1730 Assistant Director, Creative Services-Photography

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Assistant Director, Creative Services-Photography

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1730

GRADE 44

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director, Creative Services

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Assistant Director, Creative Services - Photography plans, prioritizes and coordinates resources to visually illustrate campus life. The Assistant Director, Creative Services-Photography works with writers, graphic designers, social media and digital marketing teams within Marketing Communications and assists in the production of multi-image and multi-media presentations for promotional use by the University and manages the University’s digital asset management system for still photographs. The Assistant Director, Creative Services - Photography oversees the staff and budget for the office, including invoicing clients; drafting contracts with Intercollegiate Athletics and West Plains campus; negotiating and purchasing photography and computer equipment used by the office.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: At least one year of college credit in a related field is required. A Bachelor's degree with emphasis in photography, art or related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.

Experience: At least three years of professional photography experience in assignment shooting and studio experience is required and must include experience in conventional film and print processing, electronic imaging, and post-production. Management and supervisory experience is required. Experience in multi-image and multi-media work is preferred.

Skills: The skill level demonstrated must be that of an experienced photographer with demonstrated abilities in composition, creativity, proper digital darkroom techniques, color, black and white photography, sports action and studio photography. Ability to evaluate situations and make good decisions are required. Knowledge in wireless file transmitting and FTP systems are required. Management skills such as staff supervision, scheduling, inventory control, and property control are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

Effort: This position operates and transports cameras, lights, video, and sound equipment weighing up to fifty pounds to locations on and off-campus.

Other: The scope of job frequently requires attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, plus occasional travel to workshops, tournaments, and seminars.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Uses originality, talent, and imagination to produce the desired photographic results of clients by consulting with individuals making photographic requests, determining needs and desired results, posing subjects and arranging objects in the most favorable setting to attain goals as determined by the projects' needs, taking into account lighting, background and other influencing conditions, and adjusting cameras, attachments and lights as appropriate.

2. Prioritizes requests for photographic services and assigns projects to student employee staff.

3. Coordinates the recruitment and oversight of freelance photographers, as needed.

4. Manages office finances, including reconciling budget, invoicing clients, hiring freelance photographers, drafting contracts with Intercollegiate Athletics and West Plains campus, managing office and travel expenses. Processes cash received, generates invoices for chargebacks and oversees the operation of online purchases through the digital asset management system.

5. Creates photographs of a variety of events, including sporting events, faculty and staff, campus and landscapes scenes, campus activities, art objects, buildings, individuals, groups and other items deemed necessary to the University by properly using general and special purpose camera equipment (35mm and larger formats with various lenses). Responsible for working with the athletics department and coaches with photo coverage of 19 athletic sports including contracts, media days and post season travel and NCAA coverage.

6. Uses knowledge of photography-related software, including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Photo Mechanic for post-production and editing work, including color correction and photo-retouching.

7. Coordinates event photography, including high profile donor events, by using wireless file transmitting and FTP system technology.

8. Advises University clients on the production, use and installation of display photography and oversees the production of large-scale display graphic images.

9. Manages special custom framing services for the annual staff service award certificates and other high-profile projects.

10. Develops an effective staff by recruiting, hiring and training student photographers in the use of photographic equipment, lighting and digital archiving; scheduling their work hours and making assignments; setting expectation; supervising their work activities; and evaluating and critiquing the results of assignments.

11. Leads web-based digital archiving efforts to increase access to the University’s photographic assets.

12. Oversees the maintenance and inventory of photographic equipment, by ensuring the equipment is technologically up-to-date and recommending upgrades and purchases.

13. Manages a photography studio space and keeps it up-to-date with necessary equipment such as backdrops, lighting, and props.

14. Manages and maintains internal storage system for archiving of shoots.

15. Oversees the Steven L. Schoen scholarship and responsible for selecting students for the award of monies each year.

16. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

17. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Director, Creative Services.

18. Contributes to the overall success of the Division of Marketing and Communications by performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, Creative Services.

SUPERVISION

The Assistant Director, Creative Services-Photography functions with independence within the framework of stated objectives and supervises student employees.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED NOVEMBER 2024

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 3.0 - 1500 Points: Entry-level knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of an administrative, managerial, technical, or professional specialty. Knowledge permits employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in professional or technical areas including accounting or auditing, financial management, business administration, human resources, law, engineering, science, or medicine, while gaining familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices, and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project, or to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Alternatively, knowledge at this level might also permit the employee to carry out recurring tasks and routine assignments requiring moderate experience in specific areas within higher education. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in a specific technical or professional specialty. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience. Alternatively, equivalent knowledge requirements at this level include a non-technical or general Bachelor's degree requirement with a moderate level of additional related work experience or a non-specific Master's degree requirement with some related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 270 Points: Supervision of a limited number of (a) operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees who do not exercise a full range of supervisory responsibilities over other full-time employees, (b) a very small number of professional employees, or an equivalent combination of (a) and (b). The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including performance reviews of subordinates. The incumbent is generally responsible for training, planning, and directing the work of permanent employees, and provides major input into hiring decisions. Supervisory responsibilities consume moderate amounts of work time and may include general work planning tasks.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 4.0 - 850 Points: The employee operates under administrative supervision and makes decisions based on broadly-stated University objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are expressed in terms of project or program outcomes and deadlines with few comprehensive guidelines. Decisions are based on inadequate guidelines that require considerable interpretation and force the employee to plan all phases of the assignment. Assignments may be unrelated in function and the work requires many different processes and methods and a great deal of analysis to identify the nature and extent of problems. The work may require the employee to develop new methods and to deal with many variables, including some that are unclear or conflicting. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing large and/or complex programs, projects, or departments in which the work cuts across functional lines or requires dealing with unprecedented issues.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 4.0 - 1500 Points: Work involves the primary accountability for a smaller department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University. Work activities have a direct and substantial impact on the department. While work activities do have some effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center, departments, programs, or processes at this level represent a relatively minor function within the cost center. Employees in jobs at this level may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising the primary control over a relatively small budget.