The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is inviting applications for a Digitization Project Coordinator position in Paris, France.
The international professional position offers an opportunity for an experienced archives, records management, information management or library professional to contribute to a major UNESCO project focused on expanding access to the Organization’s historical archives.
The position is classified at P-2 level and comes with a two-year project appointment, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance. The approximate annual starting salary is US$87,095, in addition to applicable staff benefits and entitlements.
The application deadline is 7 October 2026 at midnight Paris time.
The Digitization Project Coordinator will support UNESCO’s five-year archives digitization initiative, “Global Histories, Shared Memories: Advancing Universal Access through Digitized UNESCO Archives.”
The project runs from 2025 to 2030 and is funded by the Sharjah Book Authority in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It aims to increase access to and visibility of UNESCO’s institutional archives through the rehousing, digitization and publication of selected archival collections.
The successful candidate will work within UNESCO’s Bureau for Digital Business Solutions (DBS), under the UNESCO Archives. The position will involve coordination between archivists, technical teams, management, external service providers and other partners.
Key Responsibilities
The Digitization Project Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day implementation of the archives digitization project and helping ensure that activities remain aligned with approved objectives, budgets, timelines and standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing project timelines and supporting budget monitoring.
- Coordinating project administration and institutional reporting.
- Preparing project, donor and management reports.
- Maintaining project tracking systems and documentation.
- Planning and monitoring tasks, schedules and deliverables.
- Coordinating digitization activities with project teams and collection leads.
- Developing technical specifications for digitized archival materials.
- Liaising with external digitization service providers.
- Monitoring the quality of digitized materials and deliverables.
- Supporting the ingestion of digitized files into digital preservation systems and UNESCO databases.
- Supporting the logistical management of UNESCO’s digitization laboratory.
- Contributing to communications, outreach, exhibitions, publications and web and social media activities.
- Supporting partnership and resource mobilization initiatives.
- Coordinating project evaluation and reporting throughout the project.
The position therefore combines project management, archival digitization, information management, reporting, communications and stakeholder coordination.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must hold an advanced university degree, such as a master’s degree or equivalent, in a relevant discipline.
Acceptable fields include:
- Archival Studies
- Records Management
- Information Management
- Library Studies
Candidates must also have a minimum of two years of professional experience, preferably including at least one year at the international level, coordinating digitization projects or programmes and working within an institutional archive or library.
Skills and Professional Experience
UNESCO is seeking candidates with demonstrated project coordination capabilities, particularly the ability to plan and coordinate multi-year projects while monitoring budgets, schedules and day-to-day operations.
Applicants should have knowledge of digitization standards and practices used for archival or cultural heritage collections.
Additional skills include the ability to:
- Prepare high-quality professional reports and project documents.
- Communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across different functions.
- Work independently while following direction.
- Apply archival management, preservation and access principles.
- Solve problems and adapt to unexpected project challenges.
- Apply results-based management and budgeting approaches.
- Work with archival databases and cataloguing systems.
- Manage metadata ingestion and digital files.
- Use Microsoft applications such as Teams, Word and Excel.
- Work with or learn AI-powered tools.
Training or recognized certification in Project Management would be an advantage.
Experience supporting exhibitions, events, publications, social media and web communications would also be considered an asset.
Language Requirements
Excellent knowledge of English or French and good working knowledge of the other language are required.
This makes strong bilingual communication skills particularly relevant for candidates interested in working within UNESCO’s international professional environment.
Salary and Benefits
The approximate annual starting salary for the Digitization Project Coordinator position is US$87,095.
UNESCO staff benefits may also include:
- 30 days of annual leave.
- Family allowance, where applicable.
- Medical insurance.
- Pension plan.
- Other applicable staff entitlements.
For international professional appointments, the host-country visa requirement applies, with UNESCO facilitating the process where applicable.
Application Deadline and Selection Process
The application deadline is 7 October 2026 at midnight Paris time.
Candidates must complete the online UNESCO application and provide complete and accurate information. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified.
The recruitment process may include:
- Pre-recorded video interviews.
- Written assessments.
- Panel interviews.
- Reference checks.
- Requests for additional information concerning qualifications.
Short-listed candidates may also be considered for UNESCO talent pools, subject to their consent.
UNESCO states that it does not charge candidates any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
How to Apply for the UNESCO Job
Professionals who meet the education, experience and language requirements can submit their applications through the official UNESCO Careers platform.
Candidates should ensure that their academic qualifications meet UNESCO’s recognition requirements. The Organization uses the World Higher Education Database (WHED) when verifying higher educational qualifications.
Applications from candidates from non- and under-represented UNESCO Member States are particularly encouraged, alongside applications from women, persons with disabilities, minority and Indigenous groups.
Position: Digitization Project Coordinator
Grade: P-2
Location: Paris, France
Contract: Project Appointment
Duration: 2 years, with possible extension
Approximate starting salary: US$87,095 per year
Deadline: 7 October 2026
