Production Specialist

It is an exciting time at Vanderbilt as the University officially welcomed C. Cybele Raver as its new Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs on July 1 2021. Under the leadership of Provost Raver the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education is leading bold new initiatives and strengthening existing programs. This role reports directly to the Digital Media Manager who reports to the Director of OLI.

The Production Specialist will play a key part in shaping and implementing the Office of Learning Innovations digital media services. This role will support the Digital Media Manager in developing highly engaging online learning experiences and help facilitate end-to-end production of high-quality video-based learning materials for online educational programs. Additionally their time will be spent compiling all of the media created by the team into finalized deliverables.

The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (OFAPE) in the Office of the Provost is led by the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education. OFAPE exists to support and champion Vanderbilt faculty at every stage of their career and to promote and advise professional academic programs. Vanderbilt University has over 4000 full-time faculty across ten schools and colleges. The OFAPE includes the Institute for Advancement of Higher Education the Office of Academic Program Review Assessment & Accreditation the Office of Educational Design & Development the Office of Faculty Appointments the Office of Faculty Development the Office of Learning Innovation and the Office of Professional Education. The OFAPE leadership team includes two associate provosts two assistant provosts two senior faculty fellows and six directors.

Created by the University Provost the new Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED) exists to promote cutting-edge innovations in higher education pedagogy and student experience in order to maximize the impact of new ideas on society. The Institute provides university faculty development and training optimizes student learning in all environments drives technological and pedagogical innovation and charts the course for a best-in-class future. The Institute includes the Office of Education Design and Development and the Office of Learning Innovation.

Project operations

• Assist in project planning and operations:
  • Maintain proper file structure maintenance.
  • Create file redundancy within editing structures.
  • Participate in pre-production meetings to ensure quality outcomes.
  • Work with our team leads to create engaging and exciting brand promotional pieces for internal and external marketing campaigns.

Production

• Assist team in all practice sessions and recordings:
  • Assist in operating recording equipment.
  • Participate in Pre-Production to develop visual approaches.
  • Rig lighting for on location productions.
  • Manage audio levels and audio recording quality.
  • Utilize a light meter to set proper on location exposure.
  • Assist the Digitial Media Manager with talent management.

Editing

• Independently manage timelines for final deliverables.
• Process footage into a selects reel.
• Utilize color management to properly color log footage.
• Work collaboratively with Instructional Designers to create a top-level online course video.
• Upload video files into the system we choose for exchanging frame-specific feedback with the OLI Team Faculty and the Digital Media Lab.
• Produce edited video content in a timely manner.
• Create motion graphics such as bumpers titles and animations.
• Iterate based on team feedback.
• Maintain accurate backups of our media on a shared system. (original raw footage final files)
• Coordinate final video handoff with ODE.
• Explore different versions and directions.
• Ensure compliance with highest standards.
• Adjusts formats and file sizes as needed.

Equipment and space

• Train faculty to use Digital Media Lab space and equipment.
• Conduct tours of the Digital Media Lab space as needed on behalf of ODE.
• Assist the Digital Media Manager in recommending new equipment.
  • Develop a list of freelance talent to tap into for:
  • Animations.
  • Custom Graphics.
  • Project specific requests.

Best Practices and faculty support

• Continue to evolve established recording best practices.
• Continue to templatize systems and processes so they can be easily repeated.
• Support workshops and trainings for faculty interested in leveraging digital media.
• Provide support to AdvancED faculty initiatives as needed.