The Museum has an exciting opportunity for a professional to join the Collection Engagement Business Unit, as the Digitisation Coordinator to manage and coordinate key digitsation workstreams across the Museum’s collections to support enhanced access and engagement with collections and related data.
The Collection Engagement Business Unit focuses on current and future processes supporting engagement with the Museum’s collections, including building the Museum’s capacity to manage, store and preserve digital collection material.
The Business Unit encompasses the diverse range of activities which make the Museum’s collections discoverable. These include documentation, imaging, and digitisation, administering the Museum’s Collection Management System (currently EMu) and Digital Asset Management System (currently Piction), managing associated intellectual property rights, managing the Library and Archive collections, and providing public access– both online and on-site in the Museum’s collection stores. The Business Unit also includes a First Nations Collections section, which is responsible for repatriation, facilitating First Nations community access to collections, and enhancing the knowledge of the First Nations collections held by the Museum.
The Collection Engagement Business Unit works closely with the Curatorial team, who set the intellectual framework for collection development, and the Collection Care and Management team who are responsible for collection conservation, storage, and related logistics.
The Digitisation Coordinator will oversee and manage a team to deliver the Museum’s digitisation program across 2D, 3D and at-risk audio-visual workstreams according to professional museum and archival standards. This position will:
- develop effective and efficient operations for the digitisation program, including administration, resource and financial management, procurement, and program planning.
- build digitisation capacity through the revision of standards, procedures, and practices to achieve internal operational efficiencies which increase access to the Museum’s collections.
- work closely with the staff managing relevant systems such as the Trusted Digital Repository, Collection Management System, content management systems, Digital Asset Management systems to ensure integrated access to museum created assets and data across systems.
- manage staff across the digitisation program and promote team capacity through recruitment, training, performance feedback and encouraging career development.
- Build sector relationships and undertake research to identify and propose solutions and technologies to improve standards and processes relating to digitisation be responsible for maintaining relevant documentation, monitoring project progress against milestones, reporting, risk and contract management and stakeholder engagement.
- Support the Manager, Changeable and Digital Collections with reporting activities and other higher-level tasks as required.
What will the successful candidate bring to the role?
To be successful in this role you will have an understanding of the role of collection digitisation within a cultural organisation for preservation and access. You will have experience in managing conservation and logistical requirements to support the digitisation of cultural heritage objects. You will have experience supervising and managing staff in a technology driven environment where there is constant change, requirements for adaptation and new workflows and delivery to described standards. You will communicate effectively and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including with contracted suppliers, to build productive relationships and deliver agreed outcomes within timeframes and budget.
Selection criteria
Applicants must respond to each of the following selection criteria and include contact details for two referees in their application.
1. Proven experience managing program delivery in a digitisation, digital or technology driven environment, with a capacity to develop and implement workflows, manage change, and build operational capacity.
2. Experience in working effectively and collaboratively with interdisciplinary workgroups in the capture, creation, management, and access to digital assets.
3. Problem solving and high-level analytical skills, including sound communication and negotiation skills, with strong conflict resolution skills and an ability to build effective relationships.
4. Knowledge of sector and international standards in relation to digitisation and digital archiving practices, including metadata schema, file formats, control and management of digital cultural collections and assets.
5. Proven experience as a team leader with the ability to develop and maintain a team of technical specialists to meet key performance indicators and strategic outcomes.
6. Well-developed written and presentation skills, and ability to represent the Museum’s interests with external stakeholders and vendors.
7. Commitment to legal and regulatory responsibilities, including Workplace Health and Safety as it applies to this role and approved places of work.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The National Museum of Australia is an equal employment opportunity workplace.
The National Museum of Australia is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for these principles in theory and practice.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, applicants must:
- be an Australian citizen.
- undergo a number of pre-employment checks, including a police records check.