Archive & Digital Collections Lead (Onsite)

The Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Video Data Bank at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago seeks an Archive + Collection Manager to oversee technical services supporting curation, access, and distribution. You will manage physical and digital collections, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility across websites and streaming platforms.

As part of the Library + Special Collections, you will recruit and supervise student workers, collaborate with artists, faculty, and external partners, and contribute to policy

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited graduate degree in Library and/or Information Science or related field with media archives experience.
• 4+ years experience with digitization, preservation, and reformatting workflows for media collections.
• Commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion; ability to work with diverse populations.
• Deep knowledge of preservation theory for video formats.
• Knowledge of metadata and cataloging schema for moving image/video collections.
• Experience handling video formats and digital assets inspection.
• Experience with digital video editing and transcoding for exhibition.

Responsibilities

• Manages all aspects of collections management, access, and preservation.
• Maintains intellectual control of the collection through databases and other collection management resources; ensures storage and maintenance of all equipment and infrastructure related to collections and space storage needs.
• Ensures preservation of the collection and migration from obsolete and degrading tape formats; and digitization of analog collections.
• Coordinates distribution and fulfillment of faculty and external client orders in physical and digital formats.
• Works with colleagues campus-wide to develop, maintain, and promote our collections and programs.
• Collaborates with artists to acquire high-quality masters and process files for distribution; handles intake of new work.
• Processes digital files for distribution and archival purposes, ensuring high-quality access.
• Creates still images for publication and promotional needs as part of distribution.
• Coordinates class visits and onsite screening room access for students, researchers, and the public.
• Ensures information about collections, artists, and artworks is accurate on the VDB website; creates pages for artworks.
• Manages storage for physical media, promotional materials, equipment, and general office supplies.
• Oversees facilities needs for VDB office and storage spaces.
• Oversees maintenance and repair schedules and acquisition of new equipment.
• Responsible for recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervision of student workers.
• Manages paper archives related to the video art collection.
• Contributes to project planning and policy development for the VDB.
• Works closely with SAIC faculty and students to support research and teaching needs.
• Represents VDB in external media arts and special collections communities.

Skills

Archival experience

Digital video editing

Metadata knowledge

Video handling

Education

ALA-accredited graduate degree in Library and/or Information Science

Job description

The Video Data Bank at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago seeks an Archive + Collection Manager to oversee technical services supporting curation, access, and distribution. You will manage physical and digital collections, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility across websites and streaming platforms.

As part of the Library + Special Collections, you will recruit and supervise student workers, collaborate with artists, faculty, and external partners, and contribute to policy