Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
Job Summary:
The Office of Communications promotes the District's vision, mission, activities, and priorities, as well as aids schools by promoting their work and assisting in crisis situations, through a full range of tools, channels, and strategies designed to engage key internal and external stakeholders.
Reporting to the Manager, Digital Media Services and the Director of Digital Communications, the Senior Digital Media Specialist plays an integral role in the district's Office of Communications strategy by creating compelling content that widens the lens on the good things students, teachers, principals, school staff, and school communities are doing 365 days per year and helps bring the District to Chicago's communities through events.
This role is also important in capturing and sharing CPS news and events, as well as live event production (meetings, news conferences, announcements).
The Senior Digital Media Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Support the internal video production process: adhere to project schedules and honor deadlines, and communicate proactively to digital team members on all aspects of production (including critical milestones, deliverables, and due dates) to keep projects flowing smoothly.
• Serve as the lead on any live-event production including, but not limited to: press conferences, announcements, celebrations, community events, Chicago Board of Education Meeting, Agenda Review Committee meetings and other official activities when applicable.
• Create process and procedures for the District in live event set up, needed equipment and troubleshooting. Help train the entire digital team to ensure mastery of skill and knowledge.
• Contribute to team ideation, storyboarding, shot schedule, production and editing of high quality videos and photos on digital and video platforms while meeting deadlines. Traditional digital equipment (HD cameras and video cameras) and/or cellular phones may be used for content creation.
• Help with the shot set up for on-location and in-studio video production including camera, lighting, audio, and directing subjects.
• Contribute to the post-production processes and research sources for photos, video, and music, export audio for transcription, make transcript highlight recommendations, and upload final files to YouTube and internal filing system.
• Contribute to the video asset management processes, organize and ingest video footage, attach metadata, create and maintain systems for both archival and new assets.
• Support with event setup including configuring and troubleshooting multiple video cameras, microphones, sound systems, mult box, cables, Livestream set-up and production, and more.
• Work collaboratively with the Social Media Specialist to deliver content that is compelling to our followers across multiple social media platforms.
• Meet weekly with the Digital Manager to both review the week and plan ahead for future events and projects. Continue training on equipment, techniques, and software editing programs to improve comfort and ensure mastery.
• Additional responsibilities and duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Senior Digital Media Specialist must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Visual Arts, Film, Digital Production, photography, or related field

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in event production, audio and video set-up
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in video filming and editing, photography, with a comprehensive portfolio of relevant digital work
• Experience in the production of Live-streaming events.
• Experience filming in HD with either a video camera or high-product DSLR

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet key deadlines
• High level of technical familiarity related to venues
• Strong background in end-to end video production.
• Strong background in live event production.
• Demonstrated competency in Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Elements, Lightroom, Illustrator)
• Ability to self-manage while shooting photos and video
• Ability to work collaboratively with other members of the Digital Team, the communications department and subject matter experts.
• Willingness to learn and enhance skills and technique while helping others in the virtuous teaching cycle.

Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.