ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART

As the first museum to focus exclusively on storytelling through images, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art believes that visual storytelling can connect us and help shape a more just society. With a growing collection that encompasses artworks from across cultures, places, times, and mediums, including paintings, sculptures, murals, photography, comic art, book and magazine illustrations, and the arts of filmmaking, the Lucas Museum will explore narrative art’s potential to prompt questions, invite opinions, inspire community, and move people to think about the impact of images on our world.

Co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson and led by director and CEO Sandra Jackson-Dumont, the Lucas Museum was designed by renowned architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec as executive architect and is under construction in Los Angeles’s Exposition Park. An 11-acre campus with extensive new green space designed by Studio-MLA will embrace the museum’s 300,000-square-foot building, which will feature expansive galleries, two state-of-the-art theaters, and dedicated spaces for learning and engagement, dining, retail, and events. www.lucasmuseum.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art seeks a Digital Asset Specialist to provide institutional support in all aspects of collections and non-collections information stewardship, including acquiring, cataloging, ingesting, and processing digital assets into the museum’s digital asset management system, NetX. In coordination with the museum’s Information Technology (IT) department, they will maintain the software and hardware required to document and deliver digital assets. In collaboration with the Rights and Reproduction Specialist and Database Manager, the position holder will develop and monitor base metadata criteria and a set of standards for managing still images, video, and other asset types, to maintain data and image consistency and to meet national cultural object documentation standards, in support of best practices in digital documentation of and access to the collection as well as non-collection assets.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Digital Asset Management:

• Oversee the intake of collection and non-collection assets into the museum’s digital asset management system through both manual upload and automated workflows.
• Review newly ingested assets for record completeness, quality, and assignment of necessary permissions.
• Apply accurate and relevant metadata to assets and organize assets within the digital asset management system to support users’ ability to search and retrieve assets.
• Assist asset contributors, including museum staff and external contractors, in entering additional metadata and organizing assets to support discovery, sharing, and department workflows.
• Monitor and support best practices around asset lifecycle, including archiving and deletion of assets in accordance with institutional policies and licensing terms.
• Manage controlled vocabularies and enforce data standards within the digital asset management system.
• Implement new attributes, workflows, and autotasks within the digital asset management system, as required in support of new asset types and evolving museum programs.
• Administer digital asset management user accounts for staff and contractors and set permissions based on their roles and responsibilities.
• Provide digital asset management system onboarding training for new staff and ongoing support to individual staff users.
• Maintain and develop documentation of digital asset management system use and governance, including custom attribute definitions, workflow, and autotask specifications, training documents, and regular reports on user activity and asset statistics.
• Work closely with Database Manager and Collections Information Specialists to maintain integration between TMS and the digital asset management system.

Imaging Support:

• Help to maintain accurate digital acquisitions, loans, and constituent records in the collections management database system, The Museum System (TMS).
• Develop and oversee workflow for web publication of non-collection assets to the museum’s website and collection object records to the museum’s online collections portal in cooperation with the Database Manager and other key museum stakeholders.
• Coordinate with Rights and Reproductions staff to handle all internal and external image research requests.
• Interface and assist with imaging programs across the institution.
• Trains relevant museum staff in the use of digital publishing software and the institution’s imaging systems.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Planning & Organizing - Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; manages time effectively; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones; ability to create, manage, and lead projects; excellent time management skills.
• Adapting & Responding to Change - Adapts to changing circumstances; accepts new ideas and change initiatives; adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations; shows respect and sensitivity towards differences; deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents; ability to analyze and problem solve.
• Adhering to Principles & Values – Upholds ethics and values; demonstrates integrity; promotes and defends equal opportunities, builds diverse teams; encourages organizational and individual responsibility.
• Presenting & Communicating Information - Speaks clearly and fluently; provides accurate information and key points of an argument clearly; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; Excellent training and interpersonal skills, with a focus on creating a user-friendly and approachable experience; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues, volunteers, and interns and the ability to effectively represent the Museum to outside professionals, lenders, donors, and members of the artistic community.
• Writing & Reporting - Writes clearly, succinctly, and correctly; writes convincingly in an engaging and expressive manner; avoids the unnecessary use of jargon or complicated language; writes in a well-structured and logical way; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; effectively communicates technical issues to non-technical staff; experience writing technical documentation.
• Knowledge of the Field - Demonstrate a capacity to work with a variety of media formats and technologies, from still image to video and other time-based media; thorough knowledge of and experience with digital asset management systems, hosted or cloud-based platforms; demonstrated ability to work with databases, data mapping and migration of data from one database system to another; thorough knowledge of metadata schema and standards; knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Adobe Premiere, and Final Cut Pro; familiarity with automation techniques, including auditing/checksum routines, file format identification, and media conversion; desire to develop and improve upon skills in new asset types and formats.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in library information sciences, archives management, or comparable degree is required, or;
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field and at least 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with a digital asset management system is required; familiarity with museum or gallery collections information systems is a plus.
• Experience with NetX preferred.
• Experience with Gallery Systems products (The Museum System (TMS); Crystal Reports) is preferred.
• Experience with SAP Crystal Reports and/or SQL Server Reporting Services is desirable.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEAIB

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Lucas Museum fosters a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, whether based on race, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Applications from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged.

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.

MISSION AND VISION

We are a museum dedicated to the art of storytelling. Through visual storytelling the Lucas Museum expands the role of art and museums for society. The museum inspires thought provoking ideas and conversations that are relevant within and beyond geographic boundaries. Our work radiates to catalyze more connected and empathetic spaces. The art of storytelling connects us to shape a more just society.

VALUES

Our internal and external practice is shaped by the following beliefs and behaviors.

PEOPLE FIRST
We meet people wherever they are (physically, intellectually, emotionally). Our inclusive practice connects who people are and what people find meaningful, to works of art and the work of our organization.

INSPIRED
We believe that art can move you to feel, think, reflect, and act.

COLLABORATIVE
We believe that nimble thinking and working together yields exponential results.

BRAVE
We approach our work and learning with courage, creativity, curiosity, and a sense of adventure.

4 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

ART
Amplify the social impact of Narrative Art through an approach that bridges the academic and the popular.

COMMUNITY
Connect to a broad and diverse public by create an institution rooted in impactful, respectful, sustainable relationships.

INCLUSION
Practice diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging in all operational and programmatic aspects of our work.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Create a healthy and durable institution equipped to fulfill its vision and public mandate.

All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve.

Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates’ education and experience. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).

Pursuant to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the museum requires all new hires to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment absent an approved medical and/or religious exemption. Upon hire, all new hires will receive detailed instructions on complying with this policy. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.