What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Support Specialist - Art Collections position at John Michael Kohler Arts Center?
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) is a nationally acclaimed visual and performing arts center located in the heart of downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Founded in 1967, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center presents work by diverse artists, from the vernacular to classically trained and from local to global perspectives. JMKAC establishes a community locally and nationally with its rotating, original contemporary art exhibitions, live performances and events, classes, workshops, and on-site preschool.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, WI) is currently seeking a skilled Data Support Specialist to manage all aspects of the Museum’s collections management system (CMS).
About The Role
Reporting to the Database Architect, the Data Support Specialist – Art Collections ensures that the Museum’s collections management system (CMS) is cohesively integrated into activities and workflows aligned with the Museum’s strategic priorities and goals and those of the Resource Services and Exhibitions departments. This role oversees the day-to-day administration, maintenance, and use of the collections management system and collaborates with their team on integrations with related systems such as our Digital Asset Management System (NetX). This position is responsible for training and supporting coworkers who use the CMS and will work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify unmet needs and manage the implementation of system improvements.
In partnership with internal stakeholders, the Data Support Specialist develops and supports sustainable practices to ensure the CMS is the centralized system of record for data related to the museum’s collections. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organization, the Data Support Specialist is key in realizing museum-wide use, continued development, and stewardship of the CMS and its contents for collections stewardship, collections access, collections documentation, and dynamic public programming.
Work Schedule: Full-time daytime hours Monday – Friday, with occasional Saturdays and Sundays to meet staffing and/or event needs.
Successful Candidates Will Have:
Essential Job Duties:
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently sit; use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects; and talk or hear. The employee will also occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, and smell to complete this job. The employee should be able to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities when performing this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth
perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Able to read and interpret documents, write routine correspondence, and speak effectively with others. Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers. Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Able to deal with problems involving few concrete variables in standard situations.
Work Environments:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The position is office/art gallery-based and noise level is usually moderate. May occasionally work inside or outside at events where noise level could be moderate to loud.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, WI) is currently seeking a skilled Data Support Specialist to manage all aspects of the Museum’s collections management system (CMS).
About The Role
Reporting to the Database Architect, the Data Support Specialist – Art Collections ensures that the Museum’s collections management system (CMS) is cohesively integrated into activities and workflows aligned with the Museum’s strategic priorities and goals and those of the Resource Services and Exhibitions departments. This role oversees the day-to-day administration, maintenance, and use of the collections management system and collaborates with their team on integrations with related systems such as our Digital Asset Management System (NetX). This position is responsible for training and supporting coworkers who use the CMS and will work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify unmet needs and manage the implementation of system improvements.
In partnership with internal stakeholders, the Data Support Specialist develops and supports sustainable practices to ensure the CMS is the centralized system of record for data related to the museum’s collections. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organization, the Data Support Specialist is key in realizing museum-wide use, continued development, and stewardship of the CMS and its contents for collections stewardship, collections access, collections documentation, and dynamic public programming.
Work Schedule: Full-time daytime hours Monday – Friday, with occasional Saturdays and Sundays to meet staffing and/or event needs.
Successful Candidates Will Have:
- Strong organizational skills and detail-orientation
- Ability to take initiative and a strong desire to learn
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills
- Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
Essential Job Duties:
- Manages the collections management database (currently PastPerfect) including administration of user accounts, training, user support, access and authorities, and customizations in consultation with the Database Architect
- Assists with data migration and transition to new databases
- Ensures all accessioned materials receive appropriate housing and tracked location
- Oversees the CRM user manuals, style guides, and documentation
- Troubleshoots data integration and presentation for the museum’s online collection
- Creates training videos and reference documents for specific database elements employees find problematic or are not frequently used
- Assists patrons and scholars who want to access the database and related archives to retrieve information or do research
- Identifies and investigates complex problems and issues and recommends corrective actions
- Supports the Exhibitions and Resource Services Teams in accessioning works of art and creating finding aids, meta tags, and material descriptions where possible
- Assists staff, with the Database Architect, to identify process improvement opportunities, propose system modifications, and devise data governance strategies
- Attends educational programs and workshops for professional growth as requested, based on budget
- Degree in Information Studies, Museum Studies, Art, or a related field a plus
- Experience with Collection Management Systems
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Relational Database Knowledge
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently sit; use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects; and talk or hear. The employee will also occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, and smell to complete this job. The employee should be able to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities when performing this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth
perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Able to read and interpret documents, write routine correspondence, and speak effectively with others. Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers. Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Able to deal with problems involving few concrete variables in standard situations.
Work Environments:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The position is office/art gallery-based and noise level is usually moderate. May occasionally work inside or outside at events where noise level could be moderate to loud.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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