Director II

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences and WKAR Public Media are seeking a skilled photographer and videographer to bring the college’s and public media station’s people, programs, research, and impact to life through visual storytelling. As part of the college’s marketing and communications team, the Visual Storyteller captures, produces, and edits photography and video for digital, social media, web, and print channels. The role requires technical ability and creative judgment to adapt visual content to different audiences, platforms, and storytelling needs. The successful candidate will create audience-focused visual content, collaborate with colleagues and campus partners, and maintain an accessible, well-organized photo and video asset library. The position is remote-friendly, with at least three days per week in the office; additional in-person work may be required during the first 6–12 months. Flexibility to work nights and/or weekends as needs arise is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in photography, videography, film, media production, visual communication, journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five or more years of professional experience in both photography and videography.
Demonstrated proficiency in professional photography and video production, from planning and capture through editing and final delivery.
Strong working knowledge of industry-standard photo and video editing software.
Experience producing content in vertical and horizontal formats for social media, web, print, and other communications channels.
Demonstrated understanding of visual storytelling, composition, lighting, audio capture, editing, and production techniques.
Experience organizing and maintaining digital photo and video asset libraries.
Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Professional portfolio demonstrating the quality, range, and versatility of photography and video work.
Understanding of video accessibility considerations, including captioning and readable on-screen text.
Flexibility to work nights and/or weekends as needs arise.
Submit a video demo reel, photography work samples, cover letter, and resume for consideration.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in higher education or public media.
Familiarity with digital asset management systems, metadata standards, tagging conventions, and media archiving practices.
Ability to translate complex subjects, including research and academic work, into clear, engaging visual stories.

Responsibilities

Plan and execute photography and video shoots featuring students, faculty, staff, alumni, events, research, academic programs, and college and WKAR initiatives.
Produce high-quality visual content that supports the college’s and WKAR’s marketing and communications priorities.
Capture content in vertical and horizontal formats for social, web, email, print, and other distribution channels.
Work independently and collaboratively in events, classrooms, studios, research environments, and on-location settings.
Conduct interviews and capture supporting footage for story-driven video content.
Adapt shooting techniques, composition, lighting, audio, and production approaches to the subject, audience, and intended use.
Edit photography and video in accordance with brand standards and editorial priorities, including color correction, footage editing, audio mixing, graphics, and preparation for publication.
Create platform-appropriate content, including short-form vertical video, social media reels, longer-form video stories, and photography collections.
Optimize and export visual assets for digital and print applications while maintaining quality and consistency.
Keep current with visual storytelling techniques, production tools, platform specifications, and audience preferences.
Create, organize, and maintain the college’s and WKAR’s photography and video asset library.
Maintain consistent file-naming, metadata, tagging, and organizational practices; keep the library current, organized, and accessible.
Maintain accurate asset information, including captions, dates, subjects, usage rights, and permissions.
Identify improvements to asset-management workflows, reduce duplication, and improve the usefulness of visual resources.
Collaborate with marketing and communications colleagues, faculty, staff, and campus partners to identify and develop visual stories.
Translate communications objectives and story concepts into visual approaches, recommending suitable formats and production techniques for each audience and channel.
Contribute creative ideas during editorial planning and content development.
Ensure visual content reflects the college’s and WKAR’s identity, brand standards, accessibility practices, and commitment to thoughtful and accurate representation.
Manage multiple assignments and deadlines, maintain high production standards, and communicate proactively with colleagues and stakeholders.