Head of Collections Imaging

The Cleveland Museum of Art seeks a Head of Collections Imaging to lead the Photographic and Digital Imaging Services department.  Reporting to the Director of Collections Management, this position is responsible for overseeing administrative responsibilities including supervising staff, the department budget, and prioritizing departmental workflow and deliverables.   

The Head of Collections Imaging both performs and directs the photography of the Museum’s encyclopedic art collection ensuring that the highest quality photographic documentation for conventional still photography and advanced digital imaging methods are met.  Additional responsibilities include photographic documentation of exhibitions, loans, editorial, events, and special projects as assigned.  

This role interfaces with multiple departments across the museum and is responsible for facilitating clear communication to ensure institutional goals are achieved in a realistic and mutually agreed upon timeframe.   

Requirements  

• Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university, preferably in Fine Arts (Photography), Art History, or Museum Studies; or eight years experience photographing art for art museums; or equivalent combination of training and experience. An applicant with five years or more experience in people management and/or project management within an art museum or image archive is preferred.  
• A demonstrated proficiency with high end photographic imaging equipment and studio lighting in the photography of fine art collections is a must, along with the attendant imaging applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Camera Raw and Bridge; Capture One and/or Phocus; experience with advanced imaging techniques and methods such as photogrammetry, multi-spectral imaging, RTI, focus stacking, and time-lapse preferred.   
• A demonstrated ability to lead a team, administer complex projects and coordinate multiple assignments simultaneously. Proven leadership experience, with a care to foster and develop staff, and a demonstrated ability to work successfully with others to achieve institutional objectives.   
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.   

Responsibilities  

• Supervises three full time staff including two photographers responsible for collection digitization, conservation imaging, editorial and event photography, along with one department coordinator.  The department coordinator supports department scheduling, budget tracking, image uploads to the appropriate Digital Asset Management Systems, and responding to external image request.    
• Sets the standards of photography for all internal and external digital assets, including the review and approval of all contractor made assets and animations to ensure they are up to CMA standards.  
• Responsible for ongoing photography of the permanent collection for uploading to internal image archive and museum website for all institutional uses, as well as outside public and scholarly needs. This includes both high level still photography in a studio setting and on location in the galleries and elsewhere, as well as advanced imaging methods, most notably Photogrammetry for 3D model creation of collection objects. Responsible for production of images within all institutional publications, both printed and electronic.  Extensive knowledge of digital imaging equipment, technologies, standards and best practices.  Demonstrated skill in solving high level technical imaging problems.  
• Attention to the utmost sensitivity about the care and handling of collection objects. Consults with conservators about any handling or staging considerations. Must be highly attuned to observing and considering the condition of any and all objects and knowing when to request consult or conference with conservators about handling considerations. The care of our collection objects is of the utmost importance.    
• Responsible for setting and adhering to the annual department budget.  
• Robust understanding and implementation of imaging parameter records to be kept in metadata, or other records archiving methods such as Digital Lab Notebook for photogrammetry, or Excel spreadsheets for project management.  
• Works closely with the Curatorial, Conservation, Publications, Collections Management, Design, and Digital Innovation & Technology Services to provide appropriate images of the highest quality in support of the Museum’s mission as an academic research center for the study, understanding and enjoyment of art.         
• Assigns and works on special projects as necessary, assuring that appropriate deadlines are met in a timely fashion