The San José Museum of Art has an exciting opportunity for a Manager of Interactive Technology (MIT). The Manager of Interactive Technology (MIT) is part of a small team of creative and dedicated museum professionals.
The Manager of Interactive Technology (MIT) will be a leader in shaping the technological vision for the Museum’s future. S/he will be responsible for envisioning and overseeing the technological direction of the visitor engagement experience, inside and outside the building; and for creating a cross-departmental communication plan to guide the development of robust digital initiatives that support the intellectual membrane connecting the Museum’s exhibitions, public programs, and educational outreach. In addition to up-to-date knowledge of the technology field, the Manager of Interactive Technology will be conversant in best practice use of user-facing technology in the museum field. S/he will be the “disruptor-in-chief,” internally and externally, and provide SJMA with the tools and strategy to work cross-departmentally in a new and successful way.
Founded in 1969 by artists, SJMA presents modern and contemporary art exhibitions and programs; international in scope, it celebrates the cutting-edge vision of California and Pacific Rim artists. Given its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Museum has a substantial commitment to showing and nurturing visionary work in new media. SJMA’s permanent collection contains more than 2,500 works of art, including paintings, sculpture, installations, new media, photography, drawings, prints, and artist’s books.
SJMA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is located on the Plaza de César Chavez in downtown San José. The Museum serves 100,000 people a year, including some 40,000 school children, and is the largest provider of arts education in Santa Clara County.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Under the supervision of the deputy director, work with a cross-departmental team to develop a strategic direction for digital engagement that is consistent with the Museum’s core values and with audience expectations for an institution located in the heart of Silicon Valley
- Conceive, initiate, and drive digital projects both on- and off-site that push industry boundaries and visitor expectations
- Collaborate with curatorial and interpretation staff to create engaging interpretive activities that extend the visitor experience beyond the exhibition, allowing visitors to explore deeper levels of information and interact with one another
- Work with the Education Department’s Technology Advisory Committee, consisting of corporate advisors, educators, and representatives from the County Office of Education, to develop a plan for integrating technology into the Museum’s extensive classroom-based educational programs, which serve 40,000 annually, including its award-winning STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Math) artist residency program, Sowing Creativity
- Actively contribute to the development of the Museum’s current “50 x 50” project, a 50th-anniversary digital collection catalogue, which is currently under development with support from IMLS and private funders. The MIT will contribute to the team’s efforts to create a new model for storytelling focused on fifty key artists in the permanent collection and, through that, prototype new strategies for future digital publications
- Provide interactive technology guidance, support, and assistance to other Museum departments, including marketing, membership, publications, and retail
- Create a long-term plan, under the direction of the deputy director, to oversee the Museum’s Digital Asset Management system improvements
- Assist the Development department with technology-related grants and relationship building with technology companies
- Serve as a key liaison with technology partners throughout the Bay Area, who are both key audience members and potential sources of support.
Qualifications
- Broad understanding of museum practice and visitor experience, IT requirements, business needs and new technologies.
- Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Arts, Digital Humanities, or general related field, and three or more years related experience in digital, film, video or audio production, or equivalent combination of education/experience
- Proven technological production skills and ability to launch initiatives in a new environment
- Experience in an educational environment, with visitor engagement at its core
- Enthusiasm for all areas of visual art education, and ability to embrace STEAM programming and develop online curricula
- Digital publishing experience preferred, including coding in X source, Drupal, or familiarity with Quire
The position requires a background check and the ability to work weekends and evenings as required.
SJMA offers a competitive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision and paid sick and vacation time. The museum offers a generous retirement program.
We are an equal opportunity employer. At SJMA, we value the diversity of individuals and the ideas, perspectives, insights, and values they bring to the workplace.
To apply
Please send a resume and cover letter to HRdept@sjmusart.org by Friday, July 20.
Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview.
No phone calls, please.