Deadline: Open Until Filled

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Information Technology ServicesITS
Los Angeles, California

We are currently seeking Holocaust Indexers to join the Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History within Information Technology Services. Indexers will be responsible for indexing oral history interviews with survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust. The indexing work involves researching, selecting and placing terms from a thesaurus into timecoded segments of the video or audio interview.

The successful candidate should have at least one year of experience with indexing as well as possess excellent analytical, writing and communication skills. They should be highly knowledgeable of Holocaust terminology and European geography. The knowledge of a second language, such as well as experience in higher education are strongly preferred.

The USC Shoah Foundation Institute was founded by Steven Spielberg in 1994 and has collected, cataloged, digitized and preserves interviews of Holocaust survivors and witnesses as well as survivors of other genocides and conflicts. The Institute houses nearly 55,000 audio-visual testimonies conducted in 63 countries and in 40 languages.

This is a fixed-term position with an anticipated end date of Aug 1, 2025. This is a full-time role eligible for benefits including medical, dental and vision plans, a competitive 401K plan.

Using judgment and discretion, index the audiovisual interviews of Holocaust survivors and witnesses in English and foreign languages using the USC Shoah Foundation Institute’s proprietary cataloging software and methodology:

• Catalog information taken from pre-interview questionnaires

• Watch the audiovisual testimonies and assign indexing terms from a VHA Thesaurus

• Conduct research to resolve specific indexing issues

• Complete the cataloging and indexing of the testimonies and any associated research

• Successfully complete approximately 50-hours of initial online training

• After the training period, work hours are flexible

Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor’s Degree or combined experience/education as substitute for advanced education
• Proven academic knowledge of European history, Political Science, or Judaic Studies with coursework in Holocaust history and/or genocide studies, or equivalent knowledge
• Fluency in English
• Fluency in one or more of the following languages desired but not required: Yiddish, Polish, Spanish, German, and Hebrew.
• Excellent research skills
• Attention to detail
• Computer proficiency
• Experience with relational databases
• Ability to take constructive criticism
• Ability to view and work with Holocaust-related material on a sustained basis
• Library science background and/or cataloging or indexing experience
• Familiarity with relevant names (geographic and proper) and foreign cultures
• One year of experience in an Indexing role
• Demonstrated experience researching and validating index terms
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to gather information  
• Typically possesses experience interpreting testimonies
• Typically possesses experience indexing in a second language (Yiddish, Polish, Spanish, German, or Hebrew)   
• Typically possesses experience in higher education
• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while balancing and prioritizing multiple projects
• Ability to learn, adapt quickly and work well under pressure.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, extreme attention to detail and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Job Accountabilities:

• Serves as departmental link between users and system technical staff to provide effective user service and to provide system and data control. Monitors system input and output for accuracy and currency of information. Liaises between technical staff and users to resolve problems and coordinate changes and enhancements.
• Maintains and updates system security and user access capabilities. Approves requests for new and/or changed access. Sets up users and maintains appropriate documentation.
• Contributes to the development of system standards and procedures. Incorporates knowledge of specific departmental functions and processes with knowledge of university and external agency regulations and practices to serve as a guideline for system development.
• Researches records and gathers information as background for special projects, enhancement of databases, decisions on requests for policy exception, and providing management reports.
• Provides reports to management regarding activities and recommends areas of improvement.
• Assesses user training needs and develops and implements programs to train new and continuing staff. Covers areas such as data security, quality and privacy awareness.
• Develops and maintains communications materials such as documentation and procedural manuals, resource or reference guides, newsletters, and bulletins to support system users.
• Evaluates and recommends refinements in department operations to ensure integrity of system data while maximizing productivity and providing high quality services.
• Reviews internal operations to determine compliance with established policies and procedures. Consults with managers and staff regarding irregular items and recommends action to departmental senior management when a deficiency is detected.
• Stays informed of new developments and technologies by reading journals and other pertinent publications, maintaining contact with vendors, and participating in professional organizations, meetings and seminars.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Preferred Qualifications

• MA-level or higher degree in European history, Political Science, or Judaic Studies with coursework in Holocaust history and/or genocide studies, or equivalent knowledge
• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited program
• Prior experience with USC Shoah Foundation’s indexing applications
• Prior experience with oral history collections or archives
• 3 years of experience in a similar role
• Knowledge of a additional languages (Yiddish, Polish, Spanish, German, and Hebrew )   

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 1 year
Minimum Field of Expertise: Detailed knowledge of systems for which position is accountable. Knowledge of various software applications as necessary for data collection and report writing.

REQ20121272 Posted Date: 08/11/2022

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