Digital Archivist Jobs for OPT Students
Digital Archivist jobs on OPT require employers comfortable with STEM or standard OPT authorization, since most roles sit in libraries, universities, and cultural institutions. Your F-1 status is valid work authorization. The challenge is finding employers who understand that and are willing to document it properly for your records.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This University and Projects Archivist position focuses on University's institutional archives and Project Zikaron, an information portal for the study of the local history of thousands of Jewish communities throughout the world. The digital archivist manages and preserves physical and digital university archives, and leads the digitization, metadata creation, categorization, and web publishing of books, historical manuscripts, and documents for the Project Zikaron initiative.
Responsibilities
University Archives:
- Manage the acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, and preservation of the University's historical archives
- Respond to inquiries from Touro's executives and others approved for access to the archives
Project Zikaron:
- Lead the scanning, digitization, transcription of manuscripts, and high-quality conversion of manuscripts, documents, and transcripts into digital formats
Libraries:
- Perform other related duties that contribute to the overall operational efficiency of the libraries
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience
- Bachelor - Other in Jewish History required.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Accuracy and productivity in completing tasks required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook required
- Candidates must have reading and writing proficiency in Hebrew and reading proficiency with strong comprehension in Yiddish to work with archival materials.
- Self-motivated with a results-driven mindset.
- Strong organizational skills.
Travel
- Occasional travel to Touro's archival storage facility in Brooklyn, and other Touro sites in NY metropolitan area.
Working Conditions
- Extensive use of computers.
- Extensive time sitting and standing.
- Able to lift up to 30 lbs.
COMPENSATION
- Maximum Salary: USD $65,178.00/Yr.
- Minimum Salary: USD $52,141.00/Yr.
INTRODUCTION
This University and Projects Archivist position focuses on University's institutional archives and Project Zikaron, an information portal for the study of the local history of thousands of Jewish communities throughout the world. The digital archivist manages and preserves physical and digital university archives, and leads the digitization, metadata creation, categorization, and web publishing of books, historical manuscripts, and documents for the Project Zikaron initiative.
Responsibilities
University Archives:
- Manage the acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, and preservation of the University's historical archives
- Respond to inquiries from Touro's executives and others approved for access to the archives
Project Zikaron:
- Lead the scanning, digitization, transcription of manuscripts, and high-quality conversion of manuscripts, documents, and transcripts into digital formats
Libraries:
- Perform other related duties that contribute to the overall operational efficiency of the libraries
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience
- Bachelor - Other in Jewish History required.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Accuracy and productivity in completing tasks required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook required
- Candidates must have reading and writing proficiency in Hebrew and reading proficiency with strong comprehension in Yiddish to work with archival materials.
- Self-motivated with a results-driven mindset.
- Strong organizational skills.
Travel
- Occasional travel to Touro's archival storage facility in Brooklyn, and other Touro sites in NY metropolitan area.
Working Conditions
- Extensive use of computers.
- Extensive time sitting and standing.
- Able to lift up to 30 lbs.
COMPENSATION
- Maximum Salary: USD $65,178.00/Yr.
- Minimum Salary: USD $52,141.00/Yr.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Digital Archivist
Target universities and research libraries first
Universities and large research libraries hire Digital Archivists regularly and have HR teams experienced with OPT work authorization. They're among the most OPT-friendly employers for this role, reducing the back-and-forth over your eligibility.
Clarify whether your degree qualifies as STEM OPT
Library science, information science, and archival studies degrees may qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension if your school's CIP code is STEM-designated. Confirm with your DSO before applying, since it meaningfully extends your authorized work period.
Emphasize digital preservation and metadata skills upfront
Employers scanning for Digital Archivists want to see specific tools: ArchivesSpace, ContentDM, Archivematica, Dublin Core. Lead with these in your resume summary. It signals technical depth and bypasses early-stage uncertainty about your immigration status.
Explain OPT clearly and preemptively in applications
Many cultural institutions and nonprofits haven't hired on OPT before. A one-paragraph explanation in your cover letter, stating your authorization period, eligibility to work without employer action, and your extension timeline, removes the biggest hiring hesitation early.
Apply to digitization grant-funded projects
Federal agencies and foundations fund multi-year digitization projects that specifically hire Digital Archivists on contract or staff roles. These positions often have flexible hiring structures and supervisors experienced with international researchers and visiting scholars.
Network through professional archival organizations
The Society of American Archivists and regional archival networks host job boards and conferences where hiring managers actively recruit. Direct contact with supervisors at these events often moves faster than standard HR application pipelines for OPT candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Digital Archivist on OPT without any employer sponsorship?
Yes. OPT is pre-employment work authorization granted by USCIS, not your employer. Employers hiring you on OPT don't file any visa petition or pay USCIS fees. They simply verify your EAD card, complete the I-9, and report the hire to your DSO. No sponsorship action is required on their part.
Do Digital Archivist roles qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. Degrees in library and information science, computer science, or data science may carry a STEM-designated CIP code that qualifies you for the 24-month extension. Confirm your school's designation with your DSO before accepting a role, since your degree field drives eligibility, not the archival job itself.
Where can I find Digital Archivist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers open to hiring F-1 OPT students, so you're not wasting applications on roles where your status is a dealbreaker. Searching there surfaces Digital Archivist and related information management roles at institutions already comfortable with OPT work authorization.
What documents does a hiring institution need from me to employ me on OPT?
Your employer needs your EAD card showing valid dates, your current F-1 visa and I-20 with OPT authorization endorsed by your DSO, and your passport. They complete the standard I-9 employment eligibility verification. You're also required to report the job to your DSO within 10 days of starting so your SEVIS record stays current.
Can I work as a freelance or contract Digital Archivist on OPT?
Yes, but with constraints. Self-employment and freelance work are permitted on OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field and you can document it as such for your DSO. Each contract engagement must be reported. If your work is genuinely project-based, consulting arrangements at libraries or archives are a viable path.
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