Multimedia Specialist
Durham Academy is hiring a Multimedia Specialist, who will report to the Director of Communications and join a team that also includes an Associate Director (print project oversight) and Assistant Director (digital project oversight). The Multimedia Specialist will support the Communications Director and the office in creating digital content and external and internal marketing pieces for a broad variety of communications collateral for print and online use.
The ideal candidate for this position is someone who is detail-oriented, highly motivated and extremely creative. Candidates must have a strong sense of visual storytelling, marketing and design and be capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously to represent DA’s strong reputation for academic excellence and support the school’s high-quality brand.
A strong appreciation for storytelling that creates an emotional connection is necessary, as well as an inherent understanding of how a multimedia approach can provide creative, compelling communications campaigns to appeal to the school’s primary audiences — prospective students and their families, prospective donors, current students and their families and alumni.
The DA Communications Office oversees and produces admissions advertising, the DA website and complementary app, the school’s institutional social media platforms, a weekly e-newsletter, a quarterly alumni e-newsletter, a biannual magazine and annual report, divisional and all-school materials (back-to-school information, handbooks and guides), as well as various digital and print collateral for Admissions, Development, Alumni, Athletics, Summer and Extended Day programs, the DA Parents Council and other offices within the school.
The Communications Office functions as an in-house agency, providing creative marketing, branding, media/public relations, and other services to all four divisions of the school (Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School) and its administration. Durham Academy is an independent, coeducational day school serving approximately 1,200 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.
Primary Responsibilities
● Under supervision of the Associate Director, designs biannual magazine. Responsibilities include design, production and print management of magazine copy, photos, all layouts, all alterations, proofing and occasional press checks. Creation of complementary design elements within each issue such as infographics and illustrations.
● Under supervision of the Assistant Director, leads visual/creative development processes to fulfill all graphic design needs for various internal and external print and electronic communications for strategic and creative support of Communications, Admissions and Development offices and Parents Association. Examples include: graphics for social media posts, infographics for print pieces or the school website, fundraising brochures, special event programs, admission tour and information session advertising, donor or alumni event invitations, annual fund solicitations, email templates and any other design needs.
● Supports Communications Office multimedia efforts with an emphasis on in-house videos (profiles of student/faculty/alumni, school programs and initiatives, philanthropy, special events or visitors, animated explainers), infographics and strategic visual storytelling.
● Supplement current work by the Communications team to handle additional photography and videography needs.
● Develop an all-school style guide. Maintain responsibility for consistent use and application of DA branding and graphic style standards while also ensuring appropriate usage across the organization and through external vendors. Manage DA design assets and DA brand identifiers, including logos, logo adaptations, and/or applications of them in print and online media.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Advertising Design, Visual Communication, Mass Communication or related area.
Experience
3-5 years visual/multimedia/graphic design/communications experience. A working knowledge of and familiarity with the independent school environment or prior work with an educational institution is a plus.
Skills
● Working knowledge of graphic design software and technology with advanced experience in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. Mac experience required.
● Experience working with print and production vendors, including file preparation for print or online use.
● Knowledge of print production processes.
● Advanced creative design experience developing digital and print collateral for ads, publications and the web.
● Working knowledge of video production and editing programs, including Final Cut Pro and/or Adobe Premiere Pro.
● Working knowledge of web publishing.
● Strong project management and organizational skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities according to deadlines, incorporate feedback into final product.
● Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.
● Skill in development of project plans including timelines, tasks and budgets.
Digital Skills
● Mac OSX and iOS
● Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Bridge)
● Microsoft Office XP
Photo/Video Skills
● Canon DSLR cameras (still and video production)
● Final Cut Pro and/or Adobe Premiere Pro
Terms of Employment
Full-time, 40 hours/week. This is a 12-month position with benefits.
Contact
Send résumé, references and a portfolio to Communications Director Leslie King at leslie.king@da.org. No phone calls, please.
It is the policy of Durham Academy to make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications for a specific job without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, veteran status, or the presence of a disability, except where such is a bona fide occupational qualification.