Archival Assistant

About the Employer

The Medical Mission Sisters (MMS) are an international Community of Women Religious founded in 1925 in Washington, D.C. By Austrian-born Doctor Anna Dengel to bring the full scope of professional health care to those in need.

Committed to promote healing and wholeness in all aspects of life, today approximately five hundred (500) Sisters continue this special mission in seventeen (17) nations on five (5) continents around the world.

SUMMARY:

The Medical Mission Sisters Unit North America archives expect to be transferred to another repository within 2-3 years and need to be ready for the transition before then. Therefore, the archival assistant will support the archivist in all archival activities, especially those necessary for processing the backlog of accessioned material and creating high-level finding aids. Other tasks may include digitization and assisting on special projects as needed. This position is especially suitable for early-career archive professionals as well as professionals near the end of their career looking for a fixed-term position.

This position is expected to end around October of 2027, but might extend a little further if needed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES:

• Assist with the backlog of appraisals and accessions

• Collaborate with the archivist to create and maintain inventories and finding aids

• Document and purge non-archival documents and artifacts

• Digitize materials as needed

• Assess records and artifacts for preservation, and re-house materials as needed

• Maintain repository environment according to best practices

• Respond to reference requests from sisters, staff, and leadership team, as well as outside researchers; provide reading room supervision

• Receive and accession incoming records

• Maintain a high standard of professional confidentiality

• Promote the values and mission of the Society

The above-specified tasks may not be the only duties assigned. Employees will be required to carry out

any other job-related instructions requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Ability to:

• Organize and plan own work, meet agreed, prioritized objectives, with a systematic,

methodical approach to tasks

• Use judgment and initiative creatively

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

• Possess a well-developed ability to work effectively with others as part of a team

• Exhibit diplomacy and ability to work with persons from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds

• Espouse a strong commitment to learn and work with the values and mission of the Society

• Foster a respectful, cooperative, professional, and courteous work environment, maintain confidentiality and employ tact and diplomacy.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum college degree in history, library science, or related field; MLIS preferred

• Previous experience in archives, special collections, or records management

• Demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and practice

• Knowledge of best practices for digital preservation and digitization

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects, working cooperatively with others or independently.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Typical interior/office environment

• Typical bending, crouching, stooping

• Lift and move approximately up to 20 lbs.

• Normal physical mobility, which includes movement from place to place

• Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time