Job Description

About SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About the Department

The Film, Video, New Media, & Animation (FVNMA) department has long been central to the development of highly influential independent and experimental media practices in the field. The international character of our department and the cultural diversity of our community have produced an array of expanded approaches and driven many of our working procedures toward expansive trans-cultural practices that push boundaries while engaging in formal experimentation, technical innovation, and critical investigation. Our innovative curriculum, award-winning faculty, and world-class facilities make SAIC a leading school for animation, film, new media, and more in Chicago and beyond.

Position Summary

Supports the operation of FVNMA’s specialized technical facilities and resources on a day-​to-​day basis. Functions as an expert advisor on technical systems for FVNMA faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and staff. Supervises and provides leadership to student employees. Ensures successful working practices for all computer​-based media production equipment, materials, and processes. Anticipates and recommends changes in instructional services to support curricular developments.

Responsibilities

Staff Administration

• Hires, trains, supervises, and provide leadership for student employees working in FVNMA in close communication and coordination with FVNMA Associate Director of Technical Facilities.

Equipment and Facilities Management

• Maintains FVNMA technical facilities and resources including hardware, software, equipment, labs, suites, studios, and associated systems and devices to provide a successful working environment for the department.
• Inventories an ongoing evaluation of digital systems, production, and editing equipment, and recommend repairs, upgrades, and replacements.
• Implements policies and procedures for FVNMA technical facilities, resources, and equipment access in coordination and close communication with the Associate Director and Chair of FVNMA.
• Coordinates with vendors to research and test new equipment and technologies for capital budget development and day-to-day procurement.
• Maintains, repairs, and oversees the daily operation of the FVNMA department’s animation systems and facilities.
• Integrates digital systems with celluloid, analog, and other legacy formats.

Teaching and Instruction

• Assists faculty and students in day-to-day troubleshooting and technical support. Instruct and assist FVNMA with basic hardware and software troubleshooting, as well as more specialized topics such as Steadicam operation, motion capture, DCP, 8mm and 16mm film projection and telecine transfers.
• Assists Manager of Instructional Support, FVNMA in providing workshops for converting, exporting, compressing, and authoring digital and analog media for exhibitions and screenings, including end​-of​-year MFA/BFA shows.
• Provides group and individual technical workshops for FVNMA faculty and graduate students.

Research and Development

• Provides instruction to FVNMA faculty and students, and the entire SAIC community through the research, testing, development, and implementation of media production initiatives and recommended technological practices.
• Implements near-term and long-range plans for FVNMA curricular software and hardware in close communication and consultation with the FVNMA Associate Director of Technical Facilities, FVNMA Chair and Faculty, CRIT, IRFM, and the Gene Siskel Film Center.
• Contributes to the development and realization of FVNMA Capital Asset requests, instructional supply, small equipment, and maintenance budget requests via research and projects future needs and investments.
• Assists with research and development of written materials for instructional guides and orientation documents for students and faculty, including the FVNMA Tech blog, instructional guides, and associated departmental materials utilized within FVNMA and the wider SAIC community.
• Maintains a list of off​-campus resources for students, faculty, and staff.
• Assists in maintenance and update of FVNMA documents and records as related to operational, technical, and material needs.
• Researches, develops, and implements archival standards and workflows for FVNMA and SAIC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Media Arts, and/or related field or equivalent experience and training.
• Must have working knowledge of physical and digital production cameras, creative software technologies, exhibition formats, FVNMA production, post​-production, and distribution technologies.
• Knowledge and understanding of archival technologies and standards, analog moving-image equipment, film equipment, mechanical systems, advanced lighting systems, cameras, and digital hardware and software.

Physical Requirements

• Occasional lifting, moving, or positioning of media, production, and projection equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full time
• Grade Level: 7

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.