The Clarke Historical Librarys microfilming and digitization unit (MAD) offers a highly regarded set of microfilming and digitization services that are managed by the Manager Microfilm and Digital Services (MDS). MAD supports preservation of and open online access to Michigan history documented in newspapers, manuscripts, photographs, and similar that are accessible in Digital Michigan Newspapers; Clarke Digital Collections; and other unique databases. MAD is self-funded through external contracts as well as grants and gifts. Reporting to the Clarke director, the MDS oversees MADs production staff and services. They work with external customers, typically libraries, historical societies, and other cultural organizations; estimate and plan contracted work; and assure the work is produced and billed accurately. Maintaining good relationships with stakeholders at Central Michigan University and throughout the state of Michigan is essential to the position. To deliver the highest level of service, the MDS prioritizes effective leadership, project management, communication, supervision, and budgeting.

Bachelors degree.
Three years of post-undergraduate work experience.
One year of experience supervising full-time or part-time employees including hiring, training, coaching, and assessing job performance.
Experience with photographic processes; using SLR or DSLR cameras; graphic design; or similar image-based technical work.
Experience developing policies, procedures, workflows, and reports.
Demonstrated high-level proficiency with computer hardware and software (e.g., Word, Excel, Photoshop).
Demonstrated experience in successful project management, problem solving, and meeting quality standards and deadlines.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Customer service experience.
Demonstrated ability to exchange ideas with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain productive relationships.
Ability to define and analyze problems and communicate solutions.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Evidence of ability and desire to work effectively, positively, and collegially with a diverse population.
Committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, accessibility, and anti-racism.
Ability to perform essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Masters degree in a related field.
Digital production experience in a library, museum, or similar cultural heritage organization, including image processing/editing.
Professional accomplishments that demonstrate leadership, initiative, and responsibility.
Knowledge of special collections libraries and their role in research.
Knowledge of relevant microfilming, digitization, and metadata standards (e.g., FADGI, ANSI, METS/ ALTO), best practices, trends, challenges, and opportunities in digitizing print materials.
Understanding of copyright and rights management issues.
Experience with creating budgets.
Interest in participating in relevant professional groups.

Manages and contributes to multiple, simultaneous, and complex microfilming and digitization projects with an annual production of more than 100,000 digital images and 90 microfilm reels. Actively seeks out new contracts.
Hires, schedules, trains, reviews, and coaches a team of 1-3 regular staff and 4-6 student assistants in the operation of microfilm and digital cameras and scanning devices and software used to reformat a range of print materials.
Fosters a welcoming, professional, and respectful environment for employees.
Works collaboratively with the Clarke director, library and IT colleagues, and customers; sets project goals and objectives; and recommends solutions (staffing, process, equipment, and workflow) to achieve objectives.
Serves as a point of contact for vendors including Veridian (internet hosting platform), and Backstage Library Works (film processing). Develops and maintains excellent vendor relationships.
Oversees the development, maintenance, and coordination of MADs documentation, consulting with Clarke colleagues as needed.
Leads the Clarkes annual newspaper digitization competitive award program, which is supported, in part, by an endowment for this purpose.
Reports on project budgets and expenditures; prepares statistical, financial, and narrative reports.
Learns the microfilming and digitization equipment and software and performs production and quality control tasks with a keen eye for detail.
Trains staff in operating microfilming and digitization cameras and equipment and software; schedules and oversees their work; reviews their work and provides timely feedback so that the work is completed accurately and on time.
Assesses, refines, and manages MADs production workflows and processes to assure excellent film and digital file quality and management. Applies workflows that abide by intellectual property rights considerations and follow current microfilming and digitization best practices and guidelines.
Assigns metadata to digitized newspapers.
Troubleshoots technical issues with hardware and software in close consultation with Central Michigan Universitys Office of Information Technology.
Develops pricing models, tracks cost recovery, generates customer invoices, and prepares contract billing.
Serves as a technical expert and consultant in digitization and analog microfilm services as requested.
Effectively communicates project plans and work in progress with external and internal customers to develop high customer satisfaction and advocacy for the Clarkes microfilming and digitization services.
Promotes MADs services throughout the state through emails, social media, direct mail, conference ads, conference exhibits, and similar.
Works occasionally with the Public Services Librarian on marketing and outreach to highlight microfilming and digitization.
Collaborates closely with external partners including the Library of Michigan, newspaper publishers, libraries, and historical societies across the state, and with Central Michigan University offices including CMU Accounting, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and Office of Information Technology.
Partners with the Clarke director to develop grant proposals for microfilming and digitization projects.
Consults with the Clarkes director, archivist, and public services librarian on digitizing Clarke collections for online access.
Participates in professional development activities and library meetings and training. Serves on library committees.
Demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity inclusion and belonging.
Other duties as assigned.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMUs culture of excellence.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, masters, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 mens and womens Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. Its part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the states largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions - Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more - are within easy reach of the citys central location in Michigans Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.


You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. However, the university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials before October 9, 2024.