Department: NUL Academic Innovation
Salary/Grade: NEX/13
Job Summary:
Digitizes materials in various formats conforming to quality objectives and national guidelines. Develops workflows which may involve scripting, analysis, and research. Conducts quality control and participates in quality management. Consults on work estimates. Maintains and monitors digitization equipment. Maintains procedures and tracks performance data. Assists the community in making digital content-data, text, images, audio, and video-accessible by generating metadata using AI and other tools; may also conduct bibliographic research.
The budgeted minimum starting hourly rate for this position is $23.20. Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
*Please note this term position is not in the union
Must work on-site 37.5 hours during week.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Effectively carries out digitization of research materials according to quality objectives and national guidelines (FADGI, IASA) using various capture hardware and software. Performs evaluation, post-processing and correction after digitization using dedicated software and cultural heritage tools. Does initial ingest of work into repository. Provides work estimates and may be called on to provide advice concerning best capture methods and file formats.
- Will conduct quality control (QC) of digitized content using specialized software and scripts to ensure that works conforms to quality objectives and national guidelines. Will also conduct quality assurance (QA) activities to make sure workflows and processes and function correctly. The QA work may also involve testing of systems. Responsible for reporting non-conformities (problems, issues, errors) and assisting in troubleshooting
- Enhances access to the library's digital collections by creating new descriptive metadata and improving existing records. Collaborates with subject liaisons, faculty, staff, and students to identify and clarify metadata needs. Supports efficiency in metadata creation by leveraging AI and machine learning tools. Ensures descriptions are complete, accurate, and compliant with national and local standards across multiple schemas and encoding formats. Assigns metadata from archival records as appropriate and reviews it for accuracy prior to publication in digital collections.
- Responsible for setup, testing, calibration and monitoring of assigned capture equipment to ensure that it's operating satisfactorily. Researches and keeps up to date on latest capture software/hardware. Advises on purchases and maintenance for equipment and software in RDC. Also available for consulting for other workgroups. Provides feedback on lifecycle and maintenance schedule for equipment and software
- Responsible for recording hours worked on projects/ jobs and recording status of work in a timely manner. Will write and update procedures and document workflows as assigned. Assists in the creation of personal performance and development goals and will participate in annual SWOT analysis of Team. Will report out on research, conference/workshops attended and digitization related listservs
Miscellaneous
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Successful completion of a full 2-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to an associate's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
Training in handling and digitization of cultural heritage material (print and/or time-based media
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
Working knowledge of capture hardware and software for imaging and audio-visual digitization.
Communication - Communicates effectively one-to-one, in small groups and in public speaking contexts; writes precise, well-organized emails, letters and proposals while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
Computer Proficiency - Successfully uses multiple software programs independently. Software will include Photoshop, LimbCapture, CaptureOne, FFmpeg, VRecord, QCTools, Microsoft Office, applications such as Word, Excel, and Access, e-mail, web browsers. Mac/PC/.Linux operating systems. Familiarity with working with scripts
Conceptual Ability - Deals effectively, not just with concrete tangible issues, but also abstract conceptual matters.
Coachability - Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement.
Organization - Plans, organizes and schedules in an efficient, productive manner; anticipates contingencies and pays attention to detail; targets projects or initiatives that require special attention and focuses on key tasks when faced with limited time and/or resources.
Efficiency/Dependability - Effectively performs duties and responsibilities; displays attention to detail; supports organizational policies; anticipates demands/pressures of assignments and adjusts accordingly.
Analytical skills - Ability to assess and organize information to clearly communicate work needs and best approaches.
Problem Solving - Formulates realistic plans and contingencies and establishes appropriate measurements of anticipated results.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)
Innovation/Creativity - Explores alternatives to existing products and services; identifies opportunities to improve procedures and practices; shows imagination.
Knowledge of digitization best practices and guidelines, such as FADGI (Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative) and/or the IASA (International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives) technical publications and familiarity with print/photographic and/or audio-visual materials and digitization practices relating to the preservation of them.
Working knowledge of Image and A/V file formats and compression schemes.
Experience with command line and using scripts
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.
Northwestern University
Apr 24, 2026