Film Archivist

About the role

Join our team as a Film Archivist and support the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC) by processing and archiving historic motion picture film collections. You will identify, inspect, and rehouse 16mm and 35mm film elements and build accurate item-level inventories, ensure culturally important collections are documented and preserved for long-term access. FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024, 2025 and 2026 Top Workplace, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment. Position is contingent upon contract award.

Responsibilities

• Inspect film on the bench to identify titles, reel numbers, episodes, and element types – camera negatives, answer and release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, trims, and outtakes – often with no labels or title frames.
• Assess condition (vinegar syndrome, shrinkage, damage) and flag high-risk or unstable materials.
• Stabilize and rehouse film in new archival cans, apply barcodes, and stage items for vault storage.
• Record item-level metadata in an inventory spreadsheet using established audio-visual metadata standards.
• Work through a large backlog of ethnographic, sponsored, educational, and corporate film collections.
• Track throughput and quality metrics and help shape a repeatable workflow for processing complex film collections at scale.
• Prepare processing plans, progress reports, and a final recommendations report.
• Meet weekly with client archivists and preservation staff.

Requirements

• Degree in a related field (e.g., film or moving image preservation, archival studies, library or information science, film studies, history, or museum studies).
• Demonstrated expertise in motion picture film identification, handling, and inspection.
• Proficiency distinguishing film elements: original camera negatives, answer prints, release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, and composite or fragmentary materials.
• Knowledge of archival principles and techniques, including analysis, organization, and description of archival material.
• Ability to identify preservation concerns and perform basic preservation tasks such as rehousing, with familiarity with preservation standards for different material types.
• At least 2 years of experience in a field related to archives or film, including at least 6 months in a library or archives environment performing similar tasks.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with Library of Congress staff.

Qualifications

• Certificate or degree from a Film Preservation or Moving Image Preservation program, or 4+ years in a film archive or a library, museum, or archive with motion picture film collections.
• Hands-on 16mm and 35mm experience.
• Certified Archivist (Academy of Certified Archivists), an MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program, or completion of an archival certificate program following Society of American Archivists guidelines.
• Experience with ethnographic, home movie, sponsored, or unlabeled production-element collections.
• Familiarity with audio-visual metadata schemas, authority records, or Encoded Archival Description (EAD).
• Experience with collection management systems and large-scale backlog processing.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision