Digital Preservation Project Officer

Salary:  £35,608 to £37,694 with progression to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 02 December 2025

The Role

This is an exciting time to join our high-performing Digital Library Services Team as we embark on a project to develop the University's digital preservation infrastructure. You will have opportunities to develop both your technical and team working skills, working on this key strategic project involving our Special Collections and Archives team, as well as other stakeholders in the Library and the wider University.

You will be highly organised, and an excellent communicator with demonstrable experience of making high quality contributions to projects.  Awareness of IT infrastructures and familiarity with long-term data storage and digital preservation would be an advantage.

To find out more about us please see:  

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact John Williams, Head of Collections, Research and Digital Futures )

This post is fixed-term for three years and is suitable for blended working.

To apply please upload your CV along with a cover letter, evidencing how your skills and experience align to the person specification as outlined within job description.

Key Accountabilities

Collaborate with colleagues within Digital Library Services (DLS) and Special Collections and Archives to deliver coordinated improvements to the Library's combined digital service offering, and to support the implementation of digital preservation workflows and system integrationsWork in consultation with a wide range of Library staff, including Special Collections and Archives and Library Research Services, to establish priorities for digital preservation across the University, and to collaborate with content owners about how their content fits in with an agreed preservation approachProvide efficient and effective project support to the Digital Preservation project teamProduce documentation specific to development processes, procedures, and activities, for example well-documented code, or clearly expressed guides for relevant system(s)Collaborate with colleagues on the development, testing, and implementation of new workflows for processing digital contentDevelop and deliver training packages around the digital preservation workflows and systemsLiaise, on behalf of the Digital Library Services (DLS) team, with other sections of the Library and stakeholders within other units of the University, for example, IT Services, Research and Innovation, and the Newcastle University Centres of Research Excellence (NUCoREs).Share responsibility for answering support tickets directed to the DLS team by Library colleaguesDemonstrate commitment to continuous professional development and self-directed learning, including the development of technical skills including coding, knowledge of descriptive standards, and other understanding required for the roleOther duties as may be required, commensurate with the grade of the post

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Excellent communication skills, and the ability to convey complex technical information clearly, in a variety of formats (both written and verbal), suited to the needs of the intended audience(s)Demonstrable experience of providing high quality contributions as a member of project teams, and awareness of approaches to project managementWell-developed team working skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively to achieve specific goals and objectivesExcellent interpersonal and organisational skillsWell-developed time-management skills, and the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and to apply own initiativeProficiency with common software tools and systems, including the use of database queries, content management systems, and helpdesk softwareAwareness of the basic information management principles that underpin the curation of data assets, including data integrity, reliability, authenticity, discoverability, and usabilityProven track record of developing and reviewing processes, policies and procedures

Attributes and Behaviour

Planning and Organising

Excellent organisational skills and the ability to handle effectively a range of task simultaneously, work well under pressure and to tight deadlines

Finding Solutions

Ability to use initiative and judgement within the parameters of responsibility of the roleGenerates a range of viable options and decides on an appropriate course of action that best fits organisational and area goalsAgility and flexibility within the role

Delivering Services

Knows and understands customer/stakeholder needs

Team Working

Operates effectively in a number of different teams and groupsWorks collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued

Communicating

uses clear, concise and accurate communication, tailoring the approach accordingly and encourages a two-way communication process

Qualifications

Minimum of 3 'A' levels, or equivalent qualifications/experience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28842

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