Description

SHIFT | Academic Hiring Posting Profile

Polar Archivist

University Libraries

Position Overview

The Ohio State University Libraries is seeking a Polar Archivist to join a dynamic, responsive, and high-impact archival program, which strongly supports teaching and research at the university. The Polar Archivist manages the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, leading engagement and teaching efforts with archival collections related to polar history and exploration to advance discovery and learning. The Polar Archivist is responsible for promoting archival holdings through outreach, instruction, collection development, research and reference services, and cultivating partnerships that connect the Libraries’ expertise, resources, and services with the varying needs of a broad and varied constituency. The Polar Archivist provides liaison support to the faculty and students of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (Byrd Center). The Polar Archivist is a crucial partner in the development and provision of teaching and research programs in polar history, exploration, and related subjects. 

 The Archives at the Libraries is home to the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program (BPA), founded with the acquisition of the papers of Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Faculty, students, and an international community regularly utilize the BPA collections to create new knowledge and for education and scholarship. 

Responsibilities:

• Actively engages and communicates effectively with faculty, students, and staff, developing strong working relationships and serving as an authoritative resource for those seeking teaching and research support with archival collections dealing with this history of polar exploration and current polar research.
• Provides research and teaching support to faculty, staff, and students of the Byrd Center. Serves as an active member of the Byrd Center and assists Center faculty and staff with programming and events.
• Supports and engages in fundraising, grant writing, marketing, and outreach that strengthen the Archives’ programs, in partnership with the Libraries’ Development Officer, the university’s Office of Advancement, and the Byrd Center.
• Seeks opportunities to collaborate with other academic departments to create meaningful and impactful strategies that incorporate archival holdings into the university’s teaching and research programs.
• Serves as subject expert to external scholars and advances connections to museums, archives, and public history institutions throughout the world.
• Advances collaborative relationships throughout the Libraries to increase discovery, access, and innovative uses of the BPA holdings.
• Actively develops local, regional, national, and international partnerships and collaborations to advance the strategic directions of the Libraries.
• Participates proactively on library-wide committees, task forces, and teams to integrate archival holdings into the Libraries’ wider strategic initiatives.
• Collaborates with other curators and subject librarians to develop interdisciplinary solutions to integrating distinctive intellectual content and services into the university’s wider academic environment.
• Contributes actively to scholarship in the archival field and other fields related to polar exploration through active professional engagement and research, presenting at professional and scholarly conferences, and publishing in appropriate venues.
• Is knowledgeable about and able to speak to a range of archival issues, including electronic records, digital initiatives, and the pedagogical importance of archival collections in undergraduate and graduate education.
• Is knowledgeable about and able to speak to handling and providing appropriate guidance and access to sensitive, restricted, or classified material.
• Participates in the Libraries’ exhibition program by curating gallery exhibitions focusing on polar exploration, responsible for exhibition displays at the Byrd Center.

University Libraries’ faculty and staff embrace Ohio State’s Shared Values and strive to enact the behaviors guided by those values in all that we do. This position is dedicated to advancing the culture of University Libraries and the work of the Special Collections and Area Studies unit. All other duties as assigned.

Additional Information

The budget for this position is $70,000 to $80,000. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications. 

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

Appointment

This is a full-time, regular, 12-month appointment as a tenure-track faculty member. The candidate will be required to meet university and Libraries requirements for promotion and tenure. Faculty rank at Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor are dependent on qualifications and experience. 

 What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We accept as our operational standard that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the university becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.  

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically at https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Polar-Archivist_R155516-1.  Application materials must include Cover letter and Curriculum Vita (CV) or Resume. Application closes on 8/19/2026.

About the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program

Formally established in 1990, the Polar Archives is a collaborative effort of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and The Ohio State University Libraries. The goal of the Polar Archives is to make historical, rare, and unique information about polar exploration and scientific investigation available for use within the context of an active polar research environment. Historical collections contain papers, records, photographs and other forms of documentation concerning explorers, scientists and other figures and organizations prominent in the advancement of knowledge about polar environments. 

About University Libraries

The Libraries promotes innovative research and creative expression, advances effective teaching, curates and preserves information essential for scholarship and learning at Ohio State, and shares knowledge and culture with the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world. 

The Libraries’ greatest resource is our faculty and staff. Their expertise produces value beyond the collections and their commitment to continual improvement and innovation is one of the most significant ways the Libraries meets the varied and evolving information needs of university students, faculty, and staff, alongside scholars throughout Ohio and the world. 

As a global leader, the Libraries is actively engaged in local, statewide, national, and international initiatives to help shape the future of academic research libraries. These activities and the innovations that result enhance our ability to acquire, manage, and preserve emerging information resources, support knowledge creation, and enable its effective transmission to future learners. Learn more on the Libraries website. 

The Libraries strives to provide welcoming, supportive environments for all to pursue and share knowledge. The Libraries is guided by our strategic directions and Ohio State’s Shared Values. All positions are expected to contribute to building and advancing this environment and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

About The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community.  While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available.  More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here. 

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC. 

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:

• An ALA-accredited master’s degree, a master’s degree with a specialization in archives; a master’s degree in museum studies; or a comparable graduate degree in one of the above fields from a non-U.S. university, reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the fields of archival studies.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to engage with a broad and varied range of audiences, including students, faculty/researchers, and the general public, through oral presentations, publications, and exhibitions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of concepts for arranging, describing, and providing access to born digital collections. 
• Ability to operate forklift at elevations up to 32 feet with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Commitment to librarianship, scholarship, and service which are required criteria to meet university and University Libraries requirements for promotion and tenure.

Desired:

• 1-3 years’ experience working in an archival environment.
• Experience providing reference services to a wide range of researchers.
• Evidence of research, publication, service, and/or scholarly achievement.
• Graduate degree in a field associated with history, environmental science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with the scholarly research process.
• Experience with electronic records in an archival environment. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively in a collaborative and complex environment.
• Evidence of both professional initiative and flexibility.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with user constituencies.
• Experience in developing and delivering innovative instruction and research support services.