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89294 | APS5 - Senior Audio Preservation Specialist

05/06/2025
18/06/2025
$84,228.00 - $91,809.00
Ongoing / Non-ongoing; Full time
Canberra
Arts, Culture

About the National Film and Sound Archive 

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) is Australia’s audiovisual archive, telling the national story by collecting, preserving and sharing audiovisual media, the cultural experience platforms of our time. The collection itself dates back to 1935, making it one of the world’s oldest audiovisual collections. It is also one of the country’s most used cultural collections, with around 125 million views of collection content each year. The NFSA is in a period of significant change. Following increased Government investment, the institution is in a process of digital transformation, establishing the NFSA as Australia’s most dynamic and valued cultural organisation. We are rebuilding our curatorial workforce and developing the NFSA’s capacity to digitise our collection at scale – to preserve it for the future, to make sure it can be discovered, and to share it with all Australians.

We continue to work on developing a stable, secure and future-proof workforce across our four physical sites based in Canberra and Mitchell in the ACT as well as in Sydney and Melbourne.

We are also undergoing a program of business improvement for many of our corporate systems to improve efficiency and reduce manual handling. 

We are an ambitious organisation, and we aim to be an employer of choice within the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector, providing exciting and challenging work, as well as favourable employment conditions and unique development opportunities for our staff. 

Cultural Values 

We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At the NFSA we prioritise the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.

About the Team 

Audio Services is a part of the Collection Digitisation Section within Collection Preservation Branch. They are responsible for the preservation and digitisation of historical and obsolete audio into the National Collection. 

The Opportunity 

The Senior Audio Preservation Specialist has a proven track record of working in the audio preservation and production environment. 

The role will assist the Audio Team Lead with operational and production resources/facility management decisions, as well as provide hands on training and technical support to Audio Digitisation staff to ensure technical, production and preservation services are delivered in line with collection preservation priorities.

Please note: This recruitment process is intended to fill both current and future vacancies. While the position on offer is ongoing, a merit pool of suitable applicants may be established to fill similar both ongoing and non-ongoing positions within the next 18 months.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities 

Under limited direction this position is responsible for delivering the following functions:

  • Establish, improve, manage and document workflow processes and standards for the safe copying, restoration, digitisation and accessioning of audio material into the National Collection. 
  • Supervise the operation of old and new technical playback equipment, and digital workstations, to ensure the safe copying, preservation and restoration of audio material is accomplished. Undertake tasks including collection digitisation and accessioning of digital audio files. 
  • Research and develop policies in audio preservation, restoration techniques and technology. Deliver and share expertise and knowledge with others in the organisation and the broader archival community.
  • Supervise and develop programs for the training and mentoring of staff in the field of archival audio and more specifically in the field of early sound recording formats.
  • Provide professional advice to internal and external stakeholders and give assistance in complex and specialised audio tasks.
  • Assist curatorial staff to identify appropriate audio material for copying, restoration and acquisition purposes including advice on playback equipment. 
  • Undertake appropriate administrative tasks, advise on resource implications, throughput and completion times for programs and projects. 

Selection Criteria 

The successful candidate will demonstrate their capacity against the following:

  1. Demonstrated ability in the research, development and implementation of new and improved workflows, solutions and systems.
  2. Proven specialised technical expertise and experience in managing risk and handling historical and obsolete audio recordings.
  3. Proven experience in delivering conservation and digital preservation services on of a wide variety of fragile and at-risk audio components, both analogue and digital.
  4. Demonstrated supervisory experience within a technical and digital preservation environment.
  5. Demonstrated well-developed written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively both within a team and individually.

Desired Skills and Experience

  • Relevant tertiary degree or technical qualifications and/or the equivalent experience in an industry, technical and/or cultural environment

Work Environment Description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the National Film and Sound Archive is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.

How to Apply 

When applying via our online e-recruitment system, please address the details in the ‘Key Responsibilities’ and ‘Selection Criteria’ by outlining in 500 words or less, how your skills and relevant experience demonstrate that you would be our ideal candidate. Your current resume is also to be included in your application.

In addition to an application and your resume, the assessment process for this position may also include an interview and referee reports.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disability, the LGBTIQ+ communities, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

RecuitAbility

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information see: RecruitAbility | Australian Public Service Commission (https://apsc.gov.au)

Eligibility 

To be eligible for this position you must:

  • Be an Australian Citizen.
  • Satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check.

What we offer you 

We provide a diverse, inclusive, and supportive work environment with access to: 

  • Great training and development opportunities.
  • Generous leave and flexible working arrangements.
  • Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP – a free counselling service for you and your family).
  • A competitive salary, plus 15.4% superannuation.
  • Rewards and recognition initiatives.

Contact Officer 

Gerard O’Neill | Audio Services Team Lead
E: gerard.oneill@nfsa.gov.au
P: 02 6248 2173

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