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Digital Archivist - Job Opportunity at University of British Columbia

Vancouver, Canada
Full-time
Entry-level
Posted: July 21, 2025
On-site
CAD 83,955-86,520 per year

Benefits

Comprehensive extended health care coverage providing extensive medical support beyond provincial healthcare
Complete dental coverage ensuring oral health maintenance
Employee and Family Assistance Program offering confidential counseling and support services
Life insurance protection providing financial security for beneficiaries
Robust pension plan supporting long-term retirement planning
Travel benefits facilitating professional development and conference attendance
Maternity and parental leave top-up payments exceeding statutory minimums
Tuition assistance for employees and dependent children promoting continuous learning
Professional development funding specifically allocated for career advancement
Study leave opportunities enabling advanced education and research

Key Responsibilities

Lead the strategic implementation of Archives Digital Preservation Policy Framework establishing UBC as a leader in digital archival practices
Drive comprehensive digital archives program development encompassing born-digital and digitized records across the university ecosystem
Execute critical appraisal, acquisition, and preservation processes for permanently valuable university records ensuring institutional memory preservation
Establish innovative workflows and procedures for institutional records transfer including complex email archives in compliance with Board of Governors policies
Negotiate strategic acquisitions of private faculty and administrative records expanding the university's archival footprint
Collaborate cross-functionally with Digital Programs and Services teams on institutional web archiving initiatives preserving digital institutional history
Oversee creation and maintenance of internationally compliant finding aids ensuring global accessibility standards
Provide specialized reference services to diverse research communities including students, faculty, and external researchers
Supervise and mentor staff and student workers developing next-generation archival professionals
Champion equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within archival practices ensuring representative collection development

Requirements

Education

Masters-level degree with a specialization or concentration in archival science

Experience

Maximum of two (2) years of professional library experience for external candidates

Required Skills

Experience working with archival material in all formats especially born-digital and digitized documents in both current and non-current digital formats Experience collecting, preserving, and providing access to born-digital and digitized records Experience in core archival functions and knowledge of the Rules for Archival Description (RAD) Knowledge and experience in digital preservation theory, standards, tools, and best practices including technical requirements for digital preservation Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, reliability, and willingness to learn new technologies and organizational systems Evidence of strong professional communication skills, including: written and verbal, in-person and online, active listening, responding to constructive feedback Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team environment Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
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Industry Trends

Digital transformation in academic libraries is accelerating as institutions recognize the critical need for comprehensive born-digital records management, with universities investing heavily in digital preservation infrastructure to maintain institutional memory in an increasingly digital world. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of digital-first archival practices as remote access to collections became essential. Academic institutions are experiencing unprecedented growth in digital records volume, with email archives, web content, and born-digital research materials requiring sophisticated preservation strategies that go beyond traditional paper-based archival methods. This trend is driving demand for specialized digital archivists who can navigate complex technical and policy challenges. Indigenous knowledge preservation and culturally appropriate archival practices are becoming central to academic library missions, particularly in Canadian institutions, requiring digital archivists to develop specialized expertise in working with Indigenous materials and implementing reconciliation-focused collection development strategies. Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools in archival description and discovery is emerging as a significant trend, with digital archivists expected to evaluate and implement these technologies while maintaining traditional archival principles of authenticity and provenance.

Salary Evaluation

The salary range of CAD 83,955-86,520 is competitive for an entry-level digital archivist position in the Canadian academic library sector, particularly considering UBC's status as a top-tier research university. This compensation aligns well with Canadian academic library standards and includes comprehensive benefits that significantly enhance total compensation value. The salary reflects the specialized nature of digital archival work and the technical expertise required.

Role Significance

The digital archivist will likely supervise 2-4 staff members including library assistants, student workers, and project contractors, while collaborating closely with a broader team of 8-12 professionals across Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections, and Digital Programs and Services departments.
This is a mid-level professional position within the academic library hierarchy, reporting directly to department leadership but with significant autonomy in developing and implementing digital preservation strategies. The role carries substantial responsibility for policy development and cross-departmental collaboration, indicating meaningful influence within the organization despite being targeted at early-career professionals.

Key Projects

Implementation of comprehensive email archiving systems for institutional records preservation including policy development and technical infrastructure deployment Development and execution of web archiving programs capturing university websites and digital publications for permanent preservation Creation of digital preservation workflows for born-digital research collections and faculty papers requiring specialized technical processing Integration of digital materials into existing finding aid systems ensuring seamless researcher access across physical and digital collections

Success Factors

Deep technical proficiency in digital preservation tools and standards combined with strong understanding of traditional archival principles will be essential for navigating the complex intersection of technology and archival science in this role. Exceptional collaborative skills and diplomatic communication abilities are crucial given the extensive cross-departmental partnerships required and the need to work effectively with diverse stakeholders from technical staff to senior faculty members. Cultural competency and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives will be vital for success in UBC's environment, particularly given the emphasis on Indigenous knowledge preservation and diverse community representation. Adaptability and continuous learning mindset are critical success factors as digital preservation technologies and standards evolve rapidly, requiring ongoing professional development and willingness to experiment with emerging tools and methodologies.

Market Demand

High demand exists for digital archivists in academic institutions as universities grapple with exponentially growing volumes of born-digital materials and the technical challenges of long-term digital preservation. The specialized skill set combining traditional archival knowledge with advanced technical competencies creates a competitive job market favoring qualified candidates.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Digital preservation expertise using tools like Archivematica and BitCurator is absolutely essential as these represent industry-standard platforms for born-digital materials processing. Mastery of these tools directly impacts the ability to fulfill core job responsibilities and ensures long-term accessibility of digital collections. Proficiency in archival description standards, particularly Rules for Archival Description (RAD), forms the foundation for all archival work and ensures collections are discoverable and accessible to researchers. This knowledge bridges traditional archival practice with digital innovation. Strong project management and collaborative communication skills are critical given the extensive cross-departmental partnerships required and the need to coordinate complex technical projects involving multiple stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.

Beneficial Skills

Programming skills in Python or similar languages provide significant advantage for automating routine tasks, developing custom preservation workflows, and integrating disparate systems, skills that are increasingly valuable as libraries adopt more sophisticated technical infrastructure. Experience with web archiving tools and methodologies offers competitive advantage as institutions recognize the importance of preserving their digital institutional presence and web-based research outputs. Knowledge of copyright law and privacy regulations (particularly FIPPA in the Canadian context) enhances ability to navigate complex legal and ethical issues surrounding digital collections access and ensures compliance with institutional risk management requirements.

Unique Aspects

This position offers rare opportunity to build a digital archives program from the ground up at a world-class research university, providing exceptional professional development and leadership experience typically unavailable to early-career professionals in the field.
The role uniquely combines traditional archival responsibilities with cutting-edge digital preservation challenges, including institutional email archiving and web preservation initiatives that represent the forefront of academic archival practice.
UBC's commitment to Indigenous reconciliation creates distinctive opportunities for culturally responsive archival work and collaboration with Indigenous communities, offering professional experience that is increasingly valuable in the Canadian cultural heritage sector.
The position provides access to UBC's extensive professional development resources including study leave opportunities, conference funding, and potential for sabbatical research projects that can significantly accelerate career advancement in academic librarianship.

Career Growth

Career advancement to senior individual contributor roles typically occurs within 3-5 years, with progression to management positions possible within 5-7 years given the specialized expertise and leadership opportunities inherent in this role.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Digital Archivist or Digital Collections Manager positions within 3-5 years, potentially leading larger digital preservation initiatives across multiple institutions or serving as subject matter experts for specialized collections Head of Digital Programs or Assistant Director roles in academic libraries within 5-7 years, overseeing comprehensive digital strategy and managing larger teams of information professionals Digital Preservation Consultant or Project Manager roles in the broader cultural heritage sector, working with museums, government agencies, and cultural institutions on large-scale digitization and preservation initiatives

Company Overview

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia stands as one of Canada's most prestigious research universities and consistently ranks among the top 40 universities globally, with a strong reputation for innovation in both research and educational delivery. UBC Library represents one of the largest and most sophisticated academic library systems in Canada, serving over 65,000 students and faculty across two major campuses with collections exceeding 9.8 million items.

UBC maintains exceptional market position as a leading research university with significant international recognition and substantial research funding exceeding $600 million annually. The university's commitment to Indigenous reconciliation, sustainability, and global citizenship positions it as a forward-thinking institution attracting top talent and students worldwide.
Located in Vancouver, one of Canada's most dynamic and internationally connected cities, UBC serves as a major cultural and educational anchor for British Columbia and Western Canada. The university's location provides access to diverse cultural communities, strong tech industry connections, and proximity to both natural beauty and urban amenities that enhance work-life balance.
UBC Library maintains a collaborative, intellectually stimulating work environment that emphasizes professional development, research excellence, and social justice initiatives. The academic library culture supports scholarly pursuits, encourages innovation in library science practices, and provides substantial opportunities for professional growth through conference attendance, continuing education, and sabbatical opportunities.
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