Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC)’s Preservation department seeks a full-time (35 hours per week) Preservation Technician to perform preservation-grade digital transfers of archival tape-based media.

BAVC was founded when a group of media makers and activists met in January of 1976 to devise practical ways to encourage independent video-making in the Bay Area. In 1994, in partnership with the Getty Research Center, BAVC’s Preservation Department was created. BAVC Preservation works with museums, artists, and cultural institutions around the world to reformat, archive and make accessible seminal creative and cultural significant works on video and audiotape, as well as community-based works that are broadly used in academia, research, and other media projects. Today, BAVC’s Preservation work represents one of the nation’s longest-standing nonprofit audiovisual preservation programs. With current and past funding from various government and philanthropic foundations including NEA, NEH, Mellon, Rockefeller, and Knight, BAVC Preservation has implemented practices and services that helped define the field of video preservation. BAVC Preservation continues that work today by pursuing a range of field-building initiatives and services.

The Preservation Technician will work on ongoing grant-funded and fee-for-service projects within the Preservation department to promote BAVC’s continued excellence in the field of audiovisual archiving. The Preservation Technician will work hands-on with tape-based media from artists and cultural heritage organizations to provide the highest quality transfers possible, reporting directly to the Preservation Director. This is a salaried full-time position with benefits.

SALARY RANGE: $47,000 to $60,000 commensurate with experience. The higher end of this pay grade will be reserved for candidates who can demonstrate managerial experience and a desire to perform managerial tasks.

BENEFITS: BAVC offers full-time employees paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, and healthcare benefits.

BAVC strongly encourages candidates from diverse and/or underrepresented communities and backgrounds to apply.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter and resume to hr@bavc.org with the job title in the email subject line.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inspecting, evaluating, baking, cleaning and labeling audiovisual materials such as reels, cassettes, discs, and digital storage media
• Performing supervised transfers and keeping a log of errors
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment as needed   
• Performing quality control on materials transferred by BAVC staff, contractors, and subcontractors
• Assisting with installation and maintenance of equipment
• Make recommendations for purchases of equipment or supplies required for performing key duties
• Creating and maintaining quotes and invoices for digitization services
• Assisting in the completion of grant applications, reports, and deliverables
• Performing administrative and project management duties
• Providing additional support for the Preservation staff and facility in general, when needed
• Other duties as assigned
• Qualifications 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Proficiency with the care and handling of tape-based media objects
• Proficiency with audio or video signal flow
• Proficiency with troubleshooting skills
• Knowledge of analog and born-digital audio, video, and data preservation issues and standards
• Knowledge of command line tools and commands
• Knowledge of Macs, PCs, extensive knowledge of multimedia software
• Strong physical and digital organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Proficiency with analog and digital video and audio formats and their associated playback environments
• Proficiency with command line tools such as vrecord, FFmpeg and mediainfo
• Proficiency with open source quality control tools such as QCTools and MediaConch
• Proficiency with digital recording keeping practices
• Proficiency with project management practices and software
• Familiarity with the cleaning, handling and storage of reels, cassettes, discs and digital storage media
• Familiarity with with scripting languages such as python
• Familiarity with broadcast video equipment, including patchbays, VTRs, time base correctors, scopes and switchers
• Familiarity with GitHub basic use and best practices
• Familiarity with grant application and reporting processes
• Desire to learn new technologies and skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks
• Frequently stand/walk, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, and reach/work above shoulders.
• Occasionally sit, twist/bend/stoop/squat.
• Visual acuity including color vision.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• May have exposure to noise > 80dB TWA and confined spaces
• Work on-site in BAVC facilities located in San Francisco, California. Remote work is possible but would be uncommon for this position.

*SPECIAL ADA REQUIREMENTS
BAVC is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities, and will make reasonable accommodations to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job. For the purposes of ADA, the “Essential Duties and Responsibilities” are essential job functions. Significant work is performed in a typical interior