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DATE ENTERED: April 12, 2024
POSITION: Digital Collections Manager
LOCATION: Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA
APPLY BY: Review of applications will begin on May 6 and continue until the position is filled

R1021 Digital Collections Manager

Job Description:

The Digital Collections Manager is responsible for digitization of archival materials, metadata creation, and quality control of the University Library’s digital assets. The Manager produces, adds and updates materials in the digital asset management system and other platforms. Reporting to the Digital Scholarship Librarian, the Digital Collections Manager works collaboratively with the Digital Information Management and Education (DIME) team to evaluate and improve workflows, policies, and guidelines related to digitization, digital preservation, and digital collection creation. As the subject area expert for digital collection management, the position also supervises student workers and reviews their work, providing quality assurance of all materials existing in the digital collections.

The University Library is committed to the development of an inclusive environment and we strive to advance diverse perspectives and approaches in carrying out the mission of Washington and Lee University.

Essential Functions:

  • Digitizes print, audio, and video materials according to professional standards and best practices. Responsible for accuracy at the level of individual digital materials, as well as ensuring standards are executed accurately throughout the process.
  • Manages and configures digitization equipment.
  • Prepares and manages digital files for ingest into the digital asset management system and other platforms through post-production of digital surrogate files and creation of access copies using image editing software and creation of appropriate supplemental material such as OCR files and transcripts using text and/or audio recognition software based on best practices appropriate for each collection and material.
  • Creates original descriptive metadata for digital collections according to professional and local practices. Reviews and updates existing metadata.
  • Provides oversight of digital preservation processes by ensuring that all digital reformatting is done to preservation specifications and are documented accordingly.
  • Supervises Digital Collection Assistant student workers and performs quality control on their work, sharing project management responsibilities with the Digital Scholarship Librarian.
  • Assists DIME team members in creating and uploading digital assets and metadata to the digital exhibit platform, Omeka.
  • Supports DIME team members in administering technology solutions for the University Library.
  • Collaborates with other university libraries departments on routines, policies, and material treatment, and communicates effectively regarding metadata usage and standards. 
  • Attends training workshops, webinars, and academic library meetings to stay updated on digital collections best practices. 
  • Additional related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Experience managing digital files, working with data and spreadsheets, and using digitization equipment.
  • Familiarity with descriptive and administrative metadata standards.
  • Familiarity with digital asset management systems.
  • Supervisory experience with student workers or interns.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Carries out work with strong attention to detail, and employing impeccable organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including demonstrated experience in project management, facilitating teamwork, and cross-unit collaboration; excellent time-management skills coupled with the ability to coordinate projects, resources, and collaborative effort to achieve assigned goals—with attention to detail and thoroughness.

Application Instructions: 

Review of applications will begin on May 6 and continue until the position is filled.  A resume and cover letter are required. Please upload these documents when prompted on the application form. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

Application instructions and information about Washington and Lee University can be located at https://www.wlu.edu/employment-opportunities.

Position Type:

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Minimum Pay:

$57,045.00 - Pay Commensurate with Experience