BIRI Digital Archivist

Start date Friday 1 July 2022

End date Friday 31 March 2023

Applications close Friday 3 June 2022

Summary

The position of BIRI Digital Coordination and Strategy Project Digital Archivist will be a temporary role, renewable depending on funding. The need for the post was identified by the BIRI Digital Coordination and Strategy Project. The British International Research Institutes (BIRI) are aiming at making their archives available online and ultimately at making them accessible through a joint portal. Whereas some of the eight BIRI are further ahead in this process, others need to start from a survey of their archives. The professional Digital Archivist will provide guidance and hands-on help. The role will include the identification of records created or received by the individual BIRI to secure an oversight of the holdings, to set up a cataloguing system and decide on priorities with the individual BIRI.  

The post holder will work closely with the Digital Humanities Consultant and the Technical Consultant on the project as well as the advisory board composed of current BIRI-employed experts, archivists, collection managers group of experts working for several of the BIRI already. 

See attached Notes for Applicants for further information about the role.

Eligibility

Essential    

  1. Previous experience of working within an archive or special collections service, experience of spreadsheet/database entry work and awareness of digital records- or collection management systems.
  2. Experience with digital collections in cultural heritage organisations
  3. Experience of conducting archive audits to accepted professional standards, and of assessing the historical importance of administrative records. 
  4. Experience of records management strategies and procedures and digital collections management. 
  5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  6. Excellent communications (written and oral) skills in English, especially regarding report writing.
  7. Experience in using the Microsoft Office Suite, especially regarding Microsoft Excel.
  8. Availability for international travel, including to Jordan, Israel, and Kenya. Visa may be required. Possession of all necessary paperwork passports, medical certificates, etc. is a necessity.   

Desirable  

  1. Knowledge of health and safety in working with archives, especially regarding manual handling.
  2. Some understanding of Linked Open Data technologies, Digital Management, Licensing, and Digital Curation best practices.
  3. A desire to pursue a career in the field of digital archives and records management. 
  4. Some knowledge of modern European languages.

Application process

If you would like to apply, please send an application with a supporting statement and cv to the BIAA London Manager, Ms Laura Paterson at biaa@britac.ac.uk. The supporting statement should be up to 500 words long and should outline how you would structure the task of coordinating the survey of several partially unordered and multi-material archives. Please provide details of two referees and indicate whether we can contact them.  

For further information on this position, please contact the BIAA director Lutgarde Vandeput at director@biaa.ac.uk  

Your application will be judged solely based on how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description.  

 

Notes for Applicants