NARA 101, PART 5. Office of Innovation

ORGANIZATION

1. Chief Innovation Officer 
   1. Plans, directs, and coordinates NARA’s agency-wide innovation efforts, the online public catalog, digitization strategy and partnerships efforts, and NARA’s web presence. 
   2. Plans, directs, and coordinates NARA’s web program; description program; digitization standards, policy and partnerships; and archival metadata standards and authorities. 
   3. Fosters collaboration with NARA’s users through crowd-sourcing and participatory initiatives, and shares tools and data with the wider archival and peer communities. 
   4. Positions NARA to lead or respond to future trends in customer needs and information professions by using the Innovation Hub and other Office elements as a focal point for innovation across the agency. Coordinates team-based cutting-edge cross-office projects, while deepening interactions among staff, partners, and members of the public. 
   5. Ensures that the “open NARA” principle of seeking input and participation from staff, stakeholders and customers (internal and external) is actively pursued, and that the input is considered in making decisions. 
   6. Participates in internal customer service councils and meetings chaired by the Chief Operating Officer. Evaluates feedback from key subordinates and considers evaluation reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), NARA’s Inspector General (OIG), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other relevant bodies. 
   7. Participates in NARA executive teams, shaping NARA’s strategic direction and producing practical and creative high-level approaches to address related matters such as: agency-wide aligned outcomes/goals and priorities, customer- and stakeholder-focused needs and expectations, internal change management, employee satisfaction, outreach and relationship-building, authentic communication, and problem resolution. 
2. Digital Engagement Division 
   1. Web Branch 
      1. Plans, directs, corporately administers, and coordinates NARA's Internet presence and strategy for NARA's web sites. 
      2. Coordinates with Information Services on the technical operations of NARA's Internet web sites.  
      3. Coordinates, manages, and contributes tools and content to web projects agency-wide. 
      4. Coordinates with program offices to ensure corporate management of digital content.
   2. Digital Public Access Branch 
      1. Creates, manages, and owns the tools that locate and provide digital access to NARA’s holdings. 
      2. Formulates and implements NARA's strategy and policies for digital public access, including NARA's approach to providing digital access to electronic and digitized holdings. Coordinates with program offices to ensure that the agency’s approach to digital access meets customer needs and is effectively deployed. 
      3. Maintains NARA’s central online catalog. Coordinates NARA’s description program and digital description products. 
      4. Develops and provides training and quality control of metadata for digital access to NARA’s holdings.  
3. Digital Partnerships and Outreach Division  
   1. Coordinates agency-wide digitization partnerships and activities including project planning, pre-digitizing coordination, and post-digitization work. 
   2. Provides an integrated and strategic approach to digital asset and workflow management, electronic space management, migration, data backup, technological obsolescence, and records management responsibilities with support from Information Services. 
   3. Collaborates with Research Services on annual and strategic digitization plans. 
   4. Identifies, approaches, develops, and coordinates new partners and partnership agreements. 
   5. Researches standards and recommends policies relating to digitization such as digitization lifecycle processes and business rules. 
   6. Surveys NARA offices to determine where digitization policy and standards are needed. 
   7. Develops and promotes technical standards for digitization for all of NARA, including partner and vendor produced digitized material. 
   8. Hosts, coordinates, leads, and/or represents NARA on cross-agency committees, consortia, collaborative, professional organizations, and other external bodies involved with developing and maintaining technical standards for digitization. 
   9. Standards and Authorities Services Branch
      1. Develops, maintains, and advocates for NARA data standards and authorities, and hosts the Lifecycle Data Standards Board.
      2. Monitors and coordinates with NARA-wide projects and programs to ensure appropriate implementation of records lifecycle policy and to identify new policy, process, and data needs. 
      3. Develops and maintains NARA's shared lifecycle and authority files. 
      4. Develops and implements NARA’s description and authority services for digital public access. Develops and provides training and quality control of metadata for online access to NARA’s holdings. 
4. Innovation Program Division 
   1. Plans, directs, and coordinates agency-wide innovation projects. Coordinates staff in the Innovation Hub including: Office of Innovation staff, staff detailed from across NARA, and fellows and consultants. 
   2. Develops and launches collaborative projects, public challenges, and partnerships with the archival community, industry, and academic institutions. 
   3. Fosters collaboration with the National Archives’ users through crowd-sourcing and participatory initiatives. 
   4. Develops ideas, proof-of-concept pilots, and tools for digital and archival research, records management, and the records lifecycle. 
   5. Shares cutting-edge tools and data with the wider archival and peer communities, government and industry-wide. 
   6. Champions a culture of innovation throughout the agency to meet staff and customer needs and improve internal and external processes and services. 
   7. Develops and hosts fellowships, internships, and other external collaborators. Hosts workshops and presentations for NARA staff and the public. 
5. Project Management Division 
   1. Provides project management services in coordination with Information Services for the development of Innovation Office projects; monitors and analyzes proposed projects to identify dependencies and constraints. 
   2. Manages Innovation Office project milestones and deliverables from concept development through delivery and retirement. 
   3. Manages the acquisition strategy in coordination with Acquisitions and Information Services for Innovation Office projects. 
   4. Monitors project performance to identify poorly performing projects throughout the development lifecycle. 
   5. In coordination with the Architecture Review Board, manages the technical aspects of the Innovation Office’s IT project portfolio to identify and track dependencies and to identify and implement repeatable processes and reusable components among projects. 

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITIES

Authorities Delegated to Chief Innovation Officer by the Archivist

6. Servicing Records 

Describe accessioned records or other documentary materials; and prepare and publish inventories, indexes, catalogs, and other finding aids to facilitate their use (44 U.S.C. 2109; 2110).  These functions are re-delegated the Digital Engagement Division director. 

7. General Administration 
   1. Accept and use voluntary and uncompensated personal services for NARA (44 U.S.C. 2105(d)).  This authority may be re-delegated to unit heads.   
   2. Solicit and accept gifts or bequests of money, securities, or other personal property, for the benefit of, or in connection with, the national archival and records activities administered by NARA (44 U.S.C. 2305).  This delegation of authority is subject to the requirements of NARA 404, National Archives Gift Fund, and may not be re-delegated. 
   3. Accept orders from other departments, establishments, bureaus, or offices for materials, supplies, equipment, work, or service pursuant to the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535).  This authority is retained by the Chief Innovation Officer, and may not be re-delegated.