Archivist, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

Location: Ottawa
Compensation: $75,743.00 - $95,678.00



The University of Ottawa-A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to a dynamic community of over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroad of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our goal is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, in an environment that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities.  

We are one of Canada's top 10 research universities-our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today's challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. Our employees come together around the shared purpose of constant improvement, personal development, service excellence, teamwork and a passion for learning with a desire to make uOttawa and the world a better place. Everyone's contributions are valued, we all play a part in making uOttawa a world-class institution. Most importantly, we make it possible for you to achieve your full potential. Because at uOttawa, you belong!

Description and Duties:

The Archivist is responsible for ensuring the integrated management of archival holdings and collections of the Information and Archives Management Service through the acquisition, appraisal, classification, description, preservation, access and distribution and promotion of all media, in keeping with archival principles, rules and standards. The Archivist provides direct support and advice to the university community by utilizing expert knowledge of the archival holding and collections policies and procedures.

Typical Accountabilities

• Archival Arrangement and Description: Processes, arranges, and describes, in accordance with archival principles and standards, archival holding and collections in all media including audiovisual and digital archival documents, and creates standardized finding aids in order to make them accessible to researchers.
• Collections Management: Implements procedures and makes updates and improvements when required to ensure effective and practical management of archival holdings and collections in all media with respect to physical and intellectual organization, preservation and dissemination.
• Reference and Research Services: Provides expert reference and research services to users, which includes responding to requests about the archival holdings and collections interpreting reference questions; helping to locate relevant sources; retrieving information to answer research questions; making on-demand digital reproductions while respecting relevant legislation; and responding to general information requests.
• Preservation: Ensures the proper storage and preservation of archival records in all media, including born-digital material, through expert knowledge of standards and best practices and helps to develop tools and strategies in order to secure long term access and preservation of the unique assets.
• Relationship Management: Develops effective working relationships with campus partners to increase collection access and user engagement with the archival holdings and collections.

Qualifications Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

• Graduate degree in Archival Studies, Library and Information Studies or a related field
• Minimum of three years working in an archival or information management setting
• Theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of the activities and services offered in an archival setting, including appraisal techniques, preservation, arrangement and description, and reference services.
• Knowledge and experience in archival descriptive and metadata standards.
• Practical experience in the use of computer systems and software, including word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, as well as databases for describing and disseminating information about the archival holdings and collections and preserving digitized and born-digital assets.
• Knowledge of academic information sources and experience in historical research.
• Experience in writing texts and content for websites and promotional resources.
• Ability to analyze documents to apply appropriate rules and procedures for acquisition, selection and access, as well as good knowledge of the laws surrounding access and use of archives.
• Knowledge of University of Ottawa history and its administrative structure would constitute an asset.
• Knowledge of information management standards and practices.
• Ability to plan, work under pressure and organize work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to develop and implement new working methods; analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work and collaborate effectively within a team setting
• Ability to seek relevant information, identify and evaluate options and choose the best solution.
• Demonstrated ability in providing instruction to groups with varying levels of knowledge and experience and working effectively with faculty and students.
• Bilingualism (French-English), oral and written expression, including the ability to give training and presentations in both languages

*This position may be eligible for a tele-work arrangement

#LI-Hybrid

How to Apply    

Application Webpage (URL)   
Application Deadline: January 15, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above