DACS and other best practices, and assists in training new archivists on staff. Updates processing manual, centralizes practices, when appropriate, across the department. 
  
  Public Service (10%)
  
• Provides professional, technical, and subject-specific expertise and support to public services staff, researchers, and other department staff through reference guidance and consultation. 
  
• Works with preservation staff to manage and prepare collection materials for reproduction, display, and exhibition. 
  
  General 
  
• Understands and abides by the Libraries Personal Communication Responsibilities. Communicates appropriately, effectively, and positively. Plays an active role in staying informed and participating in Libraries and unit meetings, activities, and events. 
  
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity and inclusion, and an understanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace. 
  
  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
  Master’s degree with an archival focus or a domain-specific field, and 1 year of archival work experience OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.
  
  ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  
• Demonstrated experience processing archival collections.
  
• Demonstrated technological expertise, including knowledge of MARC (machine-readable cataloging) format and Encoded Archival Description (EAD), XMetal, XML (extensible markup language), and other archival encoding systems. 
  
• Ability to function well in a rapidly changing environment, to work effectively within a large complex organization, and to exercise initiative.
  
• Ability to describe collections and materials in writing for content and preservation documentation, as well as collection significance for donors and grant narrative statements.
  
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills including demonstrated ability to work with staff and users and assist researchers with complex questions in person, by phone, and in writing.
  
• Strong project management skills, with an ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. 
  
• Ability to work independently, as well as work collaboratively as a team with colleagues in Special Collections and other Library units. 
  
• Detail oriented, with an ability to think flexibly and creatively.
  
• Experience identifying and restricting sensitive information.
  
• Experience working with personal papers, organizational records, and media materials and the ability to conceptualize and organize large collections in a variety of diverse formats, including born-digital, audiovisual, photographic, and paper material.
  
• Knowledge of the MARC format, Describing Archives: A Content Standard, and other standards and tools for the description of manuscript and archival materials (e.g., RDA (Resource Description and Access), LCGTM (LC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials, AAT (Art and Architecture Thesaurus, LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings, AMIM (Archival Moving Image Materials).)
  
  DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  
• Familiarity with ArchivesWest and Orbis-Cascade Alliance archival practices.
  
• Experience with issues of preservation and handling collections in a variety of formats, e.g., including knowledge of preservation and description practices for electronic and other media materials.
  
• Supervisory experience working with students.
  
• Some familiarity with other relevant metadata standards, including Dublin Core, VRA Core (Visual Resources Association), METS (Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard), and MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema).
  
• Experience providing reference services in a special collections or archival environment.
  
• Familiarity with digitization and digital collections metadata creation and the CONTENTdm platform or similar digital asset management systems.
  
  COVER LETTER REQUIREMENT
  This position requires a cover letter: In your cover letter discuss your relevant experience as it related to the position description. In addition, share your experience working in a team processing environment including developing workflows, procedures, and standards.
  
  Application Process:   The application process 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 Work Authorization, 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.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.