Arizona Political Collections Archivist

Company: Arizona State University
Location: Tempe
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

The Community-Driven Archives department is reimagining and transforming 21st century academic libraries and archives by centering the lives and voices of historically marginalized communities and by implementing innovative solutions that address inequities and erasure. The award-winning initiative advances ASU’s research and public service mission by creating a collaborative culture that models reparative action and broadens access to and preservation of knowledge. Arizona State University has the largest collection of public papers of the most well-known Arizona political figures, as well as related papers from publicly visible civil society actors in the state's history. With the opening in 2028 of the John McCain National Library, we see an opportunity to integrate all those materials on a highly visible stage as a resource for study and research into not only Arizona's past but its present issues. The Arizona Political Collections Archivist will lead these efforts within the Library and represent these collections to the public. Within the Community-Driven Archives (CDA) team this archivist will lead provision of collection services for researchers and engage with ASU communities and regional partners to promote the use of the Arizona political papers held by ASU. Collections involved include papers of Senators Carl Hayden, Barry Goldwater, John McCain, and Kyrsten Sinema, as well as other congressional representatives (notably Arizona's first Latino congressional representative, Ed Pastor), and both the Arizona AFL-CIO and other labor unions and organizations. Essential Functions Arranges and describes collections in accordance with archival best practices and standards. Collaborates with external government partners or institutions Prepares materials for reformatting, digitization, preservation, and access. Employs a strategic and team-based approach to outreach and engagement. Provides leadership in the management of the collections and works closely with patrons and researchers engaged with government information, political science, social justice and legal issues, local history, and other related disciplinary subjects. The ASU Library is a center of learning, exploration and discovery. With eight locations, the library plays a vital role in expanding knowledge, cultivating community and inspiring innovation at ASU and in our communities. Students and faculty can access millions of information resources, world-class collections, outstanding study spaces, advanced data centers, and creative maker services. As supporters of student success, the library is a critical partner in realizing the New American University’s mission of access, excellence and impact. ASU Library empowers people to unlock their potential, express themselves and learn to thrive. For more information or to find library locations, visit lib.asu.edu. Required Qualifications: ?ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science by the hire date ?Experience arranging, describing, and preserving archival collections ?Experience with outreach and engagement Preferred Qualifications: ?Experience with current nationally accepted library and archival descriptive and metadata standards. ?Work experience in a manuscript repository or archives located at an academic or research library. ?Experience in accessioning, arranging, and describing textual, analog, and born-digital materials, especially congressional collections and/or political papers. ?Evidence of effective project planning, management, and completion; demonstrated ability tomeet deadlines and ensure regular workflows. ?Experience using ArchivesSpace or other collection management systems. ?Deep knowledge of political science, public policy, and/or Arizona history. ?Knowledge of preservation and conservation standards for archival materials. ?Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to maintainpositive and productive work relationships with coworkers. ?Supervisory experience, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff or student workers. Informational Webinar : On August 14, 2025, ASU Library will host a webinar discussing the open positions, working at ASU Library and ASU, and living in the Phoenix area. This is open to anyone interested in learning more about these positions and the ASU Library. Attendance is not required to apply for any open positions, and the attendee list will be hidden to ensure confidentiality. The webinar will be recorded, and closed captioning will be provided. Visit https://lib.asu.edu/employment for more details. Salary and Rank: This is a Continuing Appointment track Academic Professional position; Assistant/Associate Archivist and salary dependent upon experience. Early career professionals are encouraged to apply. Application

Keywords: Arizona State University, Catalina Foothills , Arizona Political Collections Archivist, Customer Service & Call Center , Tempe, Arizona