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FIAF's former Training & Outreach Coordinator David Walsh giving a lecture at a FIAF workshop in London.

FIAF Training & Outreach Coordinator

Following David Walsh's retirement at the end of 2024, FIAF is seeking a new Training & Outreach Coordinator. The position is initially offered for a period of 12 months on a freelance basis, for a total of 864 hours (i.e., an average of 18 hours a week over 48 weeks), at the hourly rate of 35.00 EURO. The closing date for applications is Friday 31 January.

 

About the FIAF Training and Outreach Programme

The FIAF Training and Outreach Programme was established in 2016 in order to continue in a more consistent manner the training and support that FIAF had offered for film archives and archivists over many years in past programmes such as the Technical Commission training initiative, the FIAF FIAF Summer School, the Schools on Wheels, the Reel Emergency, etc.

The aim of the programme is to address worldwide needs for training and guidance covering all aspects of film and moving image archiving, including historic technology, preservation, digitization, cataloguing, access, exhibition, management, and advocacy. Training and expert guidance is offered to archives, heritage institutions, and governments, and to both practising and aspiring archivists at all levels in key areas, including:

  • Technical training covering traditional film, video and digital;
  • Training in cataloguing, documentation, programming, access;
  • Strategies for preservation of all audio-visual media;
  • Policy, funding, advocacy for archives;
  • Basic training for organizations and countries trying to set up archives;
  • Advice and training for struggling archives in challenged regions;
  • Emergency support for collections in immediate danger of disposal or irrevocable harm;
  • Support for any archive faced with dramatic budget cuts.

Training activities range from short courses to training events of more than a week, both online and in-person. Consultancy and guidance are provided on an ad hoc basis, either to a perceived need or in response to requests for assistance.


Tasks and Duties of the Training and Outreach Coordinator Position

The Training and Outreach Coordinator’s primary role is to coordinate the programme’s aims efficiently and effectively by responding to training and assistance requests, actively pursuing potential needs in the archive community, planning and running events both in partnership and solo, maintaining good contacts with a large and diverse group of experts and trainers who can deliver the training and guidance needed in accordance with FIAF’s mission, and acting as FIAF’s ambassador for the programme internationally.

Course Development

  • Assess requests for training assistance and design training events to meet these;
  • Design FIAF International Outreach and Training programme modules to meet every type of training event;
  • Maintain a database of potential trainers and assess those suitable for specific courses;
  • Provide guidance to trainers, and liaise with their institutions where required;
  • Launch and run a mentorship programme.

Training programmes

  • Devise and develop curricula and timetables to satisfy requests for training, and coordinate trainers;
  • Work with host institutions in setting up and vetting suitable venues and facilities;
  • Provide assistance where required to host institutions in managing programmes;
  • Liaise with partner organizations where relevant in the design of training events;
  • Create and develop FIAF-initiated training programmes, including BAVASS biennially and regular online short courses and webinars on all relevant topics;
  • Run both online and in-person training events.

Outreach

  • Revitalize and promote FIAF’s outreach activities, and actively seek out those in need of assistance;
  • Facilitate the provision of expert advice to archives in need of guidance and advice on all aspects of film archive activity;
  • Represent FIAF in outreach efforts, in association with other organizations where appropriate;
  • Run a campaign to raise awareness of dire situation for much of world’s AV heritage.

Values and standards

  • Respect and safeguard the integrity of the material in the care of trainers and evaluators and protect it from any forms of manipulation, mutilation, or censorship;
  • Maintain the FIAF Code of Ethics and ensure that trainers work within that Code.

General

  • Monitor and manage requests for assistance submitted to FIAF;
  • Collaborate with the FIAF Secretariat on the creation of content about FIAF training and outreach initiatives for the FIAF website;
  • Keep up to date with ongoing issues and developments in the field;
  • Evaluate all programmes;
  • Coordinate with other international training and outreach initiatives;
  • Coordinate closely with FIAF Commissions;
  • Fundraise for FIAF training events.

 

Qualifications and Experience

Key Qualifications and Experience:

  • Degree in moving image archiving or equivalent, or minimum of four years’ experience in the moving image archiving field.
  • Experience of organising and coordinating training courses, conferences, or similar events.
  • Fluent English speaker, including a proven record of excellent writing skills in this language; knowledge of French and/or Spanish, both oral and written, is also highly desirable.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:

  • Exceptionally good practical and organizational skills, with thorough attention to detail.
  • Ability to solve complex problems dealing with a wide range of issues in a variety of different countries.
  • Responsiveness, reliability, punctuality, independence, self-motivation.
  • Ability to work flexibly with a small team which is part of a much larger organization.
  • Skills in financial planning and budgeting of events.
  • Confidence in public speaking and excellent communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people at all levels, even under pressure.
  • Ability to work with a wide range of different cultures and to be aware of differing political climates.
  • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with archives, trainers, political offices.
  • Skill in composing correspondence and reports to summarize training sessions.
  • Fundraising and grant writing skills and/or knowledge of funding opportunities.
  • Good general knowledge of film history and technologies, video formats and digital formats, scanning, storage, preservation.
  • Up-to-date understanding of developments in digital and AI technologies.
  • Good computer skills, including an understanding of Learning Management Systems.
  • Knowledge of FIAF, its network and activities.


Employment Status

The position is initially offered for a period of 12 months on a freelance basis, for a total of 864 hours (i.e., an average of 18 hours a week over 48 weeks), at the hourly rate of 35.00 EURO. The Training & Outreach Coordinator will be required to provide an overview of the hours worked at the end of each month, and will invoice FIAF in a number of instalments decided by mutual agreement. A thorough evaluation of the first phase of the Programme should be conducted by the Coordinator in conjunction with the Senior Administrator and the FIAF Executive Committee at least one month before the end of this 12-month period.

It is understood that the Training & Outreach Coordinator an independent contractor and not an employee of FIAF. S/he is responsible for the appropriate and relevant taxation of her/his income.


Location

The position is not geographically dependent – the successful applicant is not required to live in Brussels, where the FIAF Secretariat is located, as the job may be done remotely while working in close contact with the FIAF Senior Administrator via email, phone, or videoconferencing, for much of the year. The position will require travel to on-site locations for training events and consultation visits as they are scheduled.


How to Apply

Please email your application, including your CV and a supporting statement addressing the key selection criteria outlined above, to training@fiafnet.org by 31 January 2025 (please write “Training and Outreach Coordinator” in the title field of your email). If you have any questions about the post or the programme, please write to FIAF Senior Administrator Christophe Dupin (c.dupin@fiafnet.org).

Interviews for this post are due to take place in February 2025. The successful candidate will be required, where possible, to start work as FIAF Outreach and Training Coordinator as soon as possible after being selected.