Archivist

About This Role

This Archivist / Project Manager role involves overseeing a 12-month project focused on processing, arranging, describing, preserving, and managing significant archival collections related to prominent figures in American music history. The position serves as both a technical lead and day-to-day project manager, responsible for collection assessment, processing plan development, archival arrangement and description, finding aid creation, metadata management, quality assurance, and coordination with agency personnel. It offers a direct opportunity to contribute to preserving and expanding public access to nationally significant cultural heritage collections.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project lead and primary point of contact for contract performance and technical execution
• Conduct collection surveys and assessments to evaluate physical condition, intellectual organization, preservation concerns, restrictions, and processing requirements
• Research collection provenance, acquisition history, and processing history to support processing decisions
• Develop and maintain collection processing plans, schedules, workflows, and project documentation
• Arrange and describe archival materials in accordance with approved processing plans and established archival standards
• Establish and maintain series, subseries, and folder-level organization of archival collections
• Process correspondence, subject files, music manuscripts, photographs, audiovisual materials, scrapbooks, biographical materials, and related archival formats
• Rehouse materials into archival-quality folders, boxes, sleeves, and protective enclosures
• Create and maintain collection metadata, inventories, and finding aids
• Enter and update archival description information in designated systems and templates
• Review deliverables to ensure compliance with project requirements, processing standards, and quality assurance procedures
• Prepare reports, track project progress, and coordinate project activities with Library of Congress staff

Requirements

• Master of Library Science (MLS) or Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution
• Minimum three (3) years of professional archival experience performing archival processing, arrangement, and description
• Experience conducting collection assessments and developing processing plans
• Experience organizing and processing manuscript, archival, or special collections materials
• Experience creating archival descriptions, inventories, and finding aids
• Knowledge of archival principles, methods, and best practices
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills