Digital Projects Specialist
The University of Iowa Libraries is looking to hire a Digital Projects Specialist (Library Specialist classification PLC3/4A) in the Cataloging, Metadata, and Digitization department. The Digital Projects Specialist digitizes material including rare books, manuscript collections, scrapbooks, and photographic prints and negatives. Reporting to the Digital Processing Coordinator Librarian, this position will manage digitization projects, photographs material requiring professional handling, and ensures the creation of quality digital files for UI Libraries digital collections.
Key Areas of Responsibilities and Specific Job Tasks
Acquire, Organize, Digitize, Preserve, and Provide Information Resources and Services
- Digitizes collection material to fulfill specialized patron requests and complete programmatic project goals.
- Operates digital imaging equipment to produce high-resolution images making decisions regarding image composition, cropping, and alignment in accordance with digitization best practice.
- Coordinates workflows for assigned projects including communication with stakeholders and logistics of material transfer between digitization and the repository.
- Performs digitization readiness assessments to inform planning of future digitization projects.
- Collaborates with staff in Conservation & Collections Care on issues related to conservation treatment before and after digitization and on proper care and handling of collections during digitization.
- Collaborates with metadata staff to capture descriptive and technical metadata for digital objects in preparation for repository ingest.
- Coordinates outsourced digitization projects with external vendors as needed; inventories and prepares materials for shipment.
Leadership/Staff and Resource Management/Financial Responsibility
- Actively supports the University Libraries’ commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.
- Participates in and contributes to relevant library and University-wide activities and committees.
Continuous Learning and Skills Development
- Keeps abreast of developments in digitization best practices and trends, applying new rules, interpretations, and techniques as appropriate.
- May participate in relevant professional activities advancing academic libraries or librarianship.
- Additional job duties as assigned based on individual knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Minimum of two years related experience is required.
- Experience digitizing material types typically found in libraries and archives.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based setting where consultation, flexibility, collaboration, and cooperation are essential.
- Demonstrated ability to support a welcoming and respectful environment in a job-related experience, an academic setting, and/or the community.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
Desired Qualifications:
- A graduate degree in library and information science, archival studies, or related field.
- Experience with software used in the department including one or more of the following: Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, Bridge, Photoshop), ABBYY FineReader.
- Experience with Phase One cameras and software including Capture One.
- Familiarity with digitization project planning including awareness of copyright and ethical considerations.
- Familiarity with photography concepts and terminology.
- Demonstrated ability to inspect library items for completeness and condition.
- Work experience in a research library setting.
Application Details:
Applications are only accepted through the Jobs@UIOWA website.
In order to be eligible for interview, applicants must upload the following and mark them as “relevant files” when you upload the documents:
- Cover letter that clearly addresses how you meet each of the required and any desired qualifications of this position. To ensure strongest consideration, applicants are encouraged to review all required qualifications and state directly how they meet each of them.
- Current resume
This job ad will be posted through at least February 4, 2026, and may be removed from posting and filled any time after that date. Please contact andrea-rost@uiowa.edu if you have any questions about the position.
The hiring salary range for this Library Specialist position is $50,000 to $62,000.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.
This position is eligible for on-campus and/or hybrid remote work within Iowa, with the majority of work time being on campus, and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
