Binghamton University Libraries offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced, motivated, skilled, imaginative and highly organized archives professional to be a crucial member of a Special Collections team. The University Archivist will be responsible for providing collection management, reference, instruction and outreach services for the University Archives and associated collections, and serve as an advisor on the University's history. The archivist will liaise with administrative departments, student groups, alumni, and faculty, facilitate the acquisition, arrangement, and description of collections, and ensure their discoverability and access. They will support teaching and research using these materials. The successful candidate will oversee and coordinate the processing work of staff, students, and interns.

Binghamton University Libraries Special Collections collects, preserves and provides access to materials that enhance, support, and encourage the research, teaching, and participation in academic programs of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and scholars at Binghamton University and in the region, state, nation, and world. In addition to the University Archives, Special Collections includes significant rare book, archival, manuscript, art and realia collections.

This position reports to the Director of Special Collections and Library Preservation.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership in setting priorities for the University Archives, faculty papers and publications, and student and alumni collections
• Communicate and partner with offices across the campuses, including student groups, for the identification/appraisal and efficient transfer of significant records/items to document all aspects of Binghamton University history
• Work closely with University departments, programs and offices to support anniversaries, events, and publications relating to significant historical milestones and people
• Appraise, accession, process and manage complex archival collections in all formats, including born-digital
• Develop processing plans, determine levels of processing, set goals, establish timelines and provide quality control for archival description for efficiency and to expand access and discovery
• Create online finding aids using ArchivesSpace
• Support donor relations, especially with alumni and faculty, in coordination with gifts and library development officers
• Promote the department's educational mission by contributing to outreach activities such as instruction, exhibitions, talks, public programming, and social media. Be proactive in facilitating the use of University Archives and related collections by students, faculty and other researchers
• Share in general reference services in person and remotely provided to students, faculty, administrators/staff, alumni and outside researchers
• Scan and edit image files for patron requests, exhibits, and social media posts
• Create and update policies, procedures, and workflows
• Prepare statistical and narrative reports
• Work closely with the Cataloging, Digital Initiatives and Preservation departments within the Libraries
• Identify and prepare University Archives material for digitization projects and contribute metadata
• Hire and train student assistants and interns and provide guidance to staff
• Expand professional expertise by attending conferences and continuing education opportunities
• Participate in a work culture that promotes diversity and anti-racism and actively works to eliminate or mitigate the effects of systemic racism and bias

Requirements:

• Graduate degree in Archival Studies, Library and Information Science, History, Public History, or a related field with a focus on archives management
• Minimum one year of work experience in an archival repository processing collections and providing reference services in person and remotely to a diverse constituency
• Applied processing experience including appraisal, accessioning, arranging, and describing archival collections of varying sizes and complexity according to best practices
• Demonstrated ability to create finding aids in ArchivesSpace or an equivalent archival content management system
• Knowledge of the use and application of archival descriptive and content standards including DACS and EAD
• Demonstrated organizational skills in project management and working collaboratively in a team, including setting, tracking and meeting goals and tight deadlines as well as evaluating outcomes
• Supervisory experience and ability to successfully train and direct the work of student assistants and staff
• Knowledge of preservation, conservation, legal, and ethical issues related to archival materials
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, and attention to detail
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively both independently and collaboratively across the institution
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of digital technologies within the field

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: 

• Lift/carry/push/pull heavy boxes up to 50 pounds and fully loaded library carts
• Twist/bend/stoop/squat/kneel
• Frequent desk-based computer tasks
• Exposure to dust and mold

Preferred Qualifications:

• • Experience in processing institutional records
  • Project management experience
  • Knowledge of records management principles and best practices
  • Instruction experience in a higher education setting
  • Knowledge of Upstate New York history
  • Knowledge of strategies and technologies implemented by the archival community for managing, processing and preserving born-digital material

Salary: $55,000 minimum or commensurate with experience.