Photography Lab Assistant (Part-Time)

Maryland Institute College of Art•Baltimore, MD

1d•$20 - $25

About The Position

Welcome to the official site for employment opportunities at MICA. At MICA, we empower our employees to use their talent in a variety of ways. We are pleased that you are interested in career opportunities offered at MICA. General purpose: Assist Photography Manager, Assistant Manager, and Department Chair with daily photography department activities (e.g. maintaining dark rooms, digital print labs, studio spaces, troubleshooting photographic equipment cleaning of Department, etc). Enforce departmental policies and procedures with staff. Summary of Essential Functions Conduct all support work for the Manager, Assistant Manager, Department Chair, and faculty Directly assist students with studio and lab work Advise students in equipment handling Supervise and train student employees Supervise the digital labs, chemistry labs, lighting studio, multi-media projection room alternative process darkrooms, dry finishing room, and classrooms Act as a liaison to the Photo Department Manager and Assistant Manager for students, faculty, and staff. (e.g. disseminating information, reporting on malfunctioning equipment, troubleshooting classroom AV).

Requirements

Knowledge of practices and skills associated with digital and analogue camera equipment, darkroom practices, digital capture and output, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite software, lighting equipment, digital printing, and alternative process.
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to lift heavy equipment and unload deliveries of materials (up to 75 pounds)
Ability to engage in photographic discourse to best assist students
Ability to interact with students and faculty in a courteous and helpful manner
Ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot equipment when it’s not working properly
Ability to understand department needs and priorities
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography or related field
Experience with chemical and digital photographic and video equipment
Experience with photographic and video output such as analogue and digital printing, projections, and alternative processes
Customer service experience
Satisfactory background check
Must be available to work evenings and/or weekends

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in photography or current student in a graduate program
Experience working in a photography lab
Teaching experience
Exhibition experience

Responsibilities

Open and close the photography lab, making sure everything is in order and clean, and the equipment has been shut down and properly secured
Mix dark room film and print chemistry
Supervise equipment check-out area, ensuring that all equipment is properly checked out to students and faculty, and is carefully recorded
Maintain use of web checkout system and advise student equipment needs
Assess and conduct digital and analogue equipment repairs
Train students on unfamiliar equipment, hardware and software such as cameras, tripods, lighting equipment, digital printing on Epson large format and tabletop printers, drum and flatbed scanners, black & white and color film processing, developing darkroom prints, video output, vinyl cutting, and software such as Adobe CC Suite, VueScan, Silverfast, FlexColor, Processing, MadMapper, Silouette, Phocus, and more
Works nights, as late as 1am
Set up and clean the darkrooms, check-out area, classrooms, flex space, lighting studio, and digital labs.
Assist the manager and assistant manager in having everything ready for classes
Provide administrative support service to faculty such as, but not limited to: reaching technology information, preparing labs for class time, preparing supplies for class, gathering information, sharing concerns about students, etc.
Execute regularly scheduled cleaning duties as assigned (sweeping, mopping, cleaning darkroom sinks/trays, wiping down computer monitors, dumping out trash from film loading closets, etc.)
Supervise and train student employees
Assist in the lighting studio, set up and breakdown of equipment, printer, scanner, projector troubleshooting, digital workflows
Handle and record payments for prints and late fines through MICA flex and ledger
Maintain health and safety for all students, staff, and faculty in the facility, report any areas of concerns to the Photography Department Manager
Assist student gallery committee in art handling, installation and deinstallation
Assist with filming artist lectures and breaking down video equipment
Implement new tech protocols for results in improved efficiency such as creating tutorials and guides for student use for equipment
Work with manager and department chairs on addressing student needs and concerns
Manager incoming deliveries of photographic chemistry, equipment, supplies, etc.
Make suggestions for new technology and repair needs based on lab and student use and requests
Perform other related duties as assigned