Strategic Archival Processing & Collections Lead

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Eberly Family Special Collections Library seeks a Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies. This tenure-line faculty role provides strategic and operational leadership for the full lifecycle stewardship of rare collections, coordinating processing, digitization, and access in alignment with institutional priorities.

The role supervises staff, partners with the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization unit, and works with cataloging teams to establish

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience leading archival processing, arrangement and description, accessioning, collections management, or related archival stewardship.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, such as supervision, mentoring, and project management.
• Knowledge of archival standards and technologies, including ArchivesSpace and digital preservation practices.
• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leads strategy and operations for the full cycle of collections management in SCL, including accessioning, processing, arrangement and description, digitization coordination, rehousing, and collections maintenance.
• Supervises and mentors collections services staff, building a stable and collaborative team culture grounded in transparency and accountability.
• Establishes policies and documentation standards to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Sets processing priorities aligned with collection development plans, donor commitments, and teaching/research demand.
• Serves as liaison between Special Collections and Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization units.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Supervision

Communication

Education

Master's in Library & Info Science

Tools

ArchivesSpace

Aeon

Job description

Penn State University’s Eberly Family Special Collections Library seeks a Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies. This tenure-line faculty role provides strategic and operational leadership for the full lifecycle stewardship of rare collections, coordinating processing, digitization, and access in alignment with institutional priorities.

The role supervises staff, partners with the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization unit, and works with cataloging teams to establish