Film Archivist

Description

LAC Federal seeks a skilled Film Archivist to preserve and improve access to historically and culturally significant motion-picture collections for a major federal cultural institution in Culpeper, Virginia. Working with agency staff, the archivist will identify and inspect historic film, assess preservation concerns, rehouse materials, and create accurate inventory and descriptive metadata. This position offers the opportunity to work with complex production elements, ethnographic recordings, educational films, and sponsored-film collections while developing measurable, repeatable workflows that support long-term federal archival planning.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop collection processing plans, procedures, and timelines in consultation with agency staff and in accordance with established priorities.
• Inspect 16mm and 35mm film to identify titles, reel numbers, episodes, fieldwork names, and other distinguishing information, including materials with incomplete or missing labels.
• Identify and distinguish original camera negatives, answer prints, release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, trims, outtakes, and other fragmentary production elements.
• Assess and document film condition, including vinegar syndrome, shrinkage, and other preservation concerns; refer materials requiring specialized treatment to designated agency staff.
• Perform basic preservation triage and safely rehouse films in archival-quality containers while protecting original materials from damage.
• Create and maintain accurate item-level inventory and audiovisual metadata using agency-provided spreadsheets, systems, standards, and authority guidance.
• Apply barcodes, reconcile physical materials with inventory records, maintain custody manifests, and stage completed films for transfer to long-term storage by agency staff.
• Conduct quality reviews of physical processing and metadata, document corrective actions, and resolve rejected work within required timeframes.
• Track productivity, processing time by format, data quality, unstable-material discoveries, and workflow challenges; prepare biweekly progress and monthly metrics reports.
• Schedule and participate in weekly customer meetings, incorporate feedback, and refine procedures to address bottlenecks and improve processing consistency.
• Prepare a final report documenting accomplishments, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for processing complex film collections at scale.
• Complete required training and follow customer requirements for safe handling, facility access, information security, and records management.

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.
• Proficiency in distinguishing and managing varied film elements, including camera negatives, answer prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, and composite or fragmentary materials.
• Specialized knowledge of historic motion-picture formats and production elements sufficient to accurately identify archival      materials.
• Knowledge of archival principles and techniques, including analysis, organization, and description.
• Ability to recognize preservation concerns and perform basic preservation activities, including safe rehousing.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain productive professional relationships with agency staff.
• Ability to work onsite in Culpeper, Virginia, and complete required customer training and access procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certificate or degree from a specialized Film Preservation or Moving Image Preservation program, or at least four years of experience in a film archive or an institution with motion-picture collections.
• Experience processing ethnographic, educational, sponsored film, or other nonstandard collections.
• Hands-on experience with both 16mm and 35mm film, including original production elements and incomplete works.
• Experience identifying unlabeled films through bench inspection, collection documentation, and contextual research.
• Familiarity with AVCMS, MAVIS, or comparable audiovisual collection-management systems.
• Knowledge of DACS, AMIM2, audiovisual metadata practices, and agency of Congress controlled vocabularies.
• Experience documenting film deterioration and coordinating treatment decisions with preservation specialists.
• Experience developing processing plans, quality-control procedures, and production metrics.
• Experience supporting a federal library, national collection, museum, or research archive.
• Strong spreadsheet skills and experience producing clear technical reports and workflow recommendations.

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 archival processing and film inspection activities at a workstation or film bench.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks requiring reaching, bending, grasping, and fine motor coordination, as necessary to retrieve, handle, organize, and relocate archival materials safely.

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.