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IWA Collections Archivist
The University of Iowa Libraries seeks to hire an organized, collaborative, and intellectually curious archivist to serve as Collections Archivist at the Iowa Women’s Archives. Under the general direction of the Associate Curator of the Iowa Women’s Archives (IWA), the Collections Archivist will plan and carry out accessioning, processing, and collections management of archival collections representing a wide variety of physical and digital formats within the Iowa Women’s Archives. They will collaborate with curators and fellow archivists in identifying processing priorities and implementing accessioning and processing workflows, delegating tasks to student employees as applicable. The Collections Archivist will contribute to effective collections management by collaborating with staff in areas of digital preservation, cataloging and metadata, and conservation. They will work in tandem within and outside of the Special Collections & Archives department toward larger project goals such as the establishment of born digital workflows and policies and will also assist with reference, instruction, and outreach activities within the IWA.
Key Areas of Responsibility and Specific Job Tasks
Select, Acquire, Organize, Preserve, and Provide Information Resources and Services
- Accession, arrange and describe IWA collections in all formats according to archival standards.
- Create standards-compliant finding aids using the content management software ArchivesSpace.
- Support digitization workflows in collaboration with staff in areas of preservation, digitization, cataloging and metadata.
- Coordinate with Conservation and Collections Care staff and other IWA staff to assess the preservation needs of materials and identify solutions.
- Evaluate and revise existing collections to ensure quality, compliance with professional standards
- Participate in the Special Collections & Archives Processing Group, actively engaging in projects such as updating shared accessioning and processing procedures and developing workflows for born digital material.
- Collaborate with other processing staff to create sustainable, effective processing workflows while integrating these efforts into overall departmental processing needs.
- With other processing staff, coordinate shelving decisions and shifting projects to maximize shelf space.
- Additional job duties as assigned based on individual knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Instruction, Consultation, and Research Services
- Provide reference services as needed
- Participate in IWA instruction and outreach activities and support day-to-day operations in the IWA.
Leadership/Staff and Resource Management/Financial Responsibility
- Train and supervise students in processing and related activities.
- Contribute to department-level planning and the formulation of new policies and procedures
Continuous Learning & Skills Development
- Keep abreast of developments in archival standards and trends, applying new rules, interpretations, and techniques as appropriate.
Professional Contributions
- Contribute to the profession through service, research, publishing and/or teaching
- Participate in relevant library and university-wide activities and committees
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- A library science graduate degree from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent international degree; or in archival studies; or in a related field with a focus on archival studies.
- Two years of experience working in a special collections or archives setting.
- Experience arranging and describing archival collections.
- Training in, or demonstrated knowledge of, archival theory and practices.
- Demonstrated knowledge of national metadata content and structure standards for archival materials such as DACS and EAD.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based setting where consultation, flexibility, reliability, initiative, creativity, collaboration, and cooperation are essential.
- Demonstrated ability to support a welcoming and respectful environment through job-related experience, an academic setting, and/or community engagement
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with ArchivesSpace or similar collection management systems.
- Experience processing born-digital and/or audiovisual materials.
- Substantial coursework or certification in digital archives.
- Archival certification including but not limited to the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) and/or Society of American Archivists (SAA) certifications.
- Experience supervising and supporting student employees.
- Reading and listening proficiency in Spanish.
Application Details:
Applications are only accepted through the Jobs@UIOWA website.
In order to be eligible for interview, applicants must upload the following and mark them as “relevant files” when you upload the documents:
- Cover letter that clearly addresses how you meet each of the required and any desired qualifications of this position. To ensure strongest consideration, applicants are encouraged to review all required qualifications and state directly how they meet each of them.
- Current resume
This job ad will be posted through April 5, 2026, and may be removed from posting and filled any time after that date. Please contact andrea-rost@uiowa.edu if you have any questions about the position.
The hiring salary range for this Specialist Librarian position is $55,000 - $65,000
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
This position is eligible for on-campus and/or hybrid remote work within Iowa, with the majority of work time being on campus, and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation.
Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.
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