Digital Production and Metadata Lead

Description

The Gates Archive is the trusted custodian of the philanthropic and personal archival collections of the Gates Family. The selected candidate will join a dynamic and results-driven organization – one which values creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking.

The Digital Production and Metadata Lead will report to the Manager of Archive Solutions and will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of policies and procedures for digitization, reformatting, and related descriptive and delivery efforts. This position will work closely with Archive Services staff to advance the development and use of digital collection content, by making collection materials identifiable and available through digital asset management systems and other discovery tools and platforms. 

A successful candidate for this position will be able to work independently and under direction, demonstrating comfort with ambiguity, exceptional communication skills and ability to execute while maintaining a positive and collaborative approach.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with and under the direction of Solutions Manager to:
• In collaboration with archivists, build digital collections and align digitization and born-digital collection management workflows and tools (metadata management, discovery layers, digital asset management, etc.)
• Contribute to processing and access activities through enhanced description and application of metadata to digitized and born-digital assets, in alignment with established metadata schemas
• Support access activities through creation of timelines, slideshows, audiovisual compilations, and other reprographic services
• Plan, manage, and execute digitization and other reformatting projects for archival collection content including audiovisual materials. Prepare materials for digitization with external vendors, and oversee quality control of reformatted material
• Collaborate with other Solutions and Services staff to define project deliverables and timelines
• Oversee work of digitization specialist; provide training on digital imaging workflows as needed
• Provide leadership based on advances in professional standards and emerging digital imaging, DAMS, and related technologies; explore and propose new technologies and methods to meet archive needs
• Actively participate in activities to promote and advance the profession, e.g. leadership in a professional association
• Maintain statistics and prepare regular reports; use data to inform program planning and continued process improvement
• Fulfill other organizational duties as required

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty with a high degree of accuracy. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Required Skills

• Experience in managing digital collections projects in an archives or libraries environment including knowledge of standards for digital capture and storage, metadata creation and delivery mechanisms
• Familiarity with a variety of metadata standards (e.g. Dublin Core, METS, MODS, and PREMIS)
• Experience with digitization of archival materials; ability to identify quality issues with digitized files
• Experience working with museum and/or archival collections, including artifact handling and storage
• Knowledge of information technologies appropriate to special collections, archives, and digital libraries
• Familiarity with database management, word processing, spreadsheet software, and web-based applications and technologies used in an archives environment
• Experience managing vendor relationships and projects involving vendor selection and implementation
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and productively in a rapidly changing environment
• Proven ability to prioritize work and meet multiple deadlines
• Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

Preferred Skills

• Experience using emerging technologies for metadata management and discovery (e.g. RDF, RDA)
• Experience handling digital media and born-digital files in archival collections
• Experience with the implementation of digital collections systems and digital asset management systems
• Experience interpreting and applying restrictions for access to and/or use of archival materials
• Experience in agile project management environment

Computer skills

• MS Office
• MS SharePoint (SP 2010 preferred)
• Experience using archive collection management systems
• Experience using database software and Internet search engines
• Experience using digital asset management systems

Language Ability:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of donors or employees of organization

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form

Education/experience/certifications

• A Master’s Degree of Library & Information Science (ALA accredited), Archives, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Relevant work experience in an archives, library, or museum