Museum photographer job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Museum photographer in details. A complete job description concludes Museum photographer key duties/responsibilities, Museum photographer job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Museum photographer duties:

1. Maintain media contact database (Consolidate and update contact lists; Research specific media contacts and outlets for upcoming exhibitions and programs.)
2. Monitor, format and circulate all media clips. Maintain and organize press clip database.
3. Promote MAD’s exhibition, educational and outreach programs via Social Media.
4. Promptly answer press requests regarding releases and images and field other inquiries to appropriate public affairs staff members.
5. Manage weekly outreach to listings editors to ensure Museum's exhibitions and programs inclusion. Update all relevant event calendars.
6. Prepare Museum monthly enewsletter (draft copy, schedule eblast with relevant updated content, update recipient database) and work on other Museum collaterals as needed (draft short articles for members’ biannual newsletter, copy edit visitor materials etc.)
7. Update and maintain press website www.madmuseum.org/about/press (upload and format press releases; update image archive).
8. Help with logistical organization of press previews and other media events.
9. Escort press on photo and film shoots approved by the Museum.
10. Assist at Special Events (escort press and/or event photographer, distribute press materials, greet and check in).

II. List of Museum photographer qualifications

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills; Attention to detail and strong editing and grammar skills essential.
2. Strong organizational skills and prior office work experience.
3. A good understanding of Public Relations and interest in the Arts & Design field.
4. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel are required.  Robust Excel skills in particular are a definite plus.
5. Fluency with Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Hootsuite) required.
6. InDesign, Photoshop and html skills preferred.
7. Minimum of six years’ curatorial experience in photography
8. Experience with professional museum principles, practices, and procedures
9. Demonstrated accomplishments in scholarly research and writing
10. Management and budgeting experience
11. Teaching undergraduate or graduate courses preferred (but not required)

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.

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