Digital Archivist [Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, CA]

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has recently completed a dramatic transformation with new award-winning exhibits, 3 1/2 acres of Nature Gardens and a fresh approach to understanding the history of life on our planet and the urban nature of Los Angeles.

To help illustrate these significant milestones and programs, the Museum’s Creative Services Department is looking for a Digital Asset Archivist to manage the growing library of imagery, video and other media.

Reporting to the Director of Creative Services, the Digital Archivist oversees all aspects of the Family of Museums (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Hart Museum) assets, including photographs, illustrations, brand identity tools, digital media, slides, negatives and moving images from the Marketing and Communications Department and other departments. This includes the care, organization, and upkeep of assets, and providing research assistance to users; and ensuring best practices and standards, set by the Society of American Archivists, American Library Association, American Alliance of Museums, and other applicable organizations are followed for digital asset initiatives.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Manage new asset management system that houses assets for the Marketing and Communications Department and the whole institution with potential to grow to include enterprise wide assets • Follow established file management processes and naming conventions that standardize and streamline asset management, project archiving and retrieval including curation • Manage all marketing-related image and media requests from Museum staff, publications, and outside vendors • Assists with negotiation of image permissions, fees and licensing, and records information in Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) • Help develop usage contracts for outside image creators • Research and evaluate solutions for licensing/selling imagery through e-commerce • Manage new Print on Demand project including cataloguing, captioning, liaison with partner provider, and interface with Marketing and PR to launch this fall. • Identifies strongest images in our collection and curates images for various needs including Marketing, PR and Print on Demand project

This position has the following requirements:

• 3 years minimum experience working with assets (photographic, illustrations, brand elements, content) in the area of digital asset management • Experience with digital repository platform(s) and digital content creation/transformation tools • Advanced skills in database creation and management, and data storage methods and security • Must be highly organized, analytical in thinking, and meticulous in maintaining information using detailed record-keeping systems and metadata. • Experience and technical proficiency on both PC and Mac computer platforms • Excellent analytical, communication (verbal and written), and interpersonal skills, including commitment to working effectively within a diverse staff population • Excellent research skills • Advanced Adobe Photoshop skills • Experience with the preservation and recording of physical assets for digital record keeping, disaster recovery and public usage (marketing, media, exhibits, licensing commerce) • Ability to manage projects and competing priorities with demonstrated ability to be flexible, to adapt to change, and to work successfully in a fast-paced, dynamic environment • Ability to take initiative and creatively manage projects both independently and as part of a team

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with photo retouching and cropping • A strong visual eye and experience with photo editing • Understanding of commerce model for digital assets • Experience managing digital assets in the Museum environment, inclusive of collections and marketing and communications assets

Salary is commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits. This is a full time, regular, non-exempt position.

TO APPLY:  Submit your resume online at:  www.nhm.org/jobs.  Review of applications begins immediately and continues until position is filled.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please, No Phone Calls, No Fax.