Archives Assistant (12-Month Contract)
/ORGANIZATION:
Vancouver Chinatown Foundation
DEADLINE:
December 18, 2025
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2011 to honour a culture and community established in Vancouver more than 135 years ago. The organization is characterized by a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and a passion to help the revitalization of Chinatown, one of Canada’s most iconic neighbourhoods and the historic heart of Vancouver.
WEBSITE:
http://chinatownfoundation.org/about/
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Main Purpose
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation and Chinatown Storytelling Centre are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Archives Assistant to support the digitization, organization, and documentation of archival materials. This 12-month temporary position plays a key role in advancing ongoing archival and digital preservation projects. The role ensures efficient and accurate management of archival records, liaises with donors and material owners, and supports internal teams in maintaining high-quality archival workflows.
Role Overview
Reporting to the Archivist, the Archives Assistant supports archival and digitization projects by processing, organizing, and managing digital and physical materials. The role includes liaising with donors and material owners regarding loans or donations, maintaining records, ensuring proper metadata entry, and assisting with quality control. By supporting accurate digitization workflows and archival standards, the Archives Assistant contributes to the preservation and accessibility of the Foundation’s and Centre’s archival collections.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Digitize archival materials using scanners, cameras, and related hardware following established standards and workflows.
Process and organize digital files, including OCR (optical character recognition), renaming, metadata entry, and file management.
Maintain accurate records of digitized materials with printed versions to ensure proper tracking and retrieval.
Perform quality-control checks to ensure accuracy, clarity, and completeness of digitized materials.
Conduct data entry for archival records in content management systems or databases.
Support the safe handling and basic care of archival documents, photographs, and artefacts.
Liaise with owners of archival materials regarding loans, donations, and documentation requirements.
Coordinate with internal teams across the Foundation and Centre to support smooth project execution and file transfers.
Assist with other archive-related tasks as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to operate digitization hardware and software, including scanners and imaging tools; training will be provided.
Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel), Adobe Acrobat, and Photoshop.
Successfully completed coursework (including descriptive and subject cataloguing) in Library or Archival Studies.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with donors, community members, and internal teams.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail, especially in filing and naming digital assets.
Self-directed with the ability to manage time effectively, maintain quality standards, and audit work independently.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-department environment.
Chinese language ability is considered an asset.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@chinatownfoundation.org.
REMUNERATION:
$44,000 annually
