Supreme Judicial Court Job Opportunity – Judicial Processing Archivist (Contract)

This posting will remain open until filled, but consideration of candidates will begin as of November 5, 2026

Supreme Judicial Court Mission Statement

To promote the rule of law and foster public trust by leading an independent judiciary that assures every person equal access to the fair, timely, and impartial resolution of disputes in courts managed with efficiency and professionalism.

Position Summary

The Judicial Processing Archivist will work collaboratively with staff of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Division of Archives and Records Preservation (“SJC Archives”) to arrange and describe archival court records collections. The Judicial Processing Archivist will work on-site at the Massachusetts Archives facility, where they will contribute to an ongoing project to physically stabilize and improve public access to 18^th and 19^th century court file papers. This position is a 37.5 hour per week contract role funded through June 30, 2027, with the possibility of renewal in the next fiscal year.

Major Duties

The following represents a partial list of the duties and responsibilities performed by the individual in this position:

• Physically arranges and rehouses collections
• Creates collection descriptions and folder lists in ArchivesSpace
• Researches court and legal history in support of collection description
• Assists with identifying and preparing records for digitization

Supervision

Reports to the Director of Archives and Records Preservation and works collaboratively with the Judicial Archivists. 

Position Requirements

• Master’s degree in library/information science with archival concentration, or equivalent. Current master’s students with relevant archival processing experience are also encouraged to apply.
• 1-2 years’ experience arranging and describing archival collections
• Experience working with content management or archival collections management systems
• Knowledge of archival theory and best practices
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with ArchivesSpace
• Experience working with court or government archives collections
• Experience working with pre-20^th century records, and the ability to read cursive handwriting 
• Knowledge of Massachusetts history and/or legal history

Residency

By law, only residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may serve as employees of the judicial branch.

Salary

$30-$35/hr. This is a 37.5 hour per week contract position funded through June 30, 2027, with the possibility of renewal in the next fiscal year.

Application Requirements

Each candidate must submit the following by email to Blanca Tosado at [e-mail]: (1) cover letter, (2) current resume, and (3) a completed SJC Employment Application and Addendum.

Go to the applications for employment and the addendum to the application document.

The posting shall remain open until the position is filled, but candidate assessment will begin on November 5, 2026.

The Supreme Judicial Court is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.