Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Archives and Collections Specialist

Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Archives and Collections Specialist

• Posted :
  January 22, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Corporate Office
200 Liberty Street
16th Floor
New York, NY 10281, USA

JOB TITLE: Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives and Collections Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Collections

REPORTS TO: Head of Cataloging and Archives

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

DATE: January 2026

SALARY: $88,000

Note:
This position requires a cover letter for consideration. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Head of Cataloging and Archives, the Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives and Collections Specialist is a key member of the project team supporting the Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives Initiative at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The initiative’s primary objective is to establish an institution-wide digital asset management system (DAMS) that will incorporate both born digital and digitized museum collections and institutional archives.

The Digital Archives and Collections Specialist serves as the manager of digital museum collections and archives and will lead the effort to establish and implement policies governing their organization, documentation, management, and preservation. The Digital Archives and Collections Specialist will also play an important role in the development of the DAMS that will serve as the institution’s repository for digital content.

This is a full-time, at will employment position. Currently, funding for this position is established for a period of two years, with the possibility for extension after those two years.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s permanent collection is an unparalleled repository consisting of material evidence, first-person testimony, and historical records of the response to the February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and their ongoing repercussions. To date, the Museum has acquired more than 55,000 digital objects, including photographs, moving images, oral histories, and artworks that document the lives and experiences of 9/11 victims, survivors, and first responders.

The Museum also collects digital archives and has begun to assemble an institutional archive documenting the organization’s history.

Note:
This is a grant-funded position with a fixed term ending June 2028.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Processes all newly acquired digital collection objects and archives.
• Documents workflows for digitization, accessioning digital materials, and digital preservation actions.
• Identifies and procures tools, equipment, and software necessary for long-term digital preservation of digital museum collections; works with IT as needed to install and maintain digital preservation software.
• Maintains digital preservation and digitization hardware, software, and maintenance contracts. Plans for growth and replacement and develops annual digital preservation budget.
• Manages and maintains digital collections currently stored on department servers and in relevant databases.
• Provides guidance to curators and donors regarding preferred file formats and best practices for intaking digital content.
• Oversees the digitization of collections as needed. Includes in-house scanning of “scan and return” materials and vendor-provided digitization of analog materials. Coordinates shipments to vendors and donors.
• Develops and implements strategies for strengthening the documentation and preservation of existing digital collections.
• Facilitates the access and use of digital collections for purposes of research, education, loan, and exhibition.
• Stays current on digital preservation best practices and updates in-house standards and workflows as needed.
• In collaboration with the Digital Asset Manager and Head of Cataloging and Archives, develops and implements metadata standards and controlled vocabularies for documenting digital collections in the Museum’s collections management system, Collective Access.
• In collaboration with the Digital Asset Manager and Head of Cataloging and Archives, develops policies, procedures, and workflows for the receipt, organization, description, storage, access, and long-term preservation of digital…