Director of Digital Strategy

The Director of Digital Strategy is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing an ambitious and integrated digital strategy to enable the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco to achieve its vision of leadership and innovation in the field. Through the creation and implementation of innovative digital products, content, and experiences, the Director of Digital Strategy increases the public s awareness of and engagement with the museum s brand, exhibitions, collection, educational content, and public programs. They play a key role in supporting the museum s financial health by ensuring positive online user experiences related to all earned and contributed revenue streams. They are also a catalyst and driver of change, driving digital transformation initiatives across the organization, enabling it to be more agile, mission-driven, audience-centric, and financially sustainable.

Under the supervision of the Chief Program and Strategy Officer, the Director of Digital Strategy leads the Digital Strategy Department which comprises the following teams: Web and Digital Product, Web Content, Digital Media Production, Social Media, Collections Information, and Digital Asset Management. The Director of Digital Strategy spearheads the implementation of public facing digital technologies, including the website, mobile applications, in-gallery experiences, and AR/VR activations, in close alignment with the goals of the Curatorial, MarCommVX, Development, and other teams. The Director of Digital Strategy oversees the creation and execution of a cohesive digital content strategy across web, social media, and video platforms, in close alignment with institutional content strategy goals and those of Curatorial, Publications, MarCommVX, and other teams. The Director of Digital Strategy also directs the work of the Collections Information and Digital Asset Management teams, in close coordination with the curatorial and registration teams, with a goal of providing robust online access to meaningful information about the collections.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develops and implements a comprehensive digital strategy for the Museums that supports key institutional strategic priorities, especially those aimed at raising the institution s profile and enhancing audience engagement with its collection and programming. Ensures that digital initiatives are fully integrated with the strategic-planning process, including leadership commitment and resource allocation.
2. As a member of the leadership team, drives digital innovation and champions the use of digital technology across the organization. Acts as staff liaison to the Technology Committee and attends and presents at other Committee and Board meetings as needed. Collaborates with the Development team to identify funding opportunities to support digital initiatives.
3. Leads and coordinates digital product initiatives such as website redesigns, the creation of new web features, XR experiences, in-gallery interactives, and mobile applications, in collaboration with stakeholders from across the institution. Sets digital project priorities and timelines, identifying resources, outlining deliverables, and communicating expectations internally.
4. Based on the FAMSF mission, brand identity, audience goals, and overall content strategy, generate and execute a dynamic digital content strategy for the museums, crafting engaging narratives and digital engagement opportunities around the Museums collections, exhibitions and programs, in close collaboration with curatorial, conservation, education, public programming, publications, marketing and communication team colleagues. Oversee the successful execution of FAMSF s digital content strategy, including web content, social media campaigns, video production, and interactive experiences, with a focus on storytelling through media for a general audience.
5. Oversees the management of key digital technology databases, including the collections information database (TMS) and digital asset management system (Media Studio), to ensure data integrity and smooth integration with FAMSF s website and other digital platforms. Collaborates closely with curators and other staff across the Museum to establish, maintain, and enforce procedures for data entry, cataloging, and data standards.
6. Acts as the primary point of contact for large-scale web and interactive projects with outside agencies. Creates project proposals and timelines, writes RFPs, identifies agencies, vendors and tech partners for the museums.Oversees production timelines, budgets, creative and technical requirements for projects ranging from special microsites to larger web refreshes, AR/VR and video series.
7. Oversees digital user research and data analysis, providing relevant data-driven recommendations to iterate on digital product and content offering. Supervises processes for SEO management, Google Analytics,and social media analytics tracking.
8. Consults and collaborates with colleagues on the IT and Data Services teams on hosting services for the Museums web applications, integration with CRM (Salesforce), and ticketing systems (Ticketure).
9. Mentors and supervises Web Product team, Web Content team, Digital Media Production team, Social Media team, Collections Information Services team, Digital Asset Management team, and others, as needed.
10. Keeps abreast of technology trends, early adoption opportunities and best practices. Identify tech firms and start-ups for the museums to partner with in order to execute the digital roadmap. On behalf of FAMSF participates and presents at national and international conferences and coverings around art, tech, digital engagement and immersive and interactive experiences to build the institution s reputation as a leader in the field.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor s degree from an accredited college/university or equivalent experience.

Work Experience: 7 years experience leading digital product and content initiatives, preferably in a museum environment. Key experience may include:

• Experience developing and implementing long-term digital strategies for public facing brands or institutions
• Experience with emerging technologies (particularly AR, VR, and MR) and developing in-gallery tech activations
• Experience working with product teams or development of digital products like websites, mobile apps, or interactive screens
• Experience with and focus on storytelling through media for a general audience, whether that s through video, interactive experiences, social campaigns, etc.
• Experience with social media campaigns and strategy. Working understanding of the social media landscape and how different platforms interact/overlap.
• Experience working with agencies to produce digital products and experiences
• Experience in museums or mission-driven institutions is a plus
• Experience with TMS, Media Studio, Salesforce, and other technology platforms is a plus

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to communicate complex development or technical issues/needs to leadership and other decision makers.
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects, achieve organizational goals, maintain commitments, and meet strict deadlines in a highly demanding and fast-paced work environment.
• A high level of initiative, problem solving skills, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to analyze and integrate information from relevant sources and incorporate changes or make appropriate decisions.
• Ability to respond to changing circumstances and priorities in a focused and timely manner, and to proactively address issues as they arise.
• Experience and proven ability to build consensus and work effectively within a cross-departmental team.
• Experience building and managing a large team of direct reports. Good listening skills, able to inspire and uplift a team. Good communicator that advocates for the team to build support for our work across the institution.

Additional:

Schedule: This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with a minimum of three days per week onsite, and with the understanding that it may vary depending on operational needs.

The benefits package includes medical, dental, vision and 401(k), and paid time off.

The annual salary range for this position is $175,000-195,000. The final offer amount within this range will be based on experience and internal equity.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications submitted by October 7th. We plan to launch the interview process in mid-October.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].

We recommend all new COFAM employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 but it is not required. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

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COFAM is the Corporation of Fine Arts Museums and is the privately funded non-profit corporation which supports the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, a department of the City and County of San Francisco.

COFAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all phases of employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Comprising the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, we are the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States. The de Young, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and located in Golden Gate Park, showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The Legion of Honor displays a collection of over 4,000 years of ancient and European art including Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a Beaux-Arts style building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge.