Vacancy for File Format Analyst at The National Archives

Digital Preservation Coalition; London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a File Format Analyst to join the Digital Archiving team at The National Archives. This role is pivotal in supporting digital preservation efforts by analyzing file formats and providing expertise to both internal teams and external institutions. The position involves working collaboratively within a skilled team and offers flexibility in work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience with digital preservation practices.
• Knowledge of file format analysis tools.
• Ability to support collaborative projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed analysis of digital files for preservation.
• Support inquiries from other institutions.
• Collaborate with digital archivists and data engineers.

Skills

Digital Preservation

Analysis

File Format Identification

Collaboration

Job description

Vacancy for File Format Analyst at The National Archives

Date: 4 July 2021

Location: Richmond upon Thames, London

Employment Type: Fixed Term

About the Role

Within The National Archives, the Digital Archiving team plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Digital Public Record for future generations. We aim to collect, preserve, and provide access to a diverse range of born digital formats, including documents, datasets, algorithms, and complex systems.

To effectively preserve records, we must first understand what we have. Since 2001, we have maintained PRONOM, a comprehensive database of file format information, and the related file format identification tool, DROID. These tools are used worldwide by archives and cultural heritage organizations to identify file formats, enabling them to plan for preservation and ensure the longevity of digital data.

As our File Format Analyst, you will provide essential support to the digital preservation team. Your work will also benefit the global digital archiving community. Responsibilities include conducting detailed analysis of digital files, supporting other institutions through enquiries, and sharing your expertise. There will be opportunities to develop ideas to enhance our tools.

You will collaborate with a diverse, skilled team of digital archivists and data engineers.

This is a full-time position. Requests for part-time work, flexible hours, or job sharing will be considered, depending on operational needs. A combination of onsite and remote work is available, and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site.