About the opportunity
The UNESCO International Bureau of Education Documentation Centre holds an audiovisual collection of materials produced, collected, or received between the 1970s and 1990s. Spanning approximately 23 large moving boxes and crates, the collection includes 16 mm film reels, slides, transparencies, filmstrips, videocassettes, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, floppy disks, and related teaching materials. The IBE seeks a qualified specialist to establish the collection’s composition and provenance, produce a searchable archival catalogue compatible with existing systems, assess preservation needs, and improve physical storage.
Salary and benefits
- Professional fee-based consultant contract with UNESCO
- Duration of up to 4 months
- Opportunity to contribute to the preservation of significant historical educational collections
Who can apply?
- Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) or equivalent professional expertise in archival studies, history, history of education, information science, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience in archival arrangement and cataloguing, including historical research and finding aid preparation
- Relevant experience with audiovisual collections and their descriptive and handling requirements
- Access to specialist expertise in film, photographic, and audiovisual conservation and preventive preservation
- Ability to produce database-ready metadata and work with established archival description standards
- Excellent knowledge of English and French (oral and written)
Required documents
- Up-to-date CV detailing educational qualifications, work experience, and prior experience of similar work
- A brief proposal (1-2 pages) outlining the approach and methodology to undertake the assignment
- A financial proposal based on the job description
When to apply
- Application deadline is 16/11/2026 at Midnight UTC+2 Time
How to apply
- Complete an online application via the UNESCO Careers website
- Upload the required documents as a single PDF document in the 'Employment History Form' section
Additional information
- The assignment requires substantial on-site work at the IBE Documentation Centre in Geneva
- Digitization and specialist conservation treatment are outside the present scope
- Archival supplies and examination equipment should be identified and costed separately from professional fees
- UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment and does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong fit for experienced archivists or information science professionals with specialized knowledge in managing and cataloguing historical audiovisual and film media.
- Ideal for professionals comfortable working independently on-site in Geneva with bilingual proficiency in English and French.
- Suited for consultants capable of combining historical research with practical preservation assessments for institutional databases.
What should you think carefully about?
- Requires substantial on-site presence in Geneva, Switzerland, meaning applicants must account for local living and working arrangements.
- The contract is fixed-term for up to 4 months, which requires efficient project management to deliver all scope objectives on schedule.
- Archival supplies and specialized examination equipment must be budgeted and costed separately from professional fees in the proposal.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This short-term consultancy offers a focused opportunity to build high-profile international organizational experience with the United Nations, specifically enhancing archival portfolios related to international education history and media preservation.
Our take
Experienced archival and information science specialists with strong audiovisual cataloguing backgrounds and fluency in English and French should apply by the November deadline, keeping in mind the on-site requirement in Geneva.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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