Digital Archivist (Fixed Term)

The Cambridge University Libraries (CUL) is due to complete a 5-year Digital Preservation Programme by July 2026, which will result in the development of a Digital Preservation Service, including infrastructure, tools, and guidance to support digital preservation.

Fixed-term: This is a fixed-term 3-year post, due to limited funding for a specific purpose.

Alongside digitised assets created by CUL's Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory and external suppliers, as well as the University's research outputs, born-digital archives are another category of content in scope for long-term preservation. It is expected that the acquisition of digital archives will grow in future, in both volume and variety.

At this exciting and critical juncture, we are hiring a Digital Archivist for three years initially to aid the completion of the Digital Preservation Programme and transition its services to 'business-as-usual', working closely with the Archives and Modern Manuscripts and Digital Preservation teams.

The Digital Archivist will:

• Develop, document, implement, and improve processes and workflows.
• Appraise, acquire, and catalogue born-digital archives and support their ingest and access.
• Train and support professional archivists and other curatorial staff.
• Liaise with record creators, information compliance officers, and IT systems managers/developers to develop guidance and advocate for the management and archiving of core digital University records.
• Use existing digital infrastructure and tools as well as those under development or to be developed in future and advise on archival requirements.
• Provide advice to stakeholders on the curation of digital archives.

This is an exciting role to support CUL's digital archives, and we are seeking to work with an individual with the following experience:

• Management and preservation of digital archives.
• Intermediate general IT literacy and basic familiarity with relevant computer programming, storage infrastructure, and information security.
• Knowledge of archival and digital preservation theory and standards and their applications to managing digital archives.
• Excellent communication and teamworking skills.

Ideally, the role holder will also demonstrate the ability to liaise with and influence stakeholders, assess risks and issues to inform preservation planning and actions using research and problem-solving skills, and delegate and coordinate tasks, with a qualification in Archive Administration /Records Management or Library and Information Studies or similar relevant qualification.

Informal enquiries about the post are very welcome, and we encourage you to get in touch if you have any questions about the post or about the criteria required for applicants. In applications, we advise you to state clearly how your skills or experience meet the criteria. Enquiries should be directed to Katrina Dean, Keeper of Archives and Modern Manuscripts (email: kjd32@cam.ac.uk). Please quote reference VE42865 on your application and any correspondence about this vacancy.

We particularly encourage candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background to apply for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level within our University.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the Apply button above.

Please quote reference VE42865 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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