Photography Lab Assistant (Part-time)

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Job Title: Photography Lab Assistant (PT)

Department: Photography

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Manager, Photography

Union: NA

Grade: 4

Hourly Rate: $20.22 - $24.73

General purpose: Assist Photography Manager, Assistant Manager, and Department Chair with daily photography department activities (e.g., maintaining dark rooms, digital print labs, studio spaces, troubleshooting photographic equipment cleaning of Department, etc). Enforce departmental policies and procedures with staff.

Summary of Essential Functions:

• Conduct all support work for the Manager, Assistant Manager, Department Chair, and faculty
• Directly assist students with studio and lab work
• Advise students in equipment handling
• Supervise and train student employees
• Supervise the digital labs, chemistry labs, lighting studio, multi-media projection room alternative process darkrooms, dry finishing room, and classrooms
• Act as a liaison to the Photo Department Manager and Assistant Manager for students, faculty, and staff (e.g., disseminating information, reporting on malfunctioning equipment, troubleshooting classroom AV)

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Open and close the photography lab, making sure everything is in order and clean, and the equipment has been shut down and properly secured
• Mix dark room film and print chemistry
• Supervise equipment check-out area, ensuring that all equipment is properly checked out to students and faculty, and is carefully recorded
• Maintain use of web checkout system and advise student equipment needs
• Assess and conduct digital and analogue equipment repairs
• Train students on unfamiliar equipment, hardware and software such as cameras, tripods, lighting equipment, digital printing on Epson large format and tabletop printers, drum and flatbed scanners, black & white and color film processing, developing darkroom prints, video output, vinyl cutting, and software such as Adobe CC Suite, VueScan, Silverfast, FlexColor, Processing, MadMapper, Silouette, Phocus, and more
• Works nights, as late as 1am
• Set up and clean the darkrooms, check-out area, classrooms, flex space, lighting studio, and digital labs
• Assist the manager and assistant manager in having everything ready for classes
• Provide administrative support service to faculty such as, but not limited to: reaching technology information, preparing labs for class time, preparing supplies for class, gathering information, sharing concerns about students, etc
• Execute regularly scheduled cleaning duties as assigned (sweeping, mopping, cleaning darkroom sinks/trays, wiping down computer monitors, dumping out trash from film loading closets, etc)
• Supervise and train student employees
• Assist in the lighting studio, set up and breakdown of equipment, printer, scanner, projector troubleshooting, digital workflows
• Handle and record payments for prints and late fines through MICA flex and ledger
• Maintain health and safety for all students, staff, and faculty in the facility, report any areas of concerns to the Photography Department Manager
• Assist student gallery committee in art handling, installation and deinstallation
• Assist with filming artist lectures and breaking down video equipment
• Implement new tech protocols for results in improved efficiency such as creating tutorials and guides for student use for equipment
• Work with manager and department chairs on addressing student needs and concerns
• Manager incoming deliveries of photographic chemistry, equipment, supplies, etc
• Make suggestions for new technology and repair needs based on lab and student use and requests
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of practices and skills associated with digital and analogue camera equipment, darkroom practices, digital capture and output, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite software, lighting equipment, digital printing, and alternative process
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to lift heavy equipment and unload deliveries of materials (up to 75 pounds)
• Ability to engage in photographic discourse to best assist students
• Ability to interact with students and faculty in a courteous and helpful manner
• Ability to problem solve and troubleshoot equipment when its not working properly
• Ability to understand department needs and priorities

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
• Experience with chemical and digital photographic and video equipment
• Experience with photographic and video output such as analogue and digital printing, projections, and alternative processes
• Customer service experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in photography or current student in a graduate program
• Experience working in a photography lab
• Teaching experience
• Exhibition experience
• Reporting to this position: Student employees (up to 25)
• Conditions of Employment: Candidate must successfully complete a full background check; Must be available to work evenings and/or weekends

Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical Demands: While performing the duties of job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work environment: While performing the duties of the job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. Required training: Handbook orientation, Anti-Harassment, Hazard Communication, Emergency Plans Fire Prevention, Personal Protection Equipment. Maryland Institute College of Art is committed to its policy of providing equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status (disabled, Vietnam-era, or otherwise). Furthermore, the College does not tolerate any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. This policy applies to all programs, facilities, and activities provided by Maryland Institute College of Art, including but not limited to admission, educational programs, and employment.