Digital Asset and Photography Specialist

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $22.00 to $25.00 per hour. Hiring offers will be determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The recruiter can share more information about what the anticipated hiring rate would be based upon your specific qualifications during the selection process.

The CIA offers a substantial benefits package that includes medical coverage available at no cost to qualifying employees, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, retirement savings plan with high employer contributions, a generous paid time off program, and more!

As the benefits package at the CIA results in a significant value above the base hiring rate for this position, we encourage you to apply so that our recruiters can share more information with you about the benefits of working for the CIA.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Managing Producer, the Digital Asset and Photography Specialist oversees the Culinary Institute of America’s (CIA’s) digital asset management system and photography coordination, ensuring that the organizations visual assets are strategically managed, professionally produced, and readily accessible for use by all departments, across all campuses locations.

This position leads Digital Asset Management (DAM) administration and governance, and coordinates photography production from planning and scheduling through delivery.

Essential Responsibilities

Digital Asset Management & Governance

• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures, metadata and taxonomy standards, and archival guidelines for organizing, ingesting, and managing new and historical photo/video assets.
• Perform asset review, preparation, tagging, ingestion, and quality control to ensure accuracy, relevance, consistency, and long-term accessibility.
• Coordinate with photographers and videographers to ensure timely uploads that meet established standards.
• Manage system permissions, train users, maintain data integrity, and conduct asset searches to support strategic communications and institutional needs.
  
  

Photography & Rights Management

• Plan, schedule, and attend photo shoots in collaboration with Marketing and campus stakeholders; develop shot lists and brief photographers using fact sheets and established photography guidelines.
• Review deliverables for quality, completeness, and compliance with naming and archival standards; organize and maintain photography files.
• Manage releases, image and usage rights, permissions, and archival records to ensure appropriate use and long-term preservation of assets.
• Assist in establishing consistent processes, coordinates photography priorities, and ensure that visual assets are organized, discoverable, and available to support the CIA’s marketing, communications, and institutional storytelling.
• Any and all other duties as assigned.
  
  

Education

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Asset Management, Archiving, Library Science, Photography or related area of study.
  
  

Experience

• A minimum of one (1) year of related experience working with an image database.
  
  

Preferred Qualifcations

• Knowledge of Widen digital asset management system.
• Knowledge of foodservice and hospitality industries and respective terminology.
• Experience with data migration.
• Advanced camera skills.
• Knowledge of videography.
  
  

Required Skills

• Solid understanding of digital asset management systems, metadata schemas, taxonomies, controlled vocabularies, file naming conventions, search functionality and IPTC and XMP metadata standards.
• Comprehensive understanding of Photography. Ability to take quality photos.
• Experience in using both negative and flatbed scanners and related software.
• Willingness to assist the Marketing Team in all areas of Photography and Videography.
• Ability to manipulate photos (through scanning, color-correcting, cropping, etc.).
• Ability to research background information and write relevant metadata (titles, descriptions, keywords, etc.) for assets to be uploaded into the system.
• Understanding of photo copyright laws.
• Social media proficiency.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills; ability to be adaptable, dependable and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work in Adobe products and/or Lightroom for color management, digital file properties, color correcting and light retouching.
• Proficiency in Macintosh and PC cross-platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment, and maintain collaborative relationships.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work overtime on nights and weekends as required by business needs.
• Must be available to work various shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays as required due to business needs.
• Regular work requires a great deal of sitting and standing for extended periods.
• Regular work requires the use of a computer, sometimes in excess of eight (8) hours per day.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry 30 lbs.