Film Archiving Technician

Description

LAC Federal seeks detail-oriented Film Archiving Technicians to support the preservation and organization of historically and culturally significant motion-picture collections for a major federal cultural heritage institution in Culpeper, Virginia. Working collaboratively with the Film Archivist and agency staff, technicians will inspect, identify, document, rehouse, barcode, and inventory historic film materials, including complex production elements and incompletely labeled collections. This hands-on role combines specialized film handling with accurate audiovisual metadata and quality control to establish reliable intellectual control and prepare materials for long-term archival storage.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Process priority motion-picture collections according to approved processing plans, agency procedures, and established handling and descriptive standards.
• Inspect historic 16mm and 35mm film to identify titles, reel numbers, episodes, fieldwork names, and other distinguishing information.
• Distinguish and document film elements, including camera negatives, answer prints, release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, trims, and outtakes.
• Examine incompletely labeled or unidentified materials on a film bench, consulting collection documentation and designated staff as needed.
• Assess and record film condition, including shrinkage, vinegar syndrome, and other preservation concerns; escalate materials requiring specialized treatment.
• Perform authorized basic preservation triage and safely rehouse films in agency-provided archival-quality containers.
• Enter accurate inventory and audiovisual metadata into agency-provided spreadsheets and systems, following established fields and authority guidance.
• Apply barcodes, reconcile identifiers with inventory records, maintain custody information, and stage completed materials for transfer to storage by agency staff.
• Review physical processing and metadata for accuracy, document quality-control actions, and correct identified errors within required timeframes.
• Maintain production logs documenting quantities processed, processing time, condition concerns, and workflow challenges to support biweekly and monthly reporting.
• Participate in weekly project meetings, required training, and workflow improvements while following facility-access, information-security, and safe-handling requirements.

Requirements

• At least six months of experience working in a library or archives environment performing similar tasks.
• Demonstrated expertise in motion-picture film identification, handling, and inspection appropriate to assigned duties.
• Proficiency in distinguishing and managing varied film elements, including camera negatives, answer prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, and composite or fragmentary materials.
• Knowledge of historic motion-picture formats and production elements sufficient to support accurate identification and documentation.
• Knowledge of archival principles and techniques, including analysis, organization, and description of materials.
• Ability to identify preservation concerns and perform basic preservation activities, including safe rehousing.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain productive professional relationships with agency staff and project personnel.
• Ability to work onsite in Culpeper, Virginia, obtain required facility credentials, and complete customer-provided training.
• Education, training, and experience appropriate to the assigned work and applicable FEDLINK labor-category qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certificate or degree from a specialized Film Preservation or Moving Image Preservation program, or four years of experience in a film archive or an institution with motion-picture collections.
• Hands-on experience processing both 16mm and 35mm film.
• Experience with ethnographic, educational, sponsored film, or other nonstandard collections.
• Experience identifying unlabeled films and documenting incomplete or mixed production elements.
• Familiarity with film-condition assessment methods, including vinegar syndrome and shrinkage assessment.
• Experience with AVCMS, MAVIS, or comparable audiovisual collection-management systems.
• Familiarity with audiovisual metadata, DACS, AMIM2, and controlled vocabularies.
• Strong spreadsheet, data-entry, barcode reconciliation, and inventory-control skills.
• Experience maintaining production statistics, quality-control logs, and custody records.
• Experience supporting a federal library, museum, research archive, or preservation program.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, and move film cans, archival containers, and related materials weighing up to 35 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods while performing film processing, inspection, inventory, and related archival activities.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks involving reaching, bending, grasping, and fine motor coordination to safely retrieve, handle, organize, rehouse, and move archival materials.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development

EEO Statement

The company and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring/hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. 

Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.