Visual Resources Manager (Full Time, Hybrid)

Applications accepted on a rolling basis, we recommend applying as soon as you are able to. 

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Primary Function: 

The Visual Resources Manager is responsible for the management of the digital assets and rights related to the art collections and temporary exhibitions of the Barnes Foundation and Calder Gardens. Working with multiple stakeholders across the organization and beyond, the Visual Resources Manager manages many relationships and negotiates workable agreements and rates on behalf of the Foundation with ARS and other organizations.  

The Visual Resources Manager coordinates delivery of images and metadata to external image vendors and scholarly image databases, and conducts image research, obtaining high-res images and licensing rights in support of all Foundation publications, retail and marketing activity. The post holder updates images of new photography for the online collection, manages rights around public domain and works under copyright, and prepares contracts and images for external image requests (in adherence with Barnes Image Reproduction policy).

The Visual Resources Manager organizes photography of the art collection, exhibitions, and building as required, coordinating in-house art handling support, and contracting outside photographers. They are actively involved in a large-scale digital asset management project of the Barnes Foundation’s art collection and archives (DAMS), for which they manage taxonomies, metadata standards, and data governance.  

Job Qualifications

• Master’s degree with a specialization in library science/digital asset management, or related field, or equivalent work experience managing both digital and physical media in a museum or cultural institution
• Ability to prioritize, and to maintain composure under pressure
• Confidence and diplomacy in negotiations, and in managing stakeholder expectations
• Knowledge of, and experience with, current practices of digital imaging and scanning technologies, equipment, and preservation, including proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, color management tools for digital assets, digital image management software, and collections management software
• Knowledge of relevant metadata standards and controlled vocabularies for digital asset management
• Experience working with publications and knowledge of image editing and digital prepress
• Knowledge and previous experience with handling practices for art and archival materials
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to meet deadlines
• Clearances: Criminal Background-National

Physical Activities to Perform Essential Functions:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Moving:

Approximately 80%+ of time is spent seated while working at a desk.  
Ability to occasionally transport up to 25 lbs. of files, equipment or supplies.  Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.

Vision Requirements:

This position requires extended time on the computer.

Communication Requirements:  

Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.  
Communicate with others in conversational and written English. 

Working Conditions:

Position operates in remote work setting.
Position requires extended time on the computer.

Job Responsibilities:

• Fulfill image requests and rights clearance for various internal departments.
• Establish and implement policies and procedures in consultation with collections and marketing staff, and the General Counsel, for in-house and out-of-house digital image use, including licensing and rights and reproductions for scholarly and commercial publications, products, and web distribution.
• Work in coordination with the General Counsel with ongoing copyright documentation of the Foundation’s art collections.  
• Manage external image requests, reviewing and actioning in accordance with image licensing policies.  Prepare licensing contracts, invoices, and process payments.  
• Work with lenders of special exhibitions to coordinate high-resolution photography.
• Manage & negotiate rights and licensing contracts around special exhibition images.
• Prepare lists of approved promotional images and related fees, and cross-departmental meetings on the topic.
• Ensure that design layouts of print collateral, email campaigns, website, and promotional content receive the necessary approvals from estates, exhibition lenders, and third-party licensing agencies. Review and submit design layouts and communicate appropriate changes to stakeholders on time-sensitive projects.   Meet departmental deadlines for design approvals and print delivery.
• Ensure all publications meet image guidelines, and that image lenders receive any required complimentary catalogues. Prepare credit lines for publications.
• Update annual review of artists and art works entering public domain in consult with Collections Registrar and General Counsel. Update copyright classifications for online collection in accordance with Barnes online collection open access policy.
• Hire, contract, and schedule photographers for gallery photography.  
• Update online collection images & TMS records as works are re-photographed,
• Serve as core member of the Digital Asset Management system team, with responsibilities in implementation and user training.
• Develop and implement best practices for data governance, metadata management, taxonomies, and image quality control standards.
• Responsible for management and ingestion of all new photography into the DAM/CMS.
• Coordinate digital asset and metadata delivery to image vendors.   Manage contracts with licensing agencies such as ARS and Bridgeman.
• Interact diplomatically and effectively negotiate the Barnes’s interests, with a variety of external stakeholders.

Organization-Wide Competencies:

1. Accountability:
   1. Prepares for work assignments and meetings,
   2. Conducts thorough fact-finding, decision-making and/or follow through,
   3. Admits mistakes and errors and informs others when one is not able to meet a commitment.
2. Job Quality:
   1. Dependably demonstrates job knowledge necessary for the position,
   2. Produces timely, accurate, high quality work output,
   3. Prioritizes work responsibilities effectively and produces work quantity expected for the role.
3. Service:
   1. Identifies problems and collaborate with others to devise and create effective solutions.
   2. Interacts and communicates with fellow employees in a manner that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment in accordance with our Core Values.
   3. Facilitates open communication and keeps an open mind about new ideas.
4. Leadership:
   1. Sets a good example for others,
   2. Demonstrates ethical decision-making and communication,
   3. Makes decisions. Uses a solution-oriented, collaborative approach.
5. Collaboration:
   1. Seeks win-win outcomes in decision-making,
   2. Shows a proactive, inclusive, helpful, and respectful attitude to colleagues, guests and others,
   3. Takes initiative to contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.
6. Empowerment (Supervisors):
   1. Directs others’ work effectively with adequate goalsetting, accountability, delegation, supervision, conflict resolution, accessibility to support and resources,
   2. Motivates team to meet short- and long-term goals: individual, department and strategic plan,
   3. Creates environment for staff development.
7. Administration (Supervisors):
   1. Meets goals related to revenue targets, expense control, program fees, etc.,
   2. Develops/manages budget in keeping with organizational priorities,
   3. Follows protocols and reporting requirements set by other departments (HR, IT, Facilities, etc.),
   4. Collects and analyzes data effectively,
   5. Documents work accurately and consistently, shares information appropriately.