Digital Asset and Photography Specialist

the CIA • Hyde Park, NY

5d

About The Position

Reporting to the Managing Producer, the Digital Asset and Photography Specialist oversees the Culinary Institute of America’s digital asset management system and coordinates photography to ensure visual assets are strategically managed, professionally produced, and accessible for use by departments across campus locations. The position leads digital asset management administration and governance and coordinates photography production from planning and scheduling through delivery.

The role establishes procedures and standards for organizing, ingesting, managing, and archiving photo and video assets; reviews, prepares, tags, ingests, and quality-checks assets; coordinates uploads with photographers and videographers; manages system permissions and user training; and conducts asset searches to support institutional needs. It also plans and attends photo shoots, prepares shot lists and photographer briefs, reviews deliverables, and manages releases, image and usage rights, permissions, and archival records. The specialist helps establish consistent photography processes and priorities and supports marketing, communications, and institutional storytelling. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Asset Management, Archiving, Library Science, Photography, or a related area of study.
• At least one year of related experience working with an image database.
• 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 and ability to take quality photos.
• Experience using negative and flatbed scanners and related software.
• Ability to assist the Marketing Team in photography and videography.
• Ability to manipulate photos through scanning, color correction, cropping, and similar methods.
• Ability to research background information and write relevant metadata, including titles, descriptions, and keywords.
• Understanding of photo copyright laws.
• Social media proficiency.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, adaptability, dependability, and ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to use Adobe products and/or Lightroom for color management, digital file properties, color correction, and light retouching.
• Proficiency with Macintosh and PC cross-platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Ability to work overtime on nights and weekends as required by business needs, and availability for various shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures, metadata and taxonomy standards, and archival guidelines for photo and video assets.
• Review, prepare, tag, ingest, and quality-control new and historical assets 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 communications and institutional needs.
• Plan, schedule, and attend photo shoots with Marketing and campus stakeholders.
• Develop shot lists and brief photographers using fact sheets and established photography guidelines.
• Review photography 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 preservation of assets.
• Assist in establishing consistent processes, coordinate photography priorities, and ensure visual assets are organized, discoverable, and available.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.
• Generous paid time off program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time