Special Collections Digital Archivist

Salary: £32,952 - £38,613 per annum

The BFI is looking for a Special Collections Digital Archivist to join their Curatorial team on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2026.

This position is part of the BFI’s newly launched Our Screen Heritage project, which will bring the BFI National Archive, the UK’s national collection of screen heritage, up-to-date by acquiring and preserving the archives of contemporary filmmakers, to reflect the diversity and richness of contemporary Britain today.

Working closely with Special Collections colleagues; Our Screen Heritage colleagues, and Data and Digital Preservation team, the Special Collections Digital Archivist will work on researching and acquiring the born digital (document) archives of contemporary filmmakers, and collaborate with the Digital Preservation Archivist to co-design the workflows and policies required to make these available to a wide range of researchers and users.

Fixed Term Contract: until 31 March 2026

Key responsibilities include:

• Research and acquire the digital (document) archives of contemporary filmmakers, working closely with filmmakers and production companies to support their needs and to build an understanding of the digital archiving process
• Work closely with the Digital Preservation Archivist to co-design and implement effective preservation and access workflows for digital materials, and to ensure these are regularly reviewed and updated
• Work closely with the Digital Preservation Archivist, and wider Data and Digital Preservation colleagues, to contribute to the development of digital archiving policies and documentation
• Take ownership of the cataloguing of digital (document) archives, including planning and reporting on developments and progress

We are looking for candidates who have:

• A recognised archival qualification or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of current international standards of archival description
• Experience of developing cataloguing standards and workflows for a wide range of born digital materials, and implementing these
• Awareness of contemporary and legacy or obsolete digital devices and formats

A full list of responsibilities and minimum requirements can be found in the job description.

About the BFI

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. We believe society needs stories. Film, television and the moving image bring them to life, helping us connect and understand each other better. We share the stories of yesterday, search for the stories of today, and shape the stories of tomorrow.

At the BFI you’ll enjoy benefits such as excellent support for working parents, 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and additional paid time off at Christmas), tickets to BFI festivals and events plus many others.

We support diversity and inclusion, and as an organisation recognise that we need to address under representation within our teams. As such we strongly welcome and encourage applicants from our under-represented groups; who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are Black and Global Majority. We guarantee a first interview to our under-represented groups who meet our minimum requirements.

Further information

Further details about the role, the BFI and our benefits can be obtained by visiting our website.

First interviews will be held on Wednesday 5 June 2024
Second interviews will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2024

The closing date for this position is 20/05/2024 at 23:59