Full-Time Technician Photography & Media Resources

Parsons School for Design, a division of The New School, seeks a Full-time Technician in Photography and Media Resources for the Making Center. Parsons Making Center is a collection of more than 70,000 sq.ft. of labs, shops, studios, and open workspaces that provide curricular support for making across a broad range of mediums and disciplines and supports experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Technician should be a personable, proactive, detail-oriented individual who will become integral to the daily workings of the facilities within the Making Center, with the ability to learn new skills and technologies as needed. This is a fast-paced, dynamic environment that runs year-round. The Technician will interface with students and faculty daily and work with Making Center staff to support multiple processes and resources for all users in a range of making spaces including a traditional black and white darkroom, film processing room, experimental darkroom, Digital-C printing lab, film scanning and inkjet printing labs, photography and motion capture studios, and the Equipment Resource Center.

This is an administrative position, governed by a Local 1205 Teamsters Professional union contract, that reports to the Facilities Manager, Photography and Media Resources.

The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily workings of the Making Center facilities as assigned and maintain a clean and safe working environment. 

• Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment and a respectful shop culture for students, faculty, and staff.

• Provide a high level of customer service, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with students, faculty, and staff. 

• Work with other Making Center staff on the troubleshooting, repair, maintenance, installation, and continuous operation of a variety of hardware/software technologies and stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Assist supervisor and Making Center Leadership with the following:

  • Support faculty and students.

  • Lead demo sessions about various pieces of equipment.

  • Make hardware/software purchase and process recommendations.

  • Create and update web page content.

  • Create and conduct orientations, trainings, and tours.

  • Participate in the onboarding process for new technician staff, through peer to peer trainings and skills sharing.

  • Maintain administrative systems for scheduling, record keeping, inventories, and metrics tracking.

  • Provide support for store and tool checkout functions as related to assigned areas.

  • Supervise student workers, including training, tracking accountability, and assigning tasks during shifts.

  • Become proficient in Web Check Out or current equipment management system within the first 6 months of employment.

  • Create clear, accurate, user-friendly technical documentation, signage, and instructions for labs and equipment.

• Assist with facility improvement projects, shows and installations, and special Making Center, program, school or Parsons-wide initiatives as needed.

• Adapt to changes in the work environment; meet deadlines and anticipate facility and checkout center needs, adjusting approach and prioritizing competing demands. 

• Ability to be proactive in addressing facility needs, including but not limited to maintaining organized workspaces, tracking inventory locations, and monitoring Technician communication networks. 

• Properly handle, mix, and dispose of photo-chemistry and safely use ladders and other hardware to support facility needs.

• Acquire working knowledge of Digital C printing and a variety of Motion Capture and Augmented/Virtual Reality practices (including but not limited to: full body tracking, facial tracking, projection mapping, mixed reality, Motive (or other equivalent Motion Capture software), relevant CG and SFX software and SDKs) within the first 6 months of employment. 

• Completion of university-required staff trainings and necessary COF's for all Making Center Facilities within the first 6 months of employment.

• Attend regularly scheduled Making Center staff meetings and perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelorâ™s Degree and 3 years of relevant or professional experience within the industry.

• Flexible schedule - ability to work non-traditional schedules that include nights and weekends, in addition to schedule shifts with semester changes.

• Knowledge of a variety of analog and digital photographic processes, be familiar with practices related to current design and art practice - including: analog/experimental/digital photography, digital input/output, studio and on-location lighting, experience and knowledge of working with traditional chemistry.

• Technical knowledge of analog and digital technologies, including but not limited to still cameras, video equipment, audio equipment, studio strobe lighting and grip equipment, continuous lighting, virtual reality, projectors, steadicams, film scanners, large format printers, media players, mac mini(s), tablets and other smart devices.

• Full comprehensive experience in maintaining and troubleshooting equipment/tools.

• Understanding of working in a cross-platform (Windows and macOS) environment, with a working knowledge of large-scale hardware and software deployment, network systems, and color calibration/profiling.

• Direct experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, Capture One, Flexcolor Scan Software, various printer server software, Opti-Track Motive, and Google Docs.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, close attention to detail, and strong organizational and time management abilities.

• Strong ability to assist students working in an interdisciplinary and/or experimental manner from concept to fabrication.

• Ability to handle objects weighing up to 25 lbs, and on occasion, may be expected to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs. 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Webcheckout or comparable equipment management systems. 

• Knowledge of Motion Capture and Augmented/Virtual Reality practices.

• Knowledge of Digital C Printing.

• A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.

WORK MODE

• On-Campus Position - Employees in this position are expected to work on-campus during regularly scheduled work hours due to the nature of the work being that which is not feasible, or not in the best interest of the organization, to be performed remotely. #LI-ONSITE

SALARY

• $26.10/hr

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

Please submit both a resume and a cover letter for full consideration. 

About The New School

The New School, a leading university in downtown New York City, offers degree and nondegree academic programs in design, the social sciences, the liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. Students benefit from small classes, superior resources, and renowned faculty members who practice what they teach. Continuing education courses and public programs place the university at the center of New York’s cultural and intellectual life.

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