89769 & 89793 Curator, Collection Research and Development

The Organisation

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is the custodian of Australia’s analogue and born digital national audiovisual collection which contains over 4 million items. 

Our mandate is to collect, preserve and share the remarkable story of the Australian audiovisual experience through the creativity and history represented in film, television, radio, recorded sound, extended reality, networked media, videogames and associated contextual documentation and ephemera.  Our primary focus is on Australian production and Australian related production, but we also address key international influences on our culture.  

The NFSA is committed to developing its collection through the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The Role/s and Team

Are you a curator with a passion for audiovisual culture? Do you have an appreciation and working understanding, or lived experience of diversity and inclusion within the cultural sector and are ready to bring this to an exciting collection development space? 

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s (NFSA) Curatorial and Accessioning, Collection and Research Development team is seeking two experienced and results-focussed Curators who will celebrate the ambitious and rewarding challenges of archiving Australia’s audiovisual history and creative expression, and embrace supervising a team of diverse experience and expertise. 

This is a chance to join a new, high-performing curatorial team that will be breaking ground in areas of contemporary audiovisual curatorial practice, spearheading new ways of proactive and targeted collection development including, but not limited to: representation through diversity and inclusion, social media video and oral traditions and people-centred histories within the audiovisual context. The Collection Research and Development (RaD) team will be working in an exciting space with existing and new audiences and stakeholders, at the precipice of new audiovisual expressions and curatorial methodologies, reflecting the NFSA’s Strategic Direction. 

One position (89769) is located in Ngunnawal/Ngambri (Canberra) and one (89793) located in Naarm (Melbourne). Both roles will work together closely and collaboratively, and report directly to the Senior Curator, Collection Research and Development. Staff from the team are located across the NFSA’s Canberra HQ, Sydney and Melbourne offices.

Position 89769 – Curator (Canberra)

This position is responsible for managing 2-3 staff across the team and provides support to the Senior Curator. Based at NFSA HQ in Canberra, this role will have a focus on holistic collection development approaches, including proactive collecting (both contemporary and retrospective), and will be a central point for staff and collection work at the NFSA’s onsite repositories in Canberra.

Position 89793 – Curator (Melbourne)

This position is responsible for managing 2-3 staff across the team and provides support to the Senior Curator. Based in the NFSA’s Melbourne office, this role will have a focus on holistic collection development approaches, including proactive collecting (both contemporary and retrospective). Due to its location (where key stakeholders and industry are located), it will also have oversight and program management for our Oral Traditions and Histories Program.

Job Details

Under general direction undertake the following duties:

• Demonstrate professional experience and curatorial excellence through active participation in the development of audiovisual contemporary collecting programs that put people and community experiences first, and advocate for innovative approaches or frameworks.    
• Experience working with audiovisual collection material (both analogue and digital) and demonstrated understanding of Australian social history, contemporary cultural expression through audiovisual creative practice.
• Working with the Senior Curator, Collection Research and Development, contribute to the review, development and implementation of curatorial collection policies, strategies, business planning and governance of key curatorial documents (for example, deeds, standard operating procedures and methodologies).
• Demonstrated experience, commitment to, and understanding of, working with diverse people, communities and stakeholders, and principles of ethical co-design, storytelling and collaboration.  
• Excellent communication skills to effectively advocate and negotiate outcomes with internal and external stakeholders to deliver results.
• Demonstrate high levels of project management and follow-through to deliver and contribute to curatorial projects as identified.
• Undertake robust research and complex analysis of collection material, including strengths and weaknesses, to develop and deliver targeted acquisition strategies, effective data capture outcomes, and interpreting and communicating this research effectively to a range of audiences. 
• Working closely with the Senior Curator, Collection Research and Development, provide direction, develop curatorial training resources and leadership to the team, working collegiately with all Curatorial and Accessioning teams to achieve results for curatorial programs, projects and outputs.
• Lead, motivate and supervise staff, building team capacity and individual professional development and growth, underpinned by equity and diversity for an inclusive team dynamic. 

Selection Crieteria
In consideration of the ‘Job Details’ listed above, provide responses to the Selection Criteria below (no more than two pages): 

1. Provide an overview of your relevant experience, skills and qualities, and explain how you think these will contribute to your success in this role and the work of the Collection Research and Development team.
2. Describe your leadership style and how this has allowed you to manage, support and motivate staff to deliver a successful outcome or result as team.
3. Describe a collection initiative, project or program that you have developed and/or delivered that demonstrates your commitment to diversity and inclusion.
4. Tell us how your communication style and methods allow you to effectively communicate with a broad range of stakeholders, staff, clients and audiences with diverse needs.
5. Indicate your preference for position location (either Canberra or Melbourne).

Desired Skills and Experience

Qualifications and/or equivalent experience required:

• Relevant experience at a collecting institution and/or audiovisual industry is desirable. Library, Archive or Museum qualifications and/or other relevant tertiary studies are desirable.
   

Eligibility 

To be eligible for this position you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen; and
• Satisfactorily complete an Australian Federal Police National Police Check.

The other eligibility that may be included in a job would also include the following:

• Obtain and maintain an Australian Government Baseline Security Clearance; and
• Obtain and maintain a Working with Vulnerable People registration.

Assessment Process

The assessment process for this position will include:

• A written two-page pitch addressing the Selection Criteria
• Resume; 
• An interview; and
• Referee checking.

The assessment process for this position may also include:

•    Work-based task/presentation 

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from people with disability, the LGBTIQ+ communities, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.