The Irish Film Institute is Ireland’s national cultural institution for film. At the IFI’s historic home in Eustace Street, Temple Bar, our diverse audiences, and loyal members enjoy our 3 cinemas, IFI Irish Film Archive’s research and access facilities, IFI Film Shop and IFI Café Bar; and our four digital streaming platforms, IFI@Home, IFI Archive Player, IFI@Schools and IFI International.
As part of the IFI, the Irish Film Archive is responsible for collecting, preserving, and making available Ireland’s moving image heritage and the collections in its care, including film, digital materials, and document collections.
The IFI seeks to appoint an Digital Preservation Manager on a temporary basis to cover a period of absence in the team. The Digital Preservation Manager will lead the strategic management and longterm preservation of its digital collections. This senior management role is based within the Irish Film Archive, a department of the IFI responsible for collecting, preserving, and making accessible Ireland’s moving image heritage, including extensive film, documentation, and born-digital holdings.
Strategic Leadership & Policy Development
* Lead the development and implementation of digital collections management procedures, including the design and supervision of workflows across all preservation activities.
* Collaborate with the Acting Head of Archive to devise and regularly update the Digital Preservation and Access Strategy.
* Maintain comprehensive documentation of all digital preservation practices, including policies, procedures, and protocols, informed by the OAIS reference model and aligned with the SPECTRUM collections management standard.
* Ensure continuous improvement and compliance with international standards of best practice in digital preservation.
Digital Infrastructure & Preservation Oversight
* Coordinate with the Archive Technical Officer to maintain and optimise the digital preservation infrastructure—ensuring all network systems and equipment are fit for purpose—and recommend upgrades that enhance performance, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
* Ensure the secure preservation of all digital audiovisual assets, including planning and executing preservation activities such as fixity checks, format migrations, and infrastructure updates.
* Supervise the management of IFIscripts and related digital tools, ensuring systems are maintained and accessible.
Acquisition, Ingest & Quality Control
* Support the Digital Deliveries Manager in implementing best practices for the acquisition, quality control, and long-term preservation of digital materials received through key partnership agreements with Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, and the Arts Council.
* Oversee and ensure the preservation of all digital audiovisual assets acquired through donation, deposit, purchase, or gift, maintaining rigorous QC and metadata standards.
Team Leadership and Resource Management
* Line-manage staff and interns in accordance with IFI’s performance management framework, fostering a positive and productive team culture.
* Identify training and development needs within the team and ensure appropriate learning opportunities are provided.
* Assist the Acting Head of Archive with financial planning and manage designated budgets in line with IFI procurement policies and financial procedures.
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
* Act as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders including the IFI Head of Operations, IT partners, and technology vendors such as Digital Garage.
* Represent the IFI in national and international forums, actively engaging with peer institutions and professional networks to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and promote the IFI’s leadership in digital preservation.
Research & Advocacy
* Stay informed on developments in archival best practice, preservation research, and emerging technologies to ensure the Archive remains at the forefront of digital preservation innovation.
* Advocate for the IFI and its mission, upholding a professional approach in all external engagements.
* Embed a culture of continuous review and improvement throughout the digital preservation programme.
Person specifications
* Proven experience in digital preservation, particularly within libraries, archives, museums, or special collections, is essential.
* Relevant qualification in Information Technology, Digital Curation, or a related information management field. Candidates with qualifications in other disciplines and demonstrable experience in digital preservation will also be considered.
* Strong communication, documentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively across teams.
* Proven experience in staff management, with a demonstrated ability to lead, support, and motivate team members.
* Experience in infrastructure management, including oversight of equipment, coordination of system upgrades, and collaboration with IT support teams, is essential.
* Pragmatic and solutions-oriented, with the ability to make positive contributions within the context of available resources and budgets.
* Resilient and flexible, with the ability to adapt to change, manage competing priorities, and maintain a positive, solutions-focused attitude.
* Experience in policy development within a library or archive setting is highly desirable.
* Project planning and management experience, with the ability to deliver outcomes on time and within scope.
* Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to research, analyse, and resolve issues using a range of tools and resources.
* Ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible, user-friendly language.
* Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and professional disciplines.
* Familiarity with one or all the following: the OAIS Reference Model, The PREMIS Data Dictionary, Spectrum Collections Management Standard.
* Knowledge of command scripts, especially Python and a familiarity with validation protocols for digital archiving, such as checksums.
* Knowledge and interest in the Irish film and media landscape.
How to apply
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to the Acting Head of IFI Irish Film Archive, Marina Butt at mbutt@irishfilm.ie by Wednesday 18th June at 6pm.
The IFI is an Equal Opportunities Employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community.
The closing date for this position is 18/06/2025 at 18:00
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