Archive and Digitisation Assistant

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sheffield's Special Collections, Heritage and Archives team is seeking an Archive and Digitisation Assistant for a one-year project to develop a Digital Scholarship Suite. You will assist the Digitisation Officer and Project Archivist to enable greater access to our unique collections.

The role suits someone looking to gain practical experience in digitisation, metadata, and preservation, with opportunities to learn and work in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm for working with archive and library collections – Essential – Application/interview
• Paid or voluntary experience of working in a library and/or archives environment and familiarity with a library/archives collections management system – Essential – Application/interview
• Basic knowledge of the principles of archival arrangement and description – Essential – Application/interview
• Awareness of the functionality of Digital Asset Management systems and the use of digital collections in education and research – Essential – Application/Interview
• Proven ability to work accurately and methodically, showing attention to detail – Essential – Application/interview
• Capable of working effectively both unsupervised and collaboratively, applying effective prioritisation skills to manage workflows and meet deadlines – Essential – Application/interview
• Ability to handle fragile material with due care of its preservation and security – Essential – Application/interview
• Excellent IT skills – Essential – Application/interview
• Experience of undertaking digitising work and understanding of related standards – Desirable – Application/interview/task
• Degree or equivalent in an arts or humanities subject – Desirable – Application

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Project Archivist and Digitisation Officer
• Creation of basic metadata, transferring information from legacy finding aids to import spreadsheets
• Carrying out digitisation of a variety of formats, including creating essential descriptive and technical metadata
• Basic preservation work such as re-housing material into archival grade enclosures
• Uploading digital content and metadata to online catalogues and digital asset management systems following established procedures
• Preparing, sorting, and packaging material for outsourced digitisation and checking material that has been returned
• Assisting with the sorting and listing of uncatalogued collections
• Supervising the work of volunteers and student placements
• Other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Skills

Enthusiasm for archives

Library/archives experience

Archival arrangement & description

DAM systems awareness

Attention to detail

Independent & team work

Handling fragile materials

IT skills

Education

Arts or humanities degree

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The primary objective of this post is to make more of our collections accessible to a wider audience. This one-year post in the Special Collections, Heritage, and Archives team supports a project to develop a Digital Scholarship Suite and related services. The project has been enabled by a generous legacy gift left by Eric Pattison, an Alumnus of the School of English at the University of Sheffield. The Archive and Digitisation Assistant will assist both the Digitisation Officer and Project Archivist in their work to enable greater access to our unique and distinctive collections. The successful candidate should have, or demonstrate the ability to develop, a range of archive and technical skills. The role might suit someone who wishes to gain more practical experience prior to undertaking a postgraduate qualification in archives management.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Supporting the Project Archivist and Digitisation Officer
• Creation of basic metadata, transferring information from legacy finding aids to import spreadsheets
• Carrying out digitisation of a variety of formats, including creating essential descriptive and technical metadata
• Basic preservation work such as re-housing material into archival grade enclosures
• Uploading digital content and metadata to online catalogues and digital asset management systems following established procedures
• Preparing, sorting, and packaging material for outsourced digitisation and checking material that has been returned
• Assisting with the sorting and listing of uncatalogued collections
• Supervising the work of volunteers and student placements
• Other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

• Enthusiasm for working with archive and library collections – Essential – Application/interview
• Paid or voluntary experience of working in a library and/or archives environment and familiarity with a library/archives collections management system. – Essential – Application/interview
• Basic knowledge of the principles of archival arrangement and description – Essential – Application/interview/task
• Awareness of the functionality of Digital Asset Management systems and the use of digital collections in education and research – Essential – Application/Interview
• Proven ability to work accurately and methodically, showing attention to detail. – Essential – Application/interview
• Capable of working effectively both unsupervised and collaboratively, applying effective prioritisation skills to manage workflows and meet deadlines. – Essential – Application/interview
• Ability to handle fragile material with due care of its preservation and security. – Essential – Application/interview
• Excellent IT skills. – Essential – Application/interview
• Experience of undertaking digitising work and understanding of related standards – Desirable – Application/interview/task
• Degree or equivalent in an arts or humanities subject – Desirable – Application

Further Information

• Grade 5
• Salary £27,319 - £31,236
• Work arrangement Full-time
• Duration 1 year
• Line manager Project Archivist
• Direct reports N/A
• Our website https://sheffield.ac.uk/library/special-collections-heritage-and-archives
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Mariam Yamin, Senior Archivist: on [e-mail] or on 0114 222 7236

Next steps in the recruitment process

The selection process will take place after the closing date. This will consist of a tour of the department, followed by an interview and a short practical task. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 3 weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.