Head, Collection Information and Digital Assets

Description

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Registration and Collections Information, the Head of Collection Information and Digital Assets (C.I.D.A.) will oversee all aspects of the team responsible for providing staff and visitors with the best possible access to collection information and digital assets and is responsible for leading the development and delivery of all collection information and digital asset content, strategies, and forward plans from migration into digital formats to ongoing maintenance and preservation. The position leads a specialist team and is accountable for generating use, access, and innovation, to increase engagement with diverse audiences and stakeholder groups, and promote pluralistic knowledge and understanding of LACMA’s collections.  

Responsibilities:

• Supervise, establish priorities, and train the Collection Information and Digital Assets staff that administers the databases, supports users with creating and accessing information that facilitate museum activities, assists with cataloging the collection, and delivers collection data including still images and video to downstream applications like websites and apps. 
• Create, supervise, and oversee department budget, which includes innovative technology projects that will enhance the use of collection information and digital assets. 
• Oversee projects and meet with management to provide updates regarding the progress of high-profile projects, statistics on usage, record maintenance, and location tracking of the collection. 
• Maintain the training program for museum staff to access, edit, and utilize collection data and digital assets, continually evaluate its effectiveness, and develop new training courses as needed. 
• Oversee the creation and editing of an internal website that provides staff with instruction and documentation for TMS, ODIN (including the use of this tool for digital preservation purposes), MORA, and Conservation DAMS. 
• Work in collaboration across multiple departments and consult multiple knowledge sources with a critical understanding of dominant and marginalized narratives in order to maintain and establish cataloging standards appropriate to museum standards and user needs. 
• Provide support on a wide variety of projects with museum staff to help identify and implement workflows and responsibilities required of collection information and digital asset management systems including TMS and ResourceSpace. 
• Work closely with the Assistant Vice President of Technology to coordinate efforts and ensure that priorities are being met for collection information and digital asset-related projects. 
• Manage relationships with vendors and contractors, prioritizing and communicating issues and needs for future development.
• Continue to explore promising trends and developments that support the delivery and administration of high-quality, easy-to-use digital tools for stakeholder groups internal and external to LACMA.
• Continually seek opportunities to incorporate diverse ways of knowing and understanding LACMA's permanent collection and communities served through collections data, digital assets, and digital platforms.
• Performs other duties or special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Library Science, Art History, Museum Studies, or a related field. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience with a collections management system and digital asset management system in an administrative capacity. 
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience. 
• Advanced knowledge of SQL and reporting software. 
• Extensive knowledge of museum cataloging data standards. 
• High-level digital project management experience in the arts and culture sector is strongly preferred. 
• Experience with business needs analysis, user support, training, and documentation. 
• Detail-oriented and accustomed to utilizing a variety of tools to track and report the status of projects. 
• Highly developed communication and networking skills including the ability to advocate collection information priorities and internally and externally work with diverse stakeholders.