Organization Name: Toronto Metropolitan University

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Compensation: $70,448 - $112,535

Organization Homepage (URL): https://library.torontomu.ca/#

About the Organization: For more than 75 years, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) has been shaping the next generation of leaders through its uniquely innovative, entrepreneurial and career-focused approach to higher education. Driven by bold leadership, cutting-edge research and a deep commitment to academic excellence, TMU collaborates with students, faculties, staff and partners to push boundaries, reimagine solutions and create meaningful change in an increasingly interconnected world. For a more in-depth understanding of our vision, core values and ongoing work, please see our academic plan 

TMU welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and in every unit of the university. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from members of equity deserving groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada, First Nations Peoples in the United States, racialized people, Black people, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Social Media: N/A

Description and Duties:The Librarian, Project Archivist position offers an exciting opportunity for a future-focused, progressive, and community-oriented professional. Reporting to the Head, Collection Services and to the Archivist as functional supervisor within the Archives and Special Collections (A&SC) team, the incumbent will be a part of the Indian Residential Schools Records Project team. The Project team will be led by Connie Walker in the School of Journalism, and will include Kimberly Murray (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University) and the Yellowhead Institute at TMU. The project aims to protect Survivor truths and to promote justice and accountability.

An estimated 20,000 statements of claim were filed in courts across the country by Survivors in relation to the harms inflicted on them in Indian Residential Schools. These lawsuits led to the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement of 2006 which predated the Independent Assessment Process (IAP). The archivist would contribute to the development of culturally appropriate protocols for the archiving of these public documents in ways that support Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Survivors in making decisions regarding the stewardship of their records.

This project will also advocate for the preservation of the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) records facing imminent destruction. Roughly 38,000 testimonies of experiences at Indian Residential Schools, collected between 2006-2012, are set to be destroyed by September 19, 2027 by order of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Librarian, Project Archivist will advise on project priorities and protocols to develop a framework for a new archive of Survivor accounts—primarily from lawsuits, court filings, and testimonies—while executing core archival functions, including data management, archival description, and digital preservation. This role utilizes principles of community-led archival practices, Indigenous data sovereignty, ethical stewardship, reciprocal knowledge exchange, and accountable care and respect for the communities involved. Requiring technical expertise and the ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, students, and researchers, the role may also involve travelling to Indigenous communities to collaborate with community researchers, Survivors, and knowledge keepers.

Responsibilities

Strategic Direction and Community Engagement

Policy and Ethical Governance: Develops core policies, procedures, and ethical frameworks in collaboration with leadership to guide the acquisition and stewardship of records.

Community Relations: Maintains and supports strong, collaborative relationships with participating Indigenous communities and stakeholders to define collecting scopes and communicate strategies.

Sustainability Planning: Collaborates with the Archivist, faculty, and staff on long-term planning initiatives to ensure enduring project sustainability.

Team Supervision: Trains, supervises, and mentors student research assistants, interns, and contract staff.

Advisory and Consultation: Navigates and advises project members on complex privacy issues, ethical considerations, and collection workflows.

Archival Stewardship and Technical Operations

Collection Management: Oversees the appraisal, preservation, arrangement, and description of materials, creating metadata, indexes, and finding aids to facilitate easy retrieval.

System and Technology Strategy: Leads the implementation of archives and information systems, managing digitization workflows, digital asset management, and web archiving.

Digital Preservation: Establishes digital preservation workflows, including fixity checks and storage monitoring, to ensure the long-term integrity of born-digital and digitized materials.

Physical Preservation: Implements measures to protect physical records from deterioration, damage, or loss through climate control and proper storage techniques.

Access and Compliance: Identifies access, privacy, and copyright restrictions while assisting students, researchers, communities, and the public in accessing archival materials.

Public Programming: Plans and delivers presentations and public programs regarding access, copyright, privacy, and digital preservation.

Qualifications: The successful candidate shall hold a Master of Information (with a concentration in archives and records management), Master of Archival Studies (MAS), or an equivalent degree from an ALA-accredited program.

Experience with working within diverse populations of faculty, staff, student, community members, and other constituencies.

Experience working with community engagement and outreach in a library or archival setting.

Two (2) years of relevant experience as an information professional.

Familiarity with current archival practices and emerging concepts, including understanding of the principles of post-custodial archival stewardship.

Knowledge and commitment to decolonization, Indigenous data sovereignty, anti-racist archival theory and description, and the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession – more commonly known as OCAP®.

Knowledge and commitment to the United Nations Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through action to combat impunity (also known as the Joinet

Orentlicher Principles) around Survivors, families, and communities’ right to know the truth

Understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing within a higher education setting.

Dedicated to cultivating an inclusive environment that recognizes barriers faced by people and encourages and incorporates contributions from diverse groups and individuals.

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing workflows and procedures supporting transfer, arrangement, description, and preservation of digital material, and communicating these workflows effectively to colleagues.

Respect, professionalism, and willingness to engage in collegial decision making thorough utilization of existing councils and governing bodies within the institution.

Excellent problem-solving and time-management skills and ability to operate effectively while balancing competing priorities.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

How to Apply: To learn more about this position and apply visit:

https://careers.torontomu.ca/psc/hrcgprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=397375&PostingSeq=1

Application Deadline: August 28, 2026

Use of AI: No

Job Poster: Tanis Franco

Job Poster Email: tanis.franco@torontomu.ca