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About VCU Continuing and Professional Education and LEDstudio–

VCU Continuing and Professional Education (VCU CPE), in partnership with the colleges and schools at Virginia Commonwealth University, provides and supports quality continuing and professional education and skills training for individual, local, regional and national impact. VCU Continuing and Professional Education harnesses the power of VCU — including more than 3,300 instructional faculty and adjunct instructors, an academic medical center and long-standing community relationships — to create the best learning opportunities available to nontraditional adult learners.

VCU LEDstudio is a leader in providing quality higher education using a number of delivery methods, including fully online and hybrid. The unit broadly supports faculty and academic units in their efforts to leverage technology to optimize student learning, and provides strategic leadership in developing, expanding and enhancing VCU’s online learning programs and energizing the assessment and continuous quality improvement of current and new technology-mediated courses and programs.

The position is a Lead Media Specialist for VCU LEDstudio and is part of the media team that serves the needs of faculty teaching online and hybrid courses with the goal of student success. The position will work on media projects for and with faculty, staff and students and will be able to step into a variety of video and audio production roles while also being skilled in post-production. The specialist will be expected to interact with the university population, both in collaboration with faculty and staff on projects and with students doing video and audio field work on campus and on location around Richmond. The media team collaborates closely with the marketing manager to confirm content, storytelling and brand positioning aligns with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications and institutional priorities and standards. 

Specific duties include:

• Successfully utilize Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and Audition software for a variety of different types of media projects.

• Work on educational content.

• Set up and strike lighting equipment.

• Operate cameras for video production.

• Set up and strike microphones and audio recording equipment.

• Transport equipment to various locations in the field on and off campus.

• Assist faculty who are creating their own media.

• Propose solutions on a project basis to address post-production needs of faculty members.

• Explain new tools and concepts clearly and with patience to new learners.

• Attend department meetings.

• Manage digital photography at department events.

• Help with event setup and clean up.

Lead duties include:

• Supports the Associate Director of Media Production with project management of post production workflow for the media team.

• Assists with planning videos with instructional designers and subject matter experts, conceptualizing visual elements depending on the needs of the project, and outlining aesthetic themes to tailor media to each course.

• Monitors timelines, and utilizes spreadsheets, communicating closely with the Instructional Design Team and the Associate Director of Media Production to keep collaborators informed and facilitate project completion according to set deadlines.

• Guides media team members, sharing experience and expertise on media management.

• Collects, organizes, and disseminates necessary assets and materials for each project.

• Reviews media to ensure that the content meets our quality standards for the project and aligns with the set accessibility criteria.

• Provides support and offers ample feedback through weekly meetings, encouraging open communication.

• Shares tools and techniques for media production from video, audio, and visual effects.

• Works to develop the talents of the team by imparting knowledge gained from own career development, researching and learning emerging technologies and industry best practices.

Other duties as assigned in response to the unit’s needs.

This position requires on-campus and off-campus presence based on business needs. There is the opportunity for telework at the supervisor’s discretion. The telework nature of this position is subject to change based on university need and strategic direction.

AI should not be used for any part of the application submission or process. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills
• Notable experience working on a project using Adobe Premiere, or an equivalent software
• Notable experience working on a project using Adobe After Effects, or an equivalent software
• Notable experience working on a project using Adobe Audition, or an equivalent software
• Experience in video production
• Experience in audio production
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written and teamwork skills
• Proven time management skills
• Must have a pleasant, positive, professional attitude and adhere to confidentiality of records and information and must abide by the VCU Code of Conduct
• Proven ability to work as a contributing and collegial member of a team, and to communicate proactively within the team environment, with supervisors, and with the leadership team
• Ability to explain new tools and concepts to faculty who are new learners of media production
• Knowledge of University policies, procedures and organization guidelines required, and ability to interpret and apply those guidelines
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, and handle multiple tasks in a diverse, fast-paced environment within deadlines
• Must be able to work independently and make sound recommendations and decisions to resolve problems and make improvements
• Ability to supervisor and handle project management of part time staff
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• An educational background in Video Production, Electronic Communication Arts, Kinetic Imaging, Media Arts or a related field is preferred

Salary Range: $61,000-66,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Yes

University Job Title: Communications Specialist CM2