Reference Archivist

UJA-Federation of New York

Reference Archivist responsible for public engagement and archival services at the Ontario Jewish Archives. Focused on reference assistance, outreach, and collection management within a Jewish non-profit context.

Posted 6/25/2026full-timeNorth York • 🇨🇦 CanadaMid-LevelSenior💰 CA$72,000 - CA$82,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Responds to and provides reference services to a range of publics including: academics, genealogists, cultural producers, educators, community organizations, the general public, and internal UJA staff
Develops audience-appropriate research guides and tools for accessing the OJA’s collection, both in-person and online
Applies applicable privacy and access procedures according to legislation and OJA policies
Completes reproduction requests and all legal contracts for use and publication
Performs basic preservation actions as required
Digitizes as required and ingests collections into OJA’s digital repository
Monitors use of reference room and storytelling lab (to open in late 2027)
Develops programming opportunities for OJA’s storytelling lab
Curates storytelling submissions received through the OJA’s website
Contributes content to OJA’s newsletters, UJA’s communications channels, and OJA’s social media platforms
Works closely with archivists to profile and highlight new acquisitions and researcher profiles across OJA platforms
Develops and leads community archival literacy workshops
Supports the OJA team with additional outreach and archival work as needed, including physical control and collection management responsibilities, curatorial research and design, speaking engagements, and walking tour administration.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master of Information with a focus on Archives and Records Management or equivalent
3-5 years of experience working in an archival institution with a focus on reference services and outreach
Demonstrated expertise in archival principles and practices, including appraisal, arrangement, description, and digital preservation
Proven experience delivering reference services and supporting diverse users with their information needs
Familiarity with conservation and preservation techniques, as well as the proper handling of a wide range of archival materials
Working proficiency in the application of the Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Thorough understanding of Canadian copyright, privacy, and access-to-information legislation
Knowledge of current oral history standards, methodologies, and best practices
Ability to conduct scholarly historical research and communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences
Proficiency in using social media platforms and digital engagement tools
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Familiarity with archival and digital preservation systems, including InMagic and Preservica, is considered an asset
Insight into the history and development of Jewish communities in Canada, particularly the Ontario Jewish community, is considered an asset
Understanding of Canadian history is considered an asset
Proficiency in other language such as Hebrew, Yiddish or Russian are considered an asset

Benefits

Comp & perks

Rich time off policy
UJA’s offices are closed on all Jewish holy days (yom tov)
Support for early office closures to observe the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

archival principlesreference servicesdigital preservationappraisalarrangementdescriptionconservation techniqueshistorical researchRules for Archival Description (RAD)archival literacy

Soft Skills

communicationoutreachcommunity engagementworkshop leadershipcontent creationcollaborationorganizational skillsadaptabilityproblem-solvinginterpersonal skills

Certifications

Master of InformationArchives and Records Management