UAA Archives Project Assistant (Student)

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

American University seeks an Archives Student Project Assistant to process archival collections for the USAID Alumni Association under supervision. You will follow a processing plan, research collections, organize and describe items, and perform basic preservation and finding aid tasks.

The role may involve welcoming visitors, supporting staff in the Reading Room, and assisting with reference requests. Strong attention to detail and independent work are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Excellent organization, analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally.

Responsibilities

• Organize, arrange, and describe new and legacy archival collections using provided tools and workflows.
• Handle archival materials carefully and perform basic preservation.
• Track progress using MS Excel and project plans to meet deadlines.

Skills

Organization

Analytical

Research

Problem-solving

Written communication

Verbal communication

Learning new tools

Reliability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Teams

Microsoft 365

Job description

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.This position is available only to enrolled American University students.Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.Department:Archives OperationsTime Type:Part timeFLSA Status:Non-ExemptJob Description:Summary:AU Archives & Special Collections is seeking applicants for an Archives Student Project Assistant responsible for processing archival collections donated by the USAID Alumni Association. Working under the supervision of the Associate Archivist for Collections Management, Access, and Discovery, the incumbent will be responsible for all actions involved in archival processing for assigned collections including following a processing plan, researching the collection and creator, collection organization, arrangement, and description, completion of basic preservation measures, and completion of a collection finding aid. In addition, the student assistant may welcome visitors when entering archives and help the office team maintain staff presence in the Reading Room as needed. This position is ideally suited for a student with a strong attention to detail and an interest in working with archival collections.Essential Functions:Organize, arrange, and describe new and legacy collections using provided tools, systems, and workflows.Handle all archival collections materials with care and perform basic preservation measures as instructed.Adhere to provided archival arrangement, description, and preservation standards.Track and document project progress using provided tools and project plans such as MS Excel, Word, and Teams, etc. in order to meet deadlines.Assist office staff with routine administrative functions such as welcoming visitors to Archives.Assist with reference requests by retrieving collections materials and staffing the reading room, as needed.Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:Part-time.10 hours per week.Salary Range:$18.40 per hour.Required Education and Experience:High school diploma or its equivalent.Excellent organization, analytical, research, and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail.Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work collegially with others and independently, and the ability to communicate verbally and in writing.The ability to write clearly and legibly using provided formatting guidelines.Ability to learn and adapt to new workflows, tools, and technologies.Reliable and responsive to communication and feedback in a timely manner.Ability to lift items up to 40 pounds and retrieve materials from shelves that are seven feet high.Preferred Education and Experience:Preference is given to students enrolled in the School of International Service.Familiarity with archives and special collections and experience researching with primary sources.Hands-on experience with Microsoft Office 365 Suite applications, including Excel, Word, and Teams.An interest in learning about archival work.Applicants with knowledge of international development and international relations may be preferred.Additional Eligibility Qualifications:Applicants must be able to work 10 hours per week Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5 pm in-person in shifts of 4 hours or longer at the Spring Valley Building. The Student Assistant will be expected to maintain a regular schedule set with their supervisor.This position requires both legible handwriting and proficiency in using computer applications and web-based databases.The Student Assistant will be expected to use Microsoft 365 applications for work-related tasks and communication.The Student Assistant may need to bring and use their own laptop computer for work. If a personal laptop is not available, alternative arrangements will be provided.The office workspace temperature is regularly set at 63 degrees Fahrenheit.It is highly recommended that a cover letter and resume be submitted as attachments to the online application.Other DetailsThis position is available only to enrolled American University students.Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.American University is an E-Verify employer.Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.Current American University EmployeesAmerican University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.Contact UsFor more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail] University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.