Studio Operations Manager Jobs in Kankakee, IL (NOW HIRING)

Photographer/Videographer

JOB CLASSIFICATION
Pay grade level: 13
Compensation: $51,153 - $70,337. Commensurate with education and experience.
Employee category: Full-Time Staff
Department: Marketing and Institutional Image
Reports to: Creative Services Manager
FLSA status: Exempt
Positions Supervised: Student employees and interns as assigned
Job Code: TBD
Location: Primarily Main Campus, but any other college location as assigned by the appropriate administrator

SUMMARY
The Photographer/Videographer serves as the college's primary visual storyteller, creating high-quality photography, video, and multimedia content that advances enrollment, retention, program promotion, community engagement, and institutional reputation. Reporting to the Creative Services Manager, this position plans, captures, edits, and delivers visual assets that portray the KCKCC experience across print, web, social media, advertising, events, and other communication channels. The position manages projects from pre-production through final delivery, maintains organized digital asset archives, and ensures all work reflects the college's brand standards, accessibility expectations, and legal requirements.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• Serve as the primary staff photographer and videographer for strategically prioritized college initiatives, including enrollment and recruitment campaigns, academic and workforce programs, student life, athletics, advancement, community partnerships, and special events.
• Plan, produce, and deliver photography and video assignments from concept through final output, including creative briefs, location scouting, schedules, shot lists, storyboards, interview plans, production logistics, and release coordination.
• Capture professional still and motion content in studio, campus, field, event, and community settings using effective composition, lighting, audio, and visual storytelling techniques.
• Conduct interviews and collaborate with students, employees, alumni, partners, and subject-matter experts to translate institutional messages into authentic, audience-centered visual stories.
• Edit, retouch, color-correct, caption, and prepare photography and video for publication, including promotional videos, student and alumni profiles, event recaps, digital advertising, web content, social media, and other branded materials.
• Create platform-appropriate short-form and long-form content while maintaining production quality, consistency, and strategic alignment across print, digital, web, social, and video channels.
• Collaborate with the Creative Services Manager, marketing staff, and campus partners to identify high-value storytelling opportunities, establish project expectations, and align creative work with college priorities.
• Ensure consistent application of the college's visual identity, brand standards, messaging, accessibility practices, and approved design systems in all photo and video deliverables.
• Manage assigned projects and production schedules through the college's project management system; communicate progress, risks, and resourcing needs to ensure work is delivered on schedule.
• Maintain photography, video, lighting, audio, and related production equipment, including inventory, routine upkeep, safe storage, and recommendations for replacement or expansion.
• Maintain organized digital asset libraries and production records, including metadata, file naming, usage rights, releases, raw footage, photographs, b-roll, and final approved deliverables.
• Observe college policies and applicable requirements related to copyright, licensing, music rights, image and talent releases, privacy, accessibility, and appropriate use of visual media.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and assignment direction to student employees, interns, freelancers, or vendors when assigned; review work for technical quality and brand alignment.
• Research emerging visual storytelling tools, formats, and production practices and recommend practical improvements that strengthen the college's creative capability.
• Complete other duties as needed to support the department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Professional photography and videography techniques, including camera operation, lens selection, composition, studio and environmental lighting, audio capture, and production in varied settings.
• Adobe Creative Cloud and related software, including Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Media Encoder, and comparable professional post-production tools.
• Visual storytelling, interviewing, scripting, storyboarding, creative concept development, and the ability to translate marketing messages into compelling visual content.
• Photo and video post-production, including editing, retouching, color correction, color grading, audio mixing, motion graphics, captions, and export optimization for multiple platforms.
• Digital asset management, metadata standards, file organization, media archiving, release tracking, and efficient retrieval of approved creative assets.
• Copyright, licensing, permissions, music rights, image releases, accessibility requirements, and ethical practices related to visual content creation.
• Project management, prioritization, and organization while managing multiple concurrent assignments, competing deadlines, and time-sensitive event coverage.
• Strong written, verbal, interviewing, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to build rapport with a wide range of campus and community audiences.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment and collaborate effectively with marketing colleagues, campus partners, students, external vendors, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasionally early mornings, evenings, and weekends, and to work outdoors or in varied environments as needed for assignments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or higher degree in photography, film or video production, digital media, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Three (3) years of professional experience producing photography and videography projects, including editing and post-production, for organizational, commercial, editorial, agency, educational, or nonprofit audiences.
• Demonstrated portfolio or reel of original photography and video work that reflects strong visual storytelling, technical proficiency, and editing ability.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between college locations and off-campus assignments as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in higher education, community college marketing, admissions, student life, athletics, workforce development, or a comparable mission-driven organization.
• Five (5) or more years of professional photography, videography, and multimedia production experience.
• Experience producing content for recruitment, enrollment, advancement, public relations, social media, and integrated marketing campaigns.
• Experience with livestreaming, multi-camera production, drone photography or videography, and/or Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certification.
• Experience directing or mentoring student employees, interns, freelance creatives, or production assistants.

WORKING CONDITIONS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, and use hands to operate cameras, computers, lighting, audio, and related production equipment. The employee may occasionally lift, carry, or move equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds and may work outdoors or in variable weather conditions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK SCHEDULE
40 hours per week during regular hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Must be able to work a variable schedule/hour to meet operational needs. May require occasional evenings, weekends, early mornings, and off-campus assignments.

TO APPLY:

Visit www.kckcc.edu and click on CAREERS for a list of available positions.

• Read the job announcement carefully noting the initial screening date, minimum qualifications, and required information. Note that information contained in your application materials will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Make sure you complete/submit all the documents listed as required.
• If the position lists a required transcript (during the application process) unofficial transcripts may be submitted. However, please note that upon selection for hire, you will be required to submit official transcripts.
• Ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was awarded or conferred if you are stating that it is your highest level of education completed. If you certify your level of education and it cannot be verified from your transcript(s), your application may not be referred to the selection committee.
• Foreign degrees are acceptable provided they have been translated and/or shown to have equivalency to a United States: Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate level degree.
• Documentation verifying completion of a degree, course work within a discipline, or other educational criteria should be electronically attached (uploaded) to your application.
• Three (3) professional references with phone number and email addresses are required.
• A college selection committee is responsible for application review and interviews. The final candidate(s) selected to be hired will be made by the hiring manager.
• Successful completion of a background check on all persons recommended for employment is required Individual hiring departments may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions as part of the applicant selection/hiring process.

***This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description may be revised as additional duties and responsibilities are developed.
 

KCKCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer