Technical Digitisation Supervisor

About the Role

Would you like to join a dynamic and fast-paced team working to convert analogue materials to digital? Do you have the technical aptitude and skills to improve our digitisation processes? Do you have the experience, ability and enthusiasm to supervise and mentor a team? If so, then you could be the person we are looking for.

Through the photographic capture and scanning of historical materials, our vision is to safeguard and ensure that archival collections thrive in a digital world.

Amongst a truly valued clientbase, we work with the likes of Diageo, Bank of England, Unilever, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sandhurst Military Academy, and many Football Clubs, who trust TownsWeb Archiving for their digitisation requirements.

What you will need

This position is three-fold:

• First you'll be involved in the scanning and photography (digitisation) of historical material using specialist equipment, software and hardware. The material that is being digitised is generally old, fragile and unique and includes items such as historic books, artwork, maps, photographs, 35mm slides and film. We have a training programme and mentors that will teach and guide you through the entire digitsation processes. You'll learn how to handle fragile material and operate high-end DSLR's, creating digital outputs to National Archive standards.
• Second, you'll be expected to use all of your technical know-how to review, bench-mark and improve all of our digitisation processes. This might be, for example, through the use of coding, utilisation of third party apps, writing re-usable photoshop scripts or moving/manipulating date using Microsoft Excel functions. You'll also be expected to help and support those around you and improve their technical ability.
• Thirdly, you will collaborate closely with our Digitisation Manager to oversee and mentor our expanding team. In this role, you will be expected to confidently uphold and enhance procedures and standards, foster high morale and motivation, and deliver measurable value to the business's bottom line.

Various graphics packages and software solutions are utilised to create digital outputs that our clients require (Jpeg, Tiff, PDF, WAV, MP3 etc.). These files are generally used for publishing content online to aid research, generate revenue (i.e. via genealogy) or for long term preservation purposes. To this end we have developed a SaaS product called PastView which is experiencing signifant UK and USA growth. You'll work closely with our team of engineers and software developers to ensure that digitised content is readily available for ingest into PastView.

An interest in photography is desirable, but key to this role is a proven and demonstratable mix of relevant I.T. Skills and supervision/management experience.

Primary Digitisation Responsibilities

• Digitisation (scanning and photography) of historical customer material at TWA's studios in Kettering, Northamptonshire with occasional opportunity to digitise at customer locations too
• Indexing and first-level rigorous quality checking of image files before being passed for second level quality checks
• Processing of images using in-house developed software and 3rd party products, such as CaptureOne and Photoshop
• Working to agreed throughputs and timeframes with the ability to work to deadlines
• Visits to customer sites to collect and return archive material (driving licence required/some manual lifting is involved)
• Updating internal/client systems and databases for project tracking and progress
• Providing project updates through the Google suite (Docs, Sheets etc.)
• Keeping internal staff and customers informed of project progress (by phone/email/Slack)

Primary Technical Responsibilities

• Review and benchmark all digitisation processes & resource
• Consider, investigate, discuss (with managers & internal tech teams) and provide recommendations for improving these processes
• Once authorised, scope, implement and test new processes and provide post-benchmark results
• Create relevant documentation, train colleagues and incorporate new processes in to the existing workflows
• Create tools to monitor processes, projects and resource
• Support colleagues with any technical issues

Primary Supervision Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Collaborate with the Digitisation Manager to supervise, guide, and mentor the growing team.
• Quality Assurance: Monitor, uphold, and continuously improve digitisation standards to ensure excellence across all projects.
• Performance & Productivity: Maintain high morale, motivation, accountability and efficiency within the team, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Operational Oversight: Ensure workflows, processes, and resources are effectively managed to meet deadlines and deliverables.
• Business Impact: Demonstrate measurable value to the organisation's bottom line by aligning team output with strategic goals.
• Innovation & Improvement: Identify opportunities to refine practices, adopt new technologies, and enhance service delivery.

What We Offer in Return

An opportunity to work with global brands, developing your skills as a digitisation, technical and management professional, from a number of highly experienced colleagues. Our premises comprise a modern and spacious converted barn where you will get to be a part of a passionate and fun team.

This role will also offer:

• A competitive salary plus career development - Providing the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to digitise to National Archive standards, whilst developing your technical skills.
• An innovative, fast-paced, fun team environment - Enjoy your work and be rewarded for it.
• A social company environment and a range of group activities - To include volunteering opportunities and social events.

Our Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Technically proficient with minimum 1 year commercial experience of programming languages (i.e. Python, Java, PHP etc.), data handling, spreadsheets, scripts and technical support
• Demonstratable leadership experience or strong potential
• Understanding of various operating systems (Windows, Unix, Linux)
• Problem-Solving & troubleshooting with strong analytical skills
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Confident and self-motivated with good organisational skills
• Well-spoken with good written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player, but equally happy to work alone
• Good time-keeping and time management skills
• Energetic, outgoing, reliable with a 'can do' attitude
• A willingness to carry out overtime as and when required
• Cultural heritage awareness and a fan of all things History
• UK driving licence and own vehicle

Desirable

• A demonstrated ability to work with MS Office, Google suite and graphic design packages such as Adobe Photoshop
• A knowledge and understanding of image formats (TIF, JPG, PDF, OCR etc.) and audio/video formats (WAV, MP3, MOV, MP4 etc.)
• An understanding and practical experience of using various digital cameras and scanners including an understanding of photography basics such as exposure, shutter speeds etc.
• Computing Education (A level, Diploma, Degree etc.) or equivalent experience

Benefits

• Company events
• Company pension
• On-site parking
• Referral programme

Schedule

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (office based, occasional travel & working at clients premises)

Licence/Certification

Drivers Licenses and Own Car (required)

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £27,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Experience:

• Software/I.T. Engineering: 1 year (required)
• Management/Supervision: 1 year (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• UK Driving License (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Location:

• Kettering NN16 8XF (required)

Work Location: In person