Manager, Archival Processing and Special Projects

New York Public Library; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Public Library is seeking a Manager, Archival Processing and Special Projects to lead the AP team and advance access to the Library’s most distinctive collections. This is a full-time, on-site role reporting to Heather Lember, overseeing processing, accessioning, and project work across Library Services Center and other centers.

Ideal candidates will have a MLIS or archival training, 5+ years in archives, and 3+ years of supervisory experience, with strong knowledge of archival

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in an archives or manuscripts repository handling personal papers and organizational records.
• 3+ years supervising staff and managing projects.
• Strong background in archival processing and theory across analog, digital, and audio/moving image formats.
• Experience developing and conducting staff training in archival systems and standards.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff processing new acquisitions and backlog collections, ensuring alignment with national standards and curatorial processing priorities.
• Recruit, hire, and manage processing staff for special projects, managing deliverables and timelines for archival processing grant-funded projects.
• Develop and help to maintain documentation for archival processing, ArchivesSpace, and accessioning on AP’s public GitHub documentation site.
• Conduct training on archival processing and descriptive systems for archivists across NYPL research divisions.
• Maintain archival metadata in all descriptive systems, including ArchivesSpace, Archives Portal, and the Research Catalog.
• Perform database queries and produce reports to inform description remediation priorities in support of data migration projects.
• Represent NYPL in committees, professional organizations, and conferences, keeping up-to-date with evolving standards and new developments in archives management.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Archival theory

SQL

Python

Education

MLIS / archival training

Tools

ArchivesSpace

FTK

OCLC Connexion

Sierra

RDA Toolkit

MARCEdit

Job description

Manager, Archival Processing and Special Projects

Application Deadline: 30 October 2026

Department: Collections

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Library Services Center

Reporting To: Heather Lember

Compensation: $85,000 - $95,000 / year

Description

Overview For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

At our world-class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, programs, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.

The Special Collections Processing (SCP) department promotes access to the Library’s most distinctive collections by describing and preparing rare and unique materials for discovery and use. Archival Processing (AP) is the team within SCP that supports access to archival collections and their preservation by arranging and describing archives and manuscripts, creating finding aids for research use, managing the ArchivesSpace Staff Interface, accessioning new acquisitions, remediating legacy archival description, and managing archival metadata across systems. Each year AP arranges and describes over 1,500 linear feet, 6,000 audio and moving image recordings, and 3 terabytes of archival material. The Manager, Archival Processing and Special Projects oversees a team of archivists who process collections from across the Research Libraries.

Some expectations for this role are that within:

1 month, this person will:

• Understand the scope of work in AP and their unique role in contributing to the success of the department.
• Meet with teams across Collections and Research Services and determine the ways in which each collaborates with AP.

3 months, this person will:

• Visit each research center and meet key curatorial partners and other stakeholders.
• Meet with AP’s partners in Digital and participate in work to remediate and migrate legacy description in ArchivesSpace.
• Partner with the Senior Manager to create, assign, and manage processing projects.

6 months and beyond, this person will:

• Work with partners in Digital Collections Operations to support large-scale digitization projects.
• Assist in the management of AP’s Description Remediation Program.
• Support ArchivesSpace users, including troubleshooting, resolving technical issues, and facilitating training.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff processing new acquisitions and backlog collections, ensuring alignment with national standards and curatorial processing priorities.
• Recruit, hire, and manage processing staff for special projects, managing deliverables and timelines for archival processing grant‑funded projects
• Develop and help to maintain documentation for archival processing, ArchivesSpace, and accessioning on AP’s public GitHub documentation site.
• Conduct training on archival processing and descriptive systems for archivists across NYPL research divisions.
• Maintain archival metadata in all descriptive systems, including ArchivesSpace, Archives Portal, and the Research Catalog, ensuring descriptive content is aligned with national standards.
• Perform database queries and produce reports to inform description remediation priorities in support of data migration projects.
• Represent NYPL in committees, professional organizations, and conferences, keeping up‑to‑date with evolving standards and new developments in archives management
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

ALA‑accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or a Master's degree with successful completion of archival training

Required Experience

• 5+ years of experience in an archives or manuscripts repository working with collections of personal papers and organizational records for collections of varying size, complexity, format, and condition.
• 3+ years of experience supervising staff and managing projects.
• Strong background in archival processing and archival theory, including processing collections in all formats (analog, digital, and audio and moving image)
• Experience with efficient and extensible archival processing.
• Experience developing and conducting staff training in archival systems and standards.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of current standards for archival description, cataloging, and archival metadata (DACS, EAD, MARC 21, RDA, DCRM, LCSH, LCNAF, AAT, TGM).
• Strong working knowledge of descriptive tools and systems (ArchivesSpace, FTK, OCLC Connexion, Sierra, RDA Toolkit, MARCEdit).
• Familiarity with scripting and querying languages such as SQL and Python.
• Experience managing and versioning documentation, particularly in GitHub.
• Experience with project management tools including Trello, AirTable, and JIRA.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: ability to listen actively, speak, and write clearly.
• High degree of personal integrity, reliability, and commitment to quality service.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

• 4-8 full-time direct reports
• Conducting project management and staff trainings

More...

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Office setting

Physical Duties

• Assistance with the movement of collection materials and unpacking of supplies up to 40 lbs

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

No

Union/Non Union

Non-Union

FLSA Status

Exempt

Schedule

35 hours scheduled Monday- Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm with flexibility to change; fully onsite

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).