Technical Services Specialist

Working Title

Assistant to the Director of Research and Instructional Technology

Department Name: 8M200:Communication

Work Location: Lexington, KY

Grade Level: 40

Salary Range: $13.43-21.51/hour

Type of Position: Staff

Required Education:

AA

Click here for more information about equivalencies:
http://www.uky.edu/hr/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience:

0

Required License/Registration/Certification

None.

Physical Requirements

Sitting for extended periods of time. Occasionally lifting objects up to 25 lbs.

Shift

Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Job Summary

The Department of Communication's Office of Research and Instructional Technology (COM-RIT), located in the Grehan-Journalism Building, is seeking applicants for an "Assistant to Director of Technology".

Instructional Technology Support & Training: Conducts Echo360 scheduling and provides user support; generates class and student reports for instructors; provides classroom hardware and software support; creates training videos for students and faculty on the use of instructional technology, as needed; participates in new instructor orientation and provides information about classroom technology and department research resources, as needed; and provides faculty and staff desktop computer support.

Instructional Resource Management: Assists the Director of Research and Instructional Technology in purchasing appropriate technology; identifies purchasing needs for faculty computer maintenances; organizes media labs, workspaces and storage; participates in equipment inventory scanning and tracking the lifecycle of technical assets; and assists the Director of Instructional and Research Technology by helping to coordinates the surplus, transfers and moving of assets.

Administrative Support: Provides database and listserv updates; requests new listservs and accounts for users, as needed; isolates lecture capture files for assessment purposes; coordinates and tracks shipping items, as needed; supports department labs; and schedules facilities.

Research Support: Assists the Director of Research and Instructional Technology by preparing facilities and supports researchers for research studies; responds to correspondence related to student research subject pool; assists with monitoring the SONAresearch participant pool and provides timely and effective communications with student participants and researchers; and provides on-site technical support during research studies.

Project Support: Provides research assistance to the Director of Instructional and Research Technology by researching answers to technical questions; assists with Kentucky Conference on Health Communication and related conference planning and technical support; assists the Director of COM Research and Instructional technology with media manipulation, editing, and conversion; design departmental promotional materials and process electronic mailings for students, faculty, alumni and others (as needed by task); provides video and still photography for department events; produces video for department of communication events; designs department promotional materials, as needed; and conducts in-person trainings related to the use of digital content design and maintenance for faculty developers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide administrative support to Information Technology Manager I.
• Provide instructional/classroom technology support.
• Provide technical assistance to faculty, staff, and graduate assistants
• Design department promotional materials.
• Design and process all electronic mailings.
• Respond to correspondence related to student research subject pool.
• Update department website and digital signage content
• Assist with orientation of new instructors and assistants.
• Assist faculty with their workstations and presentation needs.
• Participate in administering assessments and managing instructor data.
• Schedule recording of class lectures and assist instructors with retrieval.
• Assist with meeting, event and conference planning.
• Process purchases of new equipment and software.
• Maintain/update databases and files.
• Assist in maintaining equipment inventory - includes ordering, tagging, surplussing and reporting of equipment.
• Assist in coordinating research events and conferences by scheduling facilities and providing technical assistance.

WHAT WE DO:

COM-RIT provides technical support and development for faculty research projects, most of which are related to media studies, risk and crisis communication, and health communication. Current projects include:

• Development and maintenance of a streamable television archive, searchable by transcripts, and delivered via the web.
• Creation of multi-lingual audio-assisted mobile surveys for data collection in Eastern Kentucky, SE Asia, and Africa to assess behaviors and attitudes related to risky decision-making.
• Analysis of subject response to media content by measuring heart-rate and skin-conductance, and along with a handheld self-interview.
• Development of web-data applications to support instructional and administrative efforts of department.
• Creation of multi-media materials (newsletters, digital signage, web sites, videos) to inform students and promote the department's image.
• Supports instructional technology in 5 technology-enhanced classrooms and participates in administering assessments and managing data.

Historically, COM-RIT team alumni have gained the practical experience needed to help secure positions in well-known organizations.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent, Web content management system (Wordpress, Drupal, or equivalent.)

Skills and experience are important, but interest, eagerness to learn, quality of character, and sense of humor are equally valued. Simply put, we work hard and laugh a lot.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?: No

Preferred Education/Experience

Bachelor's Degree and Experience in some of the following areas is preferred:

• Desktop hardware/software support (Windows and Mac OS).
• Databases - experience with any of the following: MS Access, MySQL, FileMaker Pro.
• Web site management - experience with a web content management system (Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.).
• Audio/video production - experience with some digital media editing softwares (Final Cut, Premier, Audacity, ProTools, etc).
• Graphic design - experience with Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent.
• Learning Management - exposure to some of the following: Canvas, Echo 360, SONA.

Deadline to Apply: 09/07/2017

University Community of Inclusion

The University of Kentucky is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.