Senior Videographer

Department: Communications and Marketing

Classification: Media Specialist 4

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 05

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of University Branding at George Mason University is responsible for telling the George Mason story and our value and impact to the region and beyond. Relying on a team of highly skilled communicators and marketing professionals, the department builds awareness and support for the university, develops and protects the brand and shares important and timely information with the Mason community and its external partners.

About the Position:

The Senior Videographer creates short format video content that supports strategic university brand initiatives. This position creates content that supports the storytelling of the university and are used on the university homepage, core site, news, digital and web formats of major print publications, major university events and social media. This role is also responsible for the purchasing, maintenance and organization of video, production and computer equipment.

The Senior Videographer must be able to work as part of a team to conceptualize and actualize creative video concepts from preproduction to delivery. They must be able capture high quality video in a variety of settings and situations and to coordinate crew, talent and location details simultaneously on multiple projects. It is expected to have strong conceptual and creative skills, the technical training and expertise to film great video and advanced computer editing experience to create a final product. They must be comfortable working collaboratively with other video staff, student employees, on-set volunteers, and freelance workers and ensure all projects meet larger university objectives. This position requires expert-level skills in editing video content for brand, creativity, key messages, and strategic alignment to assignment goals. This position requires someone who works creatively and cooperatively in a team setting and can effectively plan their time to complete tasks and meet milestones and deadlines.

Responsibilities:

Planning and Pre-Production 

• Creates video and multimedia that grows the university’s image, reputation, and brand among target audiences;
• Works with OUB leadership to decide what projects to take on and works with the project team to formulate concepts and develop storyboards;
• Collaborates with other video staff on shooting schedule and coordinates talent, crew, props and locations;
• Works with video team to determine how videos will be shot technically; and
• Works together with writers, editors, and/or creatives to ensure maximum advantage is taken of each opportunity. 

Cinematography 

• Works as cinematographer on video productions. Projects may include marketing videos, university special events, news stories, and social media videos;
• Assigns roles to crew as needed (e.g. lighting, audio, second camera);
• Works with writers, videographers, students, and art director on set. Direct talent;
• Manages set-up and tear down of equipment and lighting;
• Keeps production on schedule and manages shot-list; and
• Maintains camera equipment and ensures its proper care. 

Supervises the Video Editor, Wage and Student Wage workers and Freelancers 

• Manages the Video Editor, student videographers, and freelancers with a focus on skill sharing and professional development;
• Managerial duties including: hiring, performance management, coaching and mentoring, assigning tasks, evaluating the quality of the work and ensuring the goals of the project are met, and ensuring the final deliverable is delivered on time and to specifications;
• Provides direction and feedback to staff so that they have a clear understanding of each project, the expected outcome, and an understanding of their role in the project;
• Ensures that student interns have practical real-world work experiences that are meaningful and enhances their employability at graduation; and
• Mentors the video team so that they develop and mature their technical and creative skills from project to project. 

Production & Delivery 

• Edits video projects ensuring the finished product is in line with the approved concept, department goals, and brand parameters;
• Creates transcripts and string outs for team input;
• Edits video according to project goals and parameters with an open and collaborative mindset;
• Executes post-production tasks including: color-correcting and audio mixing video footage, producing motion graphics and special effects for videos, editing video for impact and messaging, choosing music for project, and coordinating any voice over and sound effects;
• Delivers videos to clients on time and on spec;
• Provides sound mastering of final project; and
• Oversees and ensures that footage and the b-roll libraries are maintained and well-organized.

Other Related Duties as Assigned by Supervisor

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in multimedia or film studies, film production or digital imaging, plus demonstrated professional experience (ideally in an academic or non-profit setting). Alternatively, significant demonstrated experience filming in a commercial advertising setting and producing promotional videos;\
• Experience understanding and translating marketing messages into visual communications;
• Experience managing a set and controlling a recording environment to bring out the best possible interviews and conversations;
• Experience with creating storyboards that include prop lists, equipment needs, location suggestions, scene styling/setting suggestions;
• Advanced-level user of multimedia authoring software like Adobe AfterEffects, Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro;
• Demonstrated advanced video/audio editing and multimedia composition skills;
• Demonstrated visual thinker with advanced conceptual skills to plan, shoot, light, record, and edit video, audio and multimedia as required by concept and script;
• Demonstrated ability to work with others; must be able to relate with or develop an easy rapport with a broad range of faculty, staff, and students in various stages of their careers from diverse backgrounds and life experiences;
• Ability to actively engage in workgroups across campus units to explore mutual interests, cooperative opportunities, and pool resources;
• Ability to work on multiple projects at the same time, production schedules and estimate resource needs;
• Ability to use project management software to document progress on every project;
• Ability to coach and mentor OUB videography staff, student employees, on-set volunteers, and freelance workers, to grow the collective skillset of OUB and assure that all projects are completed on time;
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment and continue working successfully;
• Physical ability to handle bulky equipment for an extended period in variable temperature and weather conditions; and
• Ability to organize and maintain video and production equipment and computers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to apply conceptual and critical thinking skills to pull together storyboards, visually compose and edit in the field to ensure getting the content needed in the style expected, and mid- to advanced level abilities with composition and editing software.

Instructions to Applicants: 

• For full consideration, applicants must apply for Senior Videographer at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent, Resume and a Writing Sample/Portfolio for review. Please keep in mind that each sample in your portfolio or reel must include a brief explanation of your role in each project— who did the planning, filming, editing, sound mixing, etc.—and whether these tasks were completed by you individually or as part of a team.

Posting Open Date: October 3, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  November 3, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes