Remote-friendly Digital Archivist for Indigenous Knowledge

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI); Mahikeng; On-site; ZAR 391,000 - 558,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness package

Professional development budget for…

Remote work options

Fieldwork opportunities

Job summary

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Nelspruit is seeking a Digital Archivist for Indigenous Knowledge to digitize, organize, and curate traditional knowledge related to biodiversity, medicinal plants, and ecological practices. The role emphasizes ethical engagement with communities and archival best practices.

You will develop metadata standards, collaborate with local communities, and integrate digital archives into SANBI’s research databases, while training stakeholders in

Qualifications

• Proficiency in digital archiving software and practices.
• Understanding of indigenous knowledge systems and ethical documentation.
• Experience with metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core, PREMIS).

Responsibilities

• Digitize and catalog indigenous knowledge related to biodiversity, traditional medicine, and ecological practices.
• Collaborate with local communities to ethically document oral histories and traditional practices.
• Develop metadata standards and workflows for digital archives aligned with international best practices.
• Integrate digital archives into SANBI’s public and research databases, ensuring accessibility and security.
• Conduct workshops to train community members in digital archiving tools and ethical documentation practices.

Skills

Digital archiving software

Indigenous knowledge ethics

Metadata creation

Communication skills

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Library Science/Digital Archiving

Tools

Archivists’ Toolkit

DSpace

Job description

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Nelspruit is seeking a Digital Archivist for Indigenous Knowledge to digitize, organize, and curate traditional knowledge related to biodiversity, medicinal plants, and ecological practices. The role emphasizes ethical engagement with communities and archival best practices.

You will develop metadata standards, collaborate with local communities, and integrate digital archives into SANBI’s research databases, while training stakeholders in