Digital Asset Specialist

Description

JOB SUMMARY:                  

The Digital Asset Specialist, reporting to the Head of Digital Collections Initiatives, will contribute to the development and implementation of a robust digital asset management program as part of CHM’s long-term Digital Futures initiative. Key responsibilities include assisting with DAMS vendor research, selection, and implementation; organizing and preparing CHM’s unmanaged digital assets for ingestion; migrating assets to local/cloud storage and DAMS; and creating and enhancing metadata. Collaborating closely with the Digital Futures project team, this position will help ensure the successful launch of a new DAMS in 2026. This grant-funded role is a two-year appointment, with the possibility of annual renewal based on funding and performance.

JOB DUTIES:

1. Digital Asset Management
   • Centralize and organize the Museum’s unmanaged digital collections assets
   • Migrate unmanaged assets to local/cloud storage and DAMS
2. Metadata
   • Create and/or improve metadata for collections assets
   • Implement existing metadata standards and controlled vocabularies to ensure consistency and discoverability
   • Collaborate with Collections, Curatorial, and Research and Access staff to identify and implement reparative language related to CHM’s critical cataloging initiative 
3. Quality Control:
   • Perform quality assurance checks on digital assets to ensure compliance with metadata standards, proper file naming and format adherence
4. Access and Distribution:
   • Gain an understanding of the types of internal and external uses for collections assets to inform work
   • As needed, facilitate the delivery of digital content to internal and external users, ensuring proper copyright and usage rights compliance
5. Collaboration and Training:
   • Work with Collections, IT and Rights and Reproductions staff to improve workflows for the creation, storage, and retrieval of digital assets
   • Create training documentation and conduct training sessions for museum staff on best practices for digital asset usage and existing/new DAMS functionality
6. Preservation and Upkeep:
   • If needed, collaborate with the Archives unit to monitor and maintain digital assets for long-term preservation, including periodic audits and migrations to updated formats
   • Stay current on trends and technologies in digital preservation and DAMS to recommend improvements
7. Project Support:
   • Serve on Digital Futures project teams to represent DAMS-related interests
   • Participate in vendor research and selection for a new DAMS
   • Assist with digital projects aligned with the Digital Futures initiative such as online exhibits and proactive digitization

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education - Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Information Management, Library Science, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
2. Work experience - 3+ years professional experience in digital asset management or related field; experience with a system implementation preferred
3. Skills
   • Proficiency in digital asset management software and systems
   • Experience managing a variety of digital asset types (audio, video, still images, etc.)
   • Keen attention to detail
   • Strong organizational and project management skills
   • Understanding of common metadata standards and taxonomy
   • Competence with file format standards (e.g., TIFF, JPEG, WAV)
   • Knowledge of copyright laws and digital rights management
   • Strong verbal and written communication skills for cross-departmental collaboration
   • Ability to create and maintain comprehensive documentation for workflows and systems
   • Ability to solve technical and procedural problems creatively
   • Ability to train staff on DAMS usage and best practices
   • Analytical skills to assess system performance and user needs
   • A demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in digital initiatives
   • Basic familiarity with APIs and system integrations
   • Basic familiarity with digital preservation workflows and best practices