MEAP AV SPECIALIST

Department Summary

The Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) at the UCLA Library is a granting program that funds projects around the world to document and digitize at risk cultural heritage materials from the 20th and 21st centuries. In the first eight rounds of grantmaking, MEAP has funded more than 200 projects from 68 different countries and published more than 60 distinct collections that provide global open access to newsletters, pamphlets, photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, videos, film, audio, and other materials. Audiovisual materials across current MEAP projects include audio interviews, traditional music performances, radio broadcasts, instructional videos, documentary film, linguistic research materials, and more. MEAP is expanding with new lines of funding specifically for audio visual projects. The Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) is an Arcadia-funded granting program that sits in the Distinctive Collections portfolio at the UCLA Library. The program solicits proposals and awards grants annually to preserve at-risk cultural heritage content and makes these collections widely available through the UCLA digital library repository. MEAP is committed to expanding access to archival materials through post-custodial archiving and centering the voices of our community partners.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) Program Manager, the MEAP AV Specialist adds expertise in identifying, assessing, and digitizing all formats of audio-visual materials including audio, video, and film and supports MEAP's post-custodial efforts to create, publish, and preserve digital collections from around the world. This work portfolio will include two different areas of focus: (1) Support for a new line of funding designated specifically for audio and moving image materials; and (2) Support across the project lifecycle for all grant-funded projects involving AV materials. To address this first area of focus, the MEAP AV Specialist will work with the Director of MEAP to develop a designated application and grant selection process for projects involving moving image and audio materials. This application provides a new opportunity to support and sustain access to endangered audio-visual archival materials globally. MEAP will rely on the incumbent's experience to solicit applications and facilitate equitable review and assessment. The MEAP team will also rely on the AV Specialist to review project proposals and to make workflow and equipment recommendations in line with industry standards and recommended best practices across multiple media types. The second, and more sustained focus area, will be to support the documentation and digitization of AV archival collections as part of funded MEAP grant projects. The MEAP AV Specialist will work under the direction of the MEAP Program Manager to connect with grantees; address hardware, software, and workflow issues; build sustainable workflows for content review; and execute quality control for all audiovisual materials created by MEAP funded project teams. This includes regular (virtual) meetings and communication with grantees around the world to discuss project details and address challenges. The incumbent will also serve as MEAP's representative for library-wide conversations about audiovisual materials related to the publication and preservation of moving image and audio files, the future implementation of a media asset management system, and other related conversations. This work will include connecting with UCLA Librarians and Library staff to identify solutions related to metadata creation, digitization workflows, and digital asset management and preservation. The MEAP AV Specialist will have the opportunity to learn from the UCLA Library AV Preservation team. The MEAP AV Specialist will not be involved in hands on digitization or conservation work. Since MEAP is a post-custodial program, the expertise of the incumbent would be directed at supporting project teams around the world to troubleshoot at distance, provide quality control and productive feedback for submitted digital files, and enhance opportunities for preserving global collections through digitization. This is intended to be a 100% remote position to align with MEAP's remote team. Candidates geographically close to Los Angeles will have the opportunity to interact with hardware in the UCLA Library AV Preservation Lab.

Salary & Compensation

• UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience with post-custodial archiving and commitment to preserving cultural heritage. (Required)


• Experience working with community collections, global collections, or with libraries and archives in a part of the world where MEAP provides funds. (Preferred)


• Hands-on experience reformatting legacy media and ability to identify hardware needs. (Preferred)


• Experience working with vendors. (Preferred)


• Experience working with grant funded projects or collaborating directly with partner organizations, particularly on a global scale with partners outside North America. (Preferred)


• Previous hands-on work with variety of audio-visual formats in Library or Archive setting. (Required)


• Ability to accurately identify a variety of legacy analog and digital audio, video and film formats. (Required)


• Familiarity with digital collections and online collection environments. (Required)


• Working knowledge of metadata standards and practices for digital archives. (Required)


• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated capacity for carrying out tasks that require accuracy and efficiency (Required)


• Demonstrated project management experience and ability to work with multiple stakeholders in a decentralized organization. (Required)


• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage complex projects, prioritize tasks, and perform efficiently in a high-volume environment. (Required)


• Excellent written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to prepare workflow documentation, project summaries, and reports. (Required)


• Excellent oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and to present information effectively in group settings. (Required)


• Demonstrated sound judgement and ability to work independently, adjusting priorities and procedures as directed by changing goals or project needs. (Required)


• Ability to initiate conversations and pro-actively help colleagues and global partners solve problems as they arise. (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in related are and/or equivalent experience/training (Required)


• Advanced coursework and work experience directly with audio visual materials. (Required)


• Master's Degree Masters Degree relate to archiving or media management (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Schedule

Mon. - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Union/Policy Covered

RP-Research and Public Service PR

Complete Position Description