Digital Archivist

Description

The University Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a collaborative and engaged Digital Archivist to join our staff.

The Digital Archivist ensures that born digital special collections are successfully accessioned, preserved, and made accessible. The position reports to the Head of Archival Processing and works collaboratively across the units in Wilson Special Collections Library as well as with Library IT and other stakeholders. The Digital Archivist works with University Library colleagues to establish and maintain policies and procedures related to born digital archives. 

Working closely with special collections curators, the Digital Archivist participates in the review and appraisal of potential born digital acquisitions in all formats including images, oral histories, documents, and other born digital, archival collections materials. They coordinate the intake of newly acquired born digital archives in consultation with the Technical Services Archivist for Collection Management and Digital Repository Services staff. This work will include migrating digital collections from physical media such as floppy disks, optical discs, and portable hard drives, employing appropriate tools to scan for viruses and personally identifiable information, verifying formats, and other intake actions.  

This position directs the digital intake lab in Wilson Special Collections Library. They develop, maintain, document, update, and adapt workflows for intake and review of digital collections and ensure that the lab has necessary hardware and software. They train and oversee graduate students and establish processes for library colleagues to use the digital intake lab.  

In close collaboration with special collections curators, the Digital Archivist coordinates web, and social media archiving efforts in Wilson Special Collections Library. This work includes training other staff members on the library’s web archiving tools, including Archive-It, evaluating the effectiveness of current web archiving work, and investigating and recommending new or additional approaches to web archiving.  

Qualifications 

Required 

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science or advanced degree in archives administration, preservation, digital curation, or other relevant field.  

• Recent work experience appraising, preserving, and providing access to digital collections. 

• Demonstrated understanding of standards and best practices in digital archives for formats typically found in special collections including born digital images and audiovisual items 

• Experience with installation and management of common tools for macOS and Windows used for digital archives intake and processing such as Brunnhilde, BulkExtactor, ePADD, and rsync. 

• Experience with package managers such as HomeBrew and Pip as well as managing peripheral hardware relevant to digital archives work. 

• Demonstrated understanding of archival description theory and practices. 

• Ability to plan, manage, and complete multiple, concurrent projects, and communicate issues that affect plans, policies, and procedures in a timely fashion. 

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with varied user communities, including students, faculty, researchers, colleagues, and community members.  

Preferred 

• Supervisory experience. 

• Experience with research and implementation of strategies for normalization and migration of file formats. 

• Knowledge of or interest in post-custodial approaches to digital archives. 

• Experience with technical workflow development and maintenance. 

• Experience with web archiving strategies and tools. 

• Experience creating archival description for born digital materials. 

• Experience using repository systems and storage infrastructure such as Fedora or Hyrax. 

• Digital Archives certificate from the Society of American Archivists.  

• Experience communicating digital archives concepts and requirements to IT and non-IT stakeholders. 

• Enthusiasm for sharing works in-progress and contributing to broader library and archives community. 

The University and The Library 
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the country’s oldest state university. UNC Chapel Hill has an enrollment of approximately 29,000 students, employs more than 3,500 members of the faculty, and offers 69 doctoral degrees as well as professional degrees in medicine, social work, information science, and law.  

The University Library aspires to be an intellectual and creative partner in the mission of the University, the success of every Tar Heel, and the vitality of our state. 

The largest academic research library in the southeastern United States, the University Library at UNC-Chapel Hill includes eight library locations, 10 million volumes, over 250 employees, and more than 180 student workers and hosts 2 million visitors annually. 

The University Library serves campus and broader communities that reflect the socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious diversity of the state of North Carolina, and we maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and open educational and workplace climate for all. We strive to create an environment of respect and collaboration where vision and innovation can flourish. Learn more about our Strategic Framework -- including our pillars, values, and priorities -- by visiting https://library.unc.edu/about/strategic-framework/.  

The Region 
The Triangle region is one of the most desirable places to live and work in North America and offers its residents a wide array of recreational, cultural, and intellectual activities. The mountains or the seashore are less than a half day’s drive from Chapel Hill.

Salary and Benefits 
This is a twelve-month, non-faculty academic librarian appointment. Standard state benefits include annual leave, sick leave, and State or optional retirement. The salary range for the Digital Archivist position begins at $54,249. The University Library intends to hire at a minimum of $70,860 with a salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. 

Deadline for Application 
Review of applications will begin upon receipt. The position will close on July 9, 2026.

To Apply 
Please visit https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/321465 and complete the online application. Please include a resume of relevant experience, a cover letter highlighting your interest in this position and Carolina’s library, and the names, titles, and contact information for three professional references. Additionally, please indicate in your cover letter where you first learned of this position. 

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.