Head of Digital and Technology at the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA)

The Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) is an independent non-profit organisation in Nigeria set up to drive research and execute high-value cultural, arts and heritage initiatives in West Africa. Our evolving research partners include major institutions such as the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the British Museum (BM), and the Deutsche Archaeological Institute (DAI).

EMOWAA’s dynamic research programme will initially focus on the historic core of pre-colonial Benin City, the capital of the Benin Empire and one of the most important archaeological sites in West Africa. Fieldwork began early 2022 with a series of targeted excavations and geospatial mapping of ancient earthwork structures. The next phase of work with the British Museum will begin in October 2022 ahead of the construction of its new heritage research and archive centre - the Pavilion.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Digital and Technology

Location: Benin City, Edo or Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Reporting Line: Pavilion Director
Start Date: Immediate / As soon as possible, subject to 6-month probation period

Head of Digital and Technology

• The Head of Digital and Technology will be responsible for managing EMOWAA’s flagship digital programming to deliver world class content based on the globally recognised material culture of Benin and extending to other West African civilisations. This specialist will lead the way in building up the Pavilion’s technical capabilities, acquiring the appropriate software and most importantly in building a successful and motivated team of specialists, as excited by the subject matter as by the medium through which it is being delivered.
• EMOWAA is looking for a highly-motivated leader interested in building a team and portfolio that will get a globally-dispersed generation of scholars, learners and creators excited about West Africa’s rich heritage. You will manage a team of IT and digital specialists but with also reach across the organisation and beyond to enable EMOWAA achieve its wider organisational objectives and impact goals.

Key Responsibilities
Acquisition, Licensing and Maintenance:

• Develop specifications and maintain budgets of appropriate IT hardware to enable the effective implementation of EMOWAA’s aims as an organisation
• Identify and prioritise appropriate software to achieve EMOWAA’s overall aims as well as the needs of specialist digital projects
• Manage procurement for hardware and software, ensuring value for money in negotiations with suppliers based on EMOWAA’s charitable status
• Manage a rolling programme of maintenance, upgrading, licensing of hardware and software to ensure that EMOWAA remains at the cutting edge of digital capability
• Built an effective and efficient IT support system for all EMOWAA IT users

Team:

• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of work across EMOWAA’s digital programme, including a digital library, virtual collection, and digital mapping facility
• Develop a core team of IT/data specialists, providing line management, technical and training support as needed
• Oversee the recruitment and performance management of direct reports, including annual performance reviews and mentorship
• Work closely with and, where appropriate, integrate partner cultural institutions in the development of these teams

Project Development / Fundraising:

• Work with EMOWAA colleagues to develop scope, structure, schedule and budgets for the different elements of the digital programme
• Work with colleagues to develop fund-raising applications which directly address and support the objectives of these programmes;
• Work with funding organisations and partner institutions, maintaining good communications and ensuring the effective delivery of project objectives on time and within budget.

Data Management and Archiving:

• Develop data management processes, structures and standards that will ensure that EMOWAA’s data storage and retrieval system is efficient and transparent
• Ensure databases created for individual projects and in EMOWAA’s core operations are designed in accordance with the needs of users and of long-term data access
• Develop sustainable digital archives, factoring in the long-term management, preservation and accessibility of EMOWAA’s digital data
• Identify partner institutions that can support these aims and, were appropriate, to develop collaborative relationships and projects.

Innovative Delivery:

• Support EMOWAA’s curatorial and education and outreach projects delivered through digital applications, such as e-learning projects, virtual installations
• Work with the wider EMOWAA team to identify the most effective ways to deliver the content that will be created by EMOWAA’s digital programmes
• Help identify EMOWAA’s audience, understanding their interests and the most effective digital tools to reach them, including social media, websites and hard infrastructure in Benin and in satellite exhibitions

Other Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Executive Chairman, the Director of the Pavilion and others as needed
• Advise (or source advisory for) the organization on how to build its in-house IT capabilities, including hiring junior staff, procurement of hardware and software, and training programs
• Develop forms, templates and guidelines for EMOWAA staff and contractors related to the above functions/areas of support

Experience & Qualifications
Qualifications

• Master’s Degree (PhD preferred) in Information Technology / Geographic Information Systems preferably combined with Museum Studies, Art History or Archaeology.

Experience:

• Needs to have had experience of working in digital applications within the context of the arts, preferably including aspects of cultural heritage and/or museum / exhibition management.

Analytical/Creative Skills:

• Must be creative and innovative, able to grasp the nature of the wide range of Benin’s material and intangible cultural heritage resources and to identify the best way to document and communicate them using the latest digital tools

Leadership Skills:

• Must possess leadership qualities that enable him/her to move, drive, and motivate a core IT team and individual project teams to successful completion of their goals and objectives

Technology Fluency:

• Show a deep interest and skill in new and emerging technological appliances, software, and applications

Interpersonal / People Skills:

• Being self-motivated and inspiring others to do the same, being a great problem solver, exceptional negotiation skills; being proactive and going beyond the call of duty; willing to learn about new disciplines and trends, and to learn from others.

People Skills:

• A suitable candidate will also have outstanding people skills, given their role as an internal service provider and the need for close collaboration with EMOWAA team leads.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive, subject to credentials.

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2022.