NDNP Project Manager - Assistant Professor - 530822

The University of Alabama•Alabama, AL

26d•$68,000 - $72,000

About The Position

The University of Alabama Libraries seeks an NDNP Project Manager for its Digitizing Alabama Newspapers Project. This grant-funded clinical faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor will oversee digitization of Alabama newspapers published between 1894 and 1963 according to National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) technical standards. Newspapers will be digitized from microfilm or reformatted from existing digital files, with project content contributed to the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America database for open access and digital preservation. The Project Manager will manage daily project operations and workflow, supervise student assistants, coordinate other contributing staff, and oversee vendor outsourcing and quality-control procedures. The role also includes project documentation, statistics and progress reporting, budget monitoring, outreach, publicity, and engagement with stakeholders and the NDNP community. The incumbent reports to the Project Director. The position is a 12-month appointment with an initial one-year contract; additional annual appointments may be offered depending on satisfactory performance and available funding. Salary is $68,000–$72,000, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees.

Requirements

Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-accredited program, or a graduate degree in a related field.
Demonstrated experience with digitization processes.
Demonstrated project management and supervisory experience.
Demonstrated experience applying standards-based metadata schemas, including MARC, MODS, or Dublin Core, and XML.
Demonstrated understanding of microfilm-to-digital conversion processes and technical standards for digital reformatting.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and document decisions and procedures.
Successful completion of a pre-employment background investigation is required.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience as a project manager or coordinator for an NDNP or other federal grant.
Experience in an academic or research library setting.
Experience with digital reformatting projects, including microfilm-to-digital conversion.
Knowledge of strategies and standards for digitizing historical newspapers.
Experience with project-management applications such as Basecamp or Trello.
Experience with budget management and reporting.
Demonstrated experience with file-management best practices at scale.
Knowledge of copyright principles and experience conducting copyright research.
Knowledge of preservation best practices for digitized materials.
Experience creating digital exhibits.
Experience conducting outreach and instruction for K–12 educators, a university community, or the general public.
Knowledge of Alabama history and geography.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day NDNP project operations and workflow, including maintaining regular contact with contracted vendors.
Supervise technical inspection of microfilm according to ISO specifications and quality-control checks on vendor-created digital assets.
Supervise shipment and tracking of microfilm and digital assets.
Oversee microfilm evaluation and metadata collection.
Maintain project records and documentation, including invoices; compile statistics; prepare progress reports; and monitor the project budget.
Assist with newspaper title selection and duplication, including reels held by contributing state institutions.
Supervise project student assistants and coordinate the work of other contributing project staff.
Develop and implement outreach initiatives, oversee project publicity, and develop public-relations materials.
Assist with maintenance of the project website.
Serve as the point of contact for the project Advisory Board and interested stakeholders.
Promote the project through local, state, and online presentations and targeted outreach activities as assigned.
Participate in the NDNP user community, including the annual NDNP Awardee Meeting.