Assistant Archivist

The Medical Mission Sisters Unit North America Archives are looking for an Archives Assistant to process archival collections, conduct high-level inventories and prepare materials for a large-scale transfer of records to an academic institution in the fall of 2027.

The Medical Mission Sisters Unit North America was founded in 1925 as a religious order of Catholic sisters focused on training medical professionals and serving communities around the world. Its institutional archives document the rich history and activities of the 100-year old congregation and serve as a valuable resource to the organization, researchers and scholars across numerous fields.

This position is especially suitable for early-career archive professionals seeking valuable experience in archival processing and collections management, or experienced professionals seeking a fixed-term position.

This is an on-site, full-time position based in the Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia, expected to run for approximately 15 months. This position provides full employment benefits.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
The Philadelphia Building
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1101
Philadelphia, PA 19107
email: info