Senior Digital Media Specialist

Summary:

The Senior Digital Media Specialist leads photography and videography for the Missouri Botanical and its affiliated campuses and is responsible, in consultation with the Garden’s Content Managing Editor and Senior Public Information Officer, for bringing the identity of the Garden to life through visual storytelling. The ideal candidate is a “video first” thinker who works to advance the Garden’s capabilities to tell captivating stories using a suite of digital resources. The Senior Digital Media Specialist will conduct or direct the development and execution of all visual (photography and video) efforts related to marketing initiatives and work collaboratively to plan and realize strategic communication initiatives across all media and outlets. This role will be instrumental in bringing the Garden’s global plant science and conservation work to new and increasingly diverse audiences. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead production of professional-quality photographic content for distribution across the Garden’s campuses and marketing channels.
• Shoot, edit, and publish short- and long-form video productions and photo assignments in accordance with departmental priorities and initiatives and across the Garden’s communications channels.
• Coordinate, schedule, and conduct or supervise photo and video shoots for Garden initiatives.
• Coordinate and supervise commercial photo and video shoots.
• Supervise photography volunteers and video/photography interns and provide creative and strategic direction and delegation for additional photography and video production.
• Partner with Public Relations team to plan digital strategy and resources for social media engagement.
• Partner with Marketing leadership to plan digital media support for marketing initiatives.
• Maintain digital asset library of images and video files and coordinate distribution of assets.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications staff on division-wide and organization-wide campaigns and projects as needed.
• Maintain network of local and regional visual media resources, vendors, and influencers and coordinate relevant partnerships.
• Manage acquisition and maintenance of camera equipment.
• Train and advise Garden staff on visual media production best practices, equipment use, and other production facets to ensure a cohesive look in accordance with brand guidelines.
• Collaborate with Senior Brand Manager, Senior Public Information Officer, and Vice President of Science and Conservation to plan and execute documentation of international research and conservation work and train internationally based staff in videography and photography best practices.
• Produce, curate, and manage content and production for Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center video wall and Farr Auditorium.
• Manage video production calendar and address all video production requests in a timely fashion based on marketing priority alignment and capacity.
• Manage Garden content on YouTube and other video sharing sites.
• Track and report video performance analytics and incorporate best practices based on results.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves & communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and/or Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience creating digital content, including video
• Demonstrated ability to shoot and edit photographs and video at a high level for many different formats and platforms
• Experience writing scripts or treatments for video productions as well as ability to contribute to other platforms (blog, website, signage, social media) as needed
• Familiarity with leading online delivery platforms, including online video networks, and experience publishing and promoting digital content
• Proven ability to allocate responsibilities and resources and lead others in completion of goals
• Experience cataloging files and managing metadata
• Ability to effectively caption narrative content using native software tools or platform-specific resources
• Familiarity with emerging digital technologies and ability to apply them in work
• Ability to communicate clearly in order to effectively collaborate and work with staff, media representatives, and vendors both verbally and in writing
• Scheduling flexibility that allows working occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests.  All staff are strongly encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by hire date, and the Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on community health department guidelines.  When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain visas, vaccinations and immunizations for all countries where travel is required.  
• Demonstrates the highest level of professional and ethical conduct, maintains confidentiality
• Demonstrated ability to manage heavy workloads and meet tight deadlines
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This role will not have supervisory responsibility; may conduct oversight for Photography/video interns and/or photography volunteers. 

Competencies:

• Communication – Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.
• Collaboration – Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.
• Accountability – Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues’ concerns.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.
• Stewardship – Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Multimedia, or related field required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience may be considered.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Use of graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe AfterEffects is preferred.
• Basic Internet research skills.

Language Skills:

• Proficient ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written) and must be able to communicate scientific and horticultural content.

Mathematical Skills:

• H.S. basic math aptitude.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: FAA Part 107 Drone License preferred, able to pilot drones and acquire aerial footage as needed or coordinate with vendors to meet aerial footage needs.  

Physical Demands:

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).
• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds.
• Ability to push/pull supply cart.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb step stools, etc.).
• Ability to walk about the facility frequently throughout the work day, and sit for extended periods of the work day (may sit up to 75% of work day).

Work Environment:

• Hybrid office/remote scheduling, including indoor office environment and outdoor work with camera equipment in all seasons.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Garden staff and volunteers
• Vendors, contractors, interns
• External media contacts