Description:
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) is Australia’s audiovisual archive, telling the national story by collecting, preserving and sharing audiovisual media, the cultural experience platforms of our time. The collection itself dates back to 1935, making it one of the world’s oldest audiovisual collections. It is also one of the country’s most used cultural collections, with around 125 million views of collection content each year.
The NFSA is in a period of significant change. Following increased Government investment, the institution is in a process of digital transformation, establishing the NFSA as Australia’s most dynamic and valued cultural organisation. We are rebuilding our curatorial workforce, and developing the NFSA’s capacity to digitise our collection at scale – to preserve it for the future, to make sure it can be discovered, and to share it with all Australians. We continue to work on developing a stable, secure and future-proof workforce across our four physical sites based in Canberra and Mitchell in the ACT as well as in Sydney and Melbourne. We are also undergoing a program of business improvement for many of our corporate systems to improve efficiency and reduce manual handling.
We are an ambitious organisation, and we aim to be an employer of choice within the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector, providing exciting and challenging work, as well as favourable employment conditions and unique development opportunities for our staff.
The Opportunity
The National Film and Sound Archive’s (NFSA) Collection Digitisation Section requires an Audio Digitisation Specialist with experience working in the audio preservation and/or audio production environment. Under general direction copy, restore and preserve the National Film and Sound Archive’s holdings of fragile deteriorated audio discs, cylinders, wire recordings, audio tapes and filmsound. Provide hands on training and ensure technical, production and preservation services are delivered in line with collection preservation priorities.
This opportunity is for a 12-month non-ongoing contract.
Job Description Job Details
Under general direction undertake the following duties:
- Copy fragile and deteriorated audio material to archival preservation standards. Apply conservation and restoration techniques to analogue material to prepare for transfer and storage. Accession digital files.
- Maintain and operate old and new playback equipment to ensure the safe copying and preservation of audio material. Use studio monitoring equipment and apply critical listening to ensure best possible digital transfers are achieved. Engage in digital restoration projects as required.
- Research preservation and restoration techniques and technology. Assist in establishing and improving workflow processes and standards in both analogue and digital workflows.
- Share expertise and knowledge with others in the organisation, including giving assistance in developing and delivering in-house training.
- Assist curatorial staff to identify appropriate audio material for copying and acquisition purposes, including advice on playback equipment.
Selection Criteria
In relation to the Job Details listed above, concisely demonstrate your skills, experience and achievements against each of the following areas:
- Demonstrated experience in the application of conservation and preservation techniques to facilitate best possible digitisation of fragile or deteriorated audio and filmsound formats.
- A demonstrated knowledge of historical analogue and digital audio formats and production techniques in an archival context. Experience in the operation of professional audio analogue and digital playback systems, audio monitoring equipment and Digital Audio Workstations. Sound critical listening skills and experience with digital audio restoration/processing techniques and processes.
- Demonstrated contribution to the development of new technical workflows and systems to meet current and future demands for audio preservation programs.
- Proven client service skills and an ability to prioritise and organise workflows to meet competing deadlines for multiple clients.
- Well-developed written and oral communication skills; ability to work individually or in a team environment.
Tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience in audio engineering/production, music or audio-visual archiving is highly desirable.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this position you must:
- Be an Australian Citizen
- Satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check
The other eligibility that may be included in a job would also include the following:
- Obtain and maintain an Australian Government Baseline Security Clearance.
- Obtain and maintain a Working with Vulnerable People registration.
Assessment Process
The assessment process for this position will include:
- A written application addressing the selection criteria
- Resume
- Referee checking
The assessment process for this position may also include:
- An interview
- Technical assessment
NFSA Cultural Values
We welcome and encourage applications from people with disability, the LGBTIQ+ communities, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.
Contact Officer
Cameron Rees | Audio Services Team Lead
E: cameron.rees@nfsa.gov.au
Ph: 02 6248 2051