Assistant Director of Media Production - Student Life

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Creative, the Assistant Director of Media Production position will serve as the creative lead and manager for Student Life's photo, video, and audio-based initiatives. The AD will jointly manage a team of creative student workers, providing mentorship and practical guidance to execute a variety of digital media and event-related content. The AD will also work collaboratively with other key creative positions within the Student Life Creative Team to create unified content and campaigns for the various teams within Student Life. Additionally, the AD is the primary media specialist for a variety of Online Life initiatives including online live-stream workshops, pre-recorded online videos, and podcast production. The ideal candidate has a strong background in creative visuals, is motivated to explore and research industry best-practices, and functions effectively in a highly collaborative environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Digital Media Planning
  • Develop content plans designed to improve photo, video, and audio effectiveness and implementation.
  • Research existing and emerging technologies, processes, trends, and leading industry performance benchmarks relating to photo and video production.
  • Collaborate with other creative leads within the Student Life creative team to unify creative media output directed toward internal students.
  • Liaise with the various Directors and teams within Student Life to develop and carry out department goals within a photo, video, and audio context.
• Digital Media Content Creation
  • Develop and oversee photo, video, and audio content approaches for execution by creative student workers.
  • Capture and edit photo, video and audio-based content as needed, including event coverage, staged video content, interviews, etc.
  • Develop video and photo post-production assets including motion graphic templates, Lightroom presents, etc.
  • Curate pre-made assets, audio, and other materials for internal usage
• Podcasting and Livestream Management
  • Setup, manage, and oversee video and audio-based livestreams and podcast recordings.
  • Edit podcast and livestream-based content as needed.
  • Maintain equipment, microphones, cameras, etc. for livestreaming purposes.
• Partnership Development and Management
  • Developing talent flow for future photo and video student workers, centering on collaboration with Liberty's School of Communication & the Arts
  • Oversee and develop partnerships with Liberty University Marketing as needed, as well as other video and photo-based creative teams within Liberty University.
• Work effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU's mission.
• Other Duties as Assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not directly supervise any positions, though a high level of mentorship and guidance for a team of creative student workers is required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
Minimum Qualifications

• Education
  • Completed bachelor's degree.
• Experience
  • 2 years of professional photo or video related work experience, or experience in adjacent creative fields
  • A strong working knowledge of photo and video techniques and programs, centering on the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
  • Demonstrable experience in photo and video capture and post-production
  • Experience with motion graphic design

Preferred Qualifications

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in digital media, cinematic arts, or relevant field of study preferred.
• Experience
  • Experience with livestreaming
  • Experience with studio production
  • Experience designing media for live events.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB
Communication

• Effectively communicates in both verbal and written forms to convey clear, well-articulated information.
• Able to understand, speak, and write English in order to convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.
• Demonstrates strong organization, project management, and managerial skills.
• Possesses excellent computer skills, necessary for Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite.

Initiative & Work Ethic

• Task oriented and dedicated, meets deadlines while going the extra mile and producing quality work products.
• Anticipates needs and takes steps to meet those needs before they crop up, taking a proactive and intentional approach to their duties.

Leadership & People Skills

• Sincere and affable, is able to build relational rapport quickly, establishing productive relationships across a variety of departments and contexts.
• Develops priorities for their team, and provides tangible steps and tasks to enable their team to achieve these priorities.
• Trains, develops, and stewards the personnel resources of their team to improve the team's overall skillsets and contributions.
• Intentional to show care for others, exhibiting intentionality, conscientiousness, and emotional intelligence in interpersonal interactions.

Organization

• Detail-oriented, catching and fixing small errors and details in both visual and written communications and content.
• Manages their own schedule, project timelines, as well as the schedules of their team with punctuality and proactivity.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Frequently required to travel to local and campus locations.
• Frequently required to sit for extended periods to perform deskwork or type on a keyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate and review Creative Team media content.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the building.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel or stoop in order to conduct business.
• Regularly lift 20 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform the essential functions of this position is in an office setting. However, work frequently occurs in a variety of other settings; including, but not limited to, residence halls, warehouses, and outdoor activities.

Driving Requirements

Use of one's personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver's license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.