What are the responsibilities and job description for the Digital Preservation Specialist (Temporary) position at Motown Museum?
About Motown Museum
In the 1960s, Hitsville U.S.A. was buzzing with activity. These modest buildings on Detroit's West Grand Boulevard housed dozens of the music industry's most talented, passionate and successful people. More than half a century later, the walls of Motown Museum continue to hold that entrepreneurial energy for its staff—and you could be part of our team.
As a museum and cultural institution, we seek to hire talented and skilled individuals interested in careers, internships, and volunteers across a variety of functions—including staff for collections, programming, fund development, guest services, retail, management, and more.
Overview
The Digital Preservation Specialist supports the Archives and Collections department with stewarding the digitized and born-digital assets of the Motown Museum's collections. The position is responsible for developing a digital preservation policy and sustainable workflows for managing and preserving the digital assets of the Collection and overseeing digitization activities of physical materials. Working closely with the Archives and Collections staff, this position shall maintain proper handling, documentation, and storing of all collection materials in accordance with industry standards and best practices. The Digital Preservation Specialist reports to the Director of Archives and Collections and will work closely with the Collections and Curatorial staff.
Essential Functions
- Prepare materials for digitization in consultation with the Collections and Curatorial teams.
- Operate specialized equipment and software for scanning and imaging of a variety of formats, including photographic materials, printed materials, oversize items, and 3D objects.
- Conduct quality control assessments to ensure the accuracy and integrity of digitized / digital content.
- Work with the Collections team to create descriptive and technical metadata for preservation of and access to digitized / digital assets.
- Maintain and troubleshoot digitization and imaging equipment.
- Implement digital preservation policies, processes, and workflows to ensure the integrity, preservation of, and access to these digitized / digital assets.
- Coordinate the transfer of born-digital and digitized materials from current formats and utilize digital preservation tools to ensure authenticity, preservation, and access.
- Catalog and link digital content in collection management system (Qi).
- Work with IT contractors to develop and maintain a digital preservation program.
- Work closely with Digital Media Curator on web archiving projects as developed.
Competencies
Supervisory Responsibility
Yes – interns
Work Environment
Standard open office work environment shared with co-workers, with related phone, computer and printer noise. Position requires ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, software, and systems; The person in this position occasionally communicates with public membership and staff who have inquiries and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Demands / Strength
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand for long periods of time, hear, talk, handle, grasp, feel, repetitive movement, and use eye / hand / foot coordination. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 30 lbs. This position requires light work with occasional physical effort.
Environmental Conditions
Moderate noise and occasional temperature changes.
Position Type / Expected Hours of Work
Temporary full-time hourly.
35 – 40 hours / week
Travel
Some travel. Must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance.
Education / Experience
PI260143141
