Archival Technician

Simon Fraser University • Burnaby, BC

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Archival Technician supports a wide range of services for the Archives and Records Management Department at Simon Fraser University. This role involves providing front-line reference services, including staffing the reference desk and responding to researcher inquiries by identifying relevant records. The technician assists with the physical processing and cataloguing of archival materials to ensure discoverability and accessibility for researchers (faculty, students, public, and staff) through specialized databases. Responsibilities also include digitizing analogue holdings for reproduction requests or online publication in AtoM, the department's online descriptive database. Additionally, the technician performs various program support functions to facilitate the effective delivery of the department's four program areas: archives administration, records management, freedom of information and protection of privacy administration, and digital preservation. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, service-focused, and provides technical and operational support to the department's archivists. They must demonstrate excellent organizational skills and a high level of accuracy in tasks such as processing collections, rehousing materials, labeling, data entry, and creating descriptive records in archival management systems. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for assisting researchers, students, faculty, and staff courteously and professionally. The role requires a collaborative team member who takes initiative, manages time effectively, and has a genuine interest in archives, records management, and higher education.

Requirements

• High school graduation and two years of post-secondary education or completion of a two-year diploma/certificate from a recognized library/archival technician program or a two-year diploma/certificate in a related field such as: information management; records management; or conservation and preservation
• Two years of experience
• Ability to assess client needs and provide effective client service (asking probing questions, demonstrating patience, being curious about answers to research questions, maintaining sustained interest in finding responsive materials, managing service-level expectations)
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information and records with discretion
• Dependable and conscientious individual
• Detail-oriented
• Service-focused
• Excellent organizational skills
• High level of accuracy in tasks such as processing archival collections, rehousing materials, labeling, data entry, and creating descriptive records in archival management systems
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Collaborative team member who takes initiative within their scope of responsibility
• Manages time effectively
• Shows genuine interest in archives, records management, and the mission of higher education

Responsibilities

• Supports a wide range of services associated with the operation of the Archives and Records Management Department
• Provides front-line delivery of reference services by staffing the Archives' reference desk
• Responds to researcher inquiries by identifying responsive records that meet their information needs
• Assists in the physical processing and description (cataloguing) of archival materials to make them discoverable and accessible
• Digitizes analogue holdings in a variety of formats in response to researcher reproduction requests, or to publish in AtoM
• Carries out a variety of program support functions to facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of the Department's four program areas – archives administration, records management, freedom of information and protection of privacy administration, and digital preservation
• Provides technical and operational support to the Department's archivists
• Processes archival collections
• Rehouses materials
• Labels materials
• Performs data entry
• Creates descriptive records in archival management systems
• Assists researchers, students, faculty, and staff in a courteous and professional manner

Benefits

• An additional 14% pay in lieu of benefits
• After 4 consecutive months in the position, pay in lieu of benefits is increased to 20%
• Hybrid-work program for eligible positions
• Promoting a healthy work-life balance
• Professional growth and development
• A safe and respectful workplace

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees