Digitization Technician

Digitization Technician

The digitization technician will serve on a 3-year, grant-funded project to establish a digitization lab at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In collaboration with the collections, curatorial, and information technology teams, this role will plan, develop, and implement data and image driven collections initiatives. The digitization technician will serve as a critical component in the Museum's plan to enhance collections stewardship and access through digitization, data management, and imaging practices. Working with collections objects and analog documentation, this role promotes best practices for physical and digital collections, while ensuring long-term preservation and use of collections data and digital assets.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in history, information science, data management, museum studies or related field preferred, but not necessary, with demonstrable experience working in collections and/or preventive conservation
• At least 2 years of experience leading digitization, data entry, records management, or digital collections-based projects (experience with natural history or cultural collections preferred)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides 2D and 3D digital imaging of the Museum's permanent collection, which is composed of a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes, and can be generally complex to image or otherwise digitize
• Manages identified digitization projects, including communicating and coordinating with team members in multiple departments, contributing to project design and implementation, supporting 2D and 3D imaging requirements, assisting with digital asset management, and contributing to data collection workflows
• Supports the data lifecycle for digital assets, including data management and processing of new 2D and 3D image files including file naming, metadata, and organization following Museum guidelines
• Ensures thorough tracking, documenting, and reporting of project activities and outcomes, including specimen organization and movement in collections

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Comprehensive and current knowledge of standards and best practices for museum collections management care and demonstrable experience of handling and moving collections objects
• Experience working with collections management and digital asset management systems (e.g. EMu, Terentia)
• Ability to build and adapt workflows, support digitization projects, and assist with evaluating new tools and technologies
• Experience working across collection types, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with a high degree of attention to detail; an ability to undertake complex and methodical projects to a high level of accuracy
• Excellent IT skills including the ability to check and verify data in documents, spreadsheets, databases, or other sources
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and interpersonal skills; ability to deal effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, maintaining positive working relationships
• Self-motivated with a demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as successfully in a team, towards deadline driven projects

Equipment:

• Demonstrated ability with imaging equipment and software tools used to produce, process, and manage digital assets

Physical Working Conditions:

• Indoors
• Position requires sitting, walking, standing, reaching including stooping, kneeling, and crouching

Physical Effort Required:

• Some physical effort may occasionally be required
• Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time
• Must be able to climb up and down ladders
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs.
• Must be able to run or respond to emergency situations

Salary/Exempt Position