Job Description

About Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen is more than an iconic museum; we’re a fast-paced, high-energy team driven by passion, innovation, and a love for car culture and storytelling. Our world class exhibitions and unforgettable events bring history and design to life every day.

At Petersen Automotive Museum, we work hard, move fast, and have a great time doing it, all while pushing the boundaries of what a museum can be. If you’re ready to lead with technical vision and a hands-on edge, you will fit right in.

T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y

The Director of Information Technology is responsible for the strategic leadership, security, operation, and continuous improvement of all technology systems supporting the museum’s public experiences and business operations. This position oversees the museum’s exhibition technology infrastructure, enterprise systems, internal networks, cybersecurity, office technology, and digital platforms while ensuring reliable technology experiences for guests, staff, donors, members, and partners.

The Director serves as both a strategic technology leader and hands-on operational manager, ensuring that all museum technology — from immersive exhibition hardware to financial systems — operates reliably, securely, and efficiently.

The position will report directly to the COO as a key member of the museum’s senior leadership team.

W H A T Y O U ’ L L L E A D

Exhibition Technology

Lead the planning, implementation, maintenance, and lifecycle management of all exhibition technology including:

– Interactive kiosks

– Touchscreens

– LED walls

– Video playback systems

– Digital signage

– Audio systems

– Control systems

– RFID/NFC experiences

– Sensor-based interactives

– Projection mapping

– AV-over-IP infrastructure

– Show control hardware

– Future immersive technologies (AR/VR/MR)

Responsibilities include:

– Develop preventative maintenance schedules

– Manage exhibit technology refresh cycles

– Coordinate with Exhibit Design and Facilities during installations

– Maintain spare equipment inventory

– Ensure maximum exhibition uptime

– Troubleshoot failures during museum operating hours

Enterprise Systems Administration

Own the technology roadmap for all museum software platforms including: – CRM

– Ticketing

– Point of Sale (POS)

– Membership Management

– Finance/ERP

– Human Resources systems

– Collections Management System (IMS)

– Volunteer Management

– Event Management

– Digital Asset Management

– Marketing Automation

– Email systems

– Cloud collaboration platforms

Responsibilities include:

– Vendor management

– Software implementation

– Licensing

– System integrations

– Data integrity

– User permissions

– API management

– Business process improvements

Infrastructure & Network Management

Oversee all museum infrastructure including:

– LAN/WAN

– Wi-Fi

– Firewalls

– VPN

– Switching

– Fiber infrastructure

– Server hardware

– Virtual servers

– Cloud infrastructure

– Storage

– Backup systems

– Telecommunications

– Internet services

– Building connectivity

Ensure:

– High availability

– Redundancy

– Disaster recovery

– Performance monitoring

– Capacity planning

– Business continuity

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

Develop and maintain museum cybersecurity practices including:

– Endpoint protection

– Identity management

– Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

– Network monitoring

– Vulnerability assessments

– Security awareness training

– Backup validation

– Incident response planning

– Compliance with PCI, privacy regulations, and donor data protection standards – Third-party security reviews

Office Technology & User Support

Manage all employee technology including:

– Desktop and laptop deployments

– Mobile device management

– Printers

– Conference room technology

– Video conferencing

– Staff software support

– Help Desk operations

– Technology onboarding and offboarding

– Asset tracking

– Lifecycle replacement planning

Technology Strategy & Leadership

Develop and execute the museum’s long-term technology strategy. Responsibilities include: – Five-year technology roadmap

– Annual capital planning

– Technology budgeting

– Vendor negotiations

– IT policies

– Technology governance

– Digital transformation initiatives

– AI evaluation and implementation

– Cross-department technology planning

Serve as the museum’s primary technology advisor to executive leadership.

W H O Y O U A R E

– A seasoned technology leader with 8+ years of progressive experience, including senior leadership of a technology function and team.

– Genuinely well versed across a wide range of domains — infrastructure, networks, cloud, large-format displays and AV, security, and emerging tech — and fluent in the latest in both software and hardware.

– Deep, current knowledge of artificial intelligence, with a proven track record of evaluating and deploying AI in ways that create real organizational value without overemphasizing AI in a people-centered organization.

– A creative technological visionary, not a status-quo operator — someone who sees where the field is headed and isn’t stuck in old ways of doing things.

– A proven people leader who develops talent, builds team culture, and earns the trust of the people who work for and with you.

– A clear, confident communicator equally comfortable briefing leadership on a vulnerability or working through a technical build with your team.

– Security-minded by instinct, with deep knowledge of the vulnerabilities modern organizations face and how to stay ahead of them.

– Resourceful and entrepreneurial — you know how to create disproportionate impact and don’t need an unlimited budget to do it.

– Deep experience in Technology, Information Systems, or a related field required. – A collaborative leader who works together with the entire museum’s management team and shares the responsibility for achieving our goals.

– Familiarity with PCI compliance.

W H Y P E T E R S E N

The Petersen is a place where technical ambition is matched by institutional credibility. You’ll have the autonomy to lead, a team that’s eager to build, and an organization that’s ready to invest in what comes next. The museum has tremendous momentum, and this role is positioned to help shape where its technology goes.

We offer competitive compensation, strong benefits, and a workplace culture that takes our work seriously while enjoying it every day.