Job Description

The University Libraries at Virginia Tech seeks a service-oriented, well-organized, technologically savvy, and self-motivated University Archivist. The University Archivist is the public face of the University Archives, with responsibility to promote the collections through campus outreach and educational programs; assist researchers both on-site and remotely with reference queries and complex research projects; collaborate with researchers, donors, and the campus community; develop and maintain analog, digital, and hybrid collections that document the history of the university including the voices of under-represented groups and communities; work closely with Special Collections and University Archives and Archives and Technology Services staff to ensure that materials are cataloged, processed, and made available to the public; and play a role in the new Center for Oral History at Virginia Tech. The University Archivist works with Records Management to see that materials of historical importance are transferred to the University Archives. The University Archivist assists departments and units of the university with documenting their history, organizes exhibits, and makes historical materials accessible both on campus and around the world. The University Archivist participates in departmental projects and assists the director and assistant director with other duties as requested.
The position is based in the Special Collections and University Archives department but works across many parts of the University Libraries and the campus. The Special Collections and University Archives department includes nearly a dozen full-time archivists working on a variety of collaborative projects. The University Archivist position is a full-time,12-month faculty-level position on a Continued Appointment track, reporting to the Director of Special Collections and University Archives. They will perform the majority of their duties in the Carol M. Newman Library.

Major Responsibilities:
The University Archivist will develop, implement, and provide leadership for the University Archives, which is the official repository for the records and history of Virginia Tech. The main responsibility is to develop and manage the collections of the University Archives, which includes working with campus partners, administrators, faculty, and others to preserve the institution’s history. The responsibilities include collecting and preserving analog, digital, and legacy media materials. Outreach to campus offices and programs is a must for this position. This position is integrated into the Special Collections and University Archives department, which includes responsibility for providing reference service, creating access tools, developing exhibits, serving as a liaison for library and university departments, and leading instructional sessions based in primary sources.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree, preferably in library and information studies.
• Demonstrated full-time professional work experience in an academic archives or special collections program since completing their terminal degree.
• Experience developing collections for academic archives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival practice and current on emerging analog and digital archival trends.
• Demonstrated experience arranging and describing analog, digital, and hybrid archival collections.
• Demonstrated knowledge of creating digital and in-person access to archival collections.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in supporting a diverse workforce and serving the needs of a diverse population.
• Strong communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in collaborative teams and projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional graduate degree or extensive professional training in relevant fields.
• Experience building analog and digital collections and managing legacy electronic records and born-digital materials.
• Experience in managing and building oral history collections.
• Reference, instruction, and exhibit experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with campus and community groups, especially those which are under-represented in the historical record.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience with developing, managing, or participating in grant-funded projects.
• Experience supervising students.
• Research agenda with resulting publications and presentations.

Appointment Type

A/P Faculty, Assistant Professor, regular full-time appointment

Salary Information

$54,000 minimum dependent on education and qualifications

Review Date

January 31, 2023

Additional Information

• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
• The application package needs to include a resume, cover letter addressing the candidate's experience with the responsibilities associated with the position, the required and preferred qualifications, and names of three (3) references and their contact information.

The University Libraries at Virginia Tech is committed to building a culturally diverse community and strongly encourages applications from women and minorities. We are committed to mentoring and establishing safe spaces, both physical and virtual, where employees from current and historically minoritized groups can thrive.

The members of the University Libraries at Virginia Tech strive individually and collectively to create, sustain, and share inclusive ways of knowing in conscientious community with each other and all the people we serve in every space we shape. In keeping with our Aspirational Identity and the Virginia Tech Principles of Community, the University Libraries commits to build and maintain enduring climates of mutual care, respect, and responsibility.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.