Digital Storyteller - Strategic Marketing & Communications

UIC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago seeks a Digital Storyteller to plan, produce, and edit original photography and video content across platforms. You will collaborate with the Brand Engagement team to reinforce the university’s image and support recruitment, student success, and engagement goals.

The role emphasizes strategic storytelling, campus-wide collaboration, and authentic visuals. A Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year in related media work are required; a hybrid schedule is offered with benefits

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant film/video/communication field.
• 1 year of professional work experience in non-linear video editing, motion graphics, lighting and camera operation.
• Experience with branding and storytelling in higher education or nonprofit settings is preferred.
• FAA Part 107 drone certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute high-quality branded photography and multimedia content.
• Assist with video production including scouting and drone spotting.
• Coordinate distribution across channels to ensure relevance to audience.
• Study audiences to guide creative process and relevancy of imagery.
• Maintain updated multimedia asset management and training resources.

Skills

Non-linear video editing

Motion graphics

Video lighting

Camera operation

Graphic design

Audio recording

Video production

Education

Bachelor’s degree in film/video production, cinematography, radio and television, documentary film production, photojournalism, communications, graphic design, or a closely related field to the position.

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom, Audition)

Job description

Digital Storyteller - Strategic Marketing & Communications

Chicago, IL, United States

|

1043373

Posted on: 10/28/2026 - Application Deadline: 11/4/2026

Digital Storyteller - Strategic Marketing & Communications

Hiring Department: Brand Engagement

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1043373

FTE: 1

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Shift: Days

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $65,000.00 - 75,000.00 / Annual Salary

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, LifeInsurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The Digital Storyteller is a multimedia and interdisciplinary strategic photographer and videographer for Strategic Marketing and Communications at the University of Illinois Chicago. The purpose of this position is to plan, produce and edit original photography and, at times, video productions for a variety of audiences and platforms. At the direction of and in collaboration with Director of Brand and Creative Communications, this position creates and disseminates original, high-quality images and multimedia content for a variety of audiences in support of goals related to advancing the reputation of the University of Illinois Chicago as well as university goals for recruitment, retention, student success, engagement, research and advancement.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Create and execute original, high-quality, strategic, branded photography and multimedia content as assigned.

• Assist with video production, including scouting, drone spotting, music and video production.
• Understand the range and nature of all photo and multimedia distribution channels used by Strategic Marketing and Communications and use that information to guide the creative process and final deliverables.
• Understand the target audiences for campaigns and communications and use that information to guide the creative process and relevancy of captured imagery.
• Study, adapt and incorporate contemporary photography creative techniques to maintain a fresh, current and authentic visual identity that supports the UIC brand.
• Stay relevant by keeping abreast of developments and changes in photography, multimedia storytelling, industry trends, technological innovation in both creating and viewing content, photo capture and editing, workflow and asset management.
• Take responsibility for care of multimedia production equipment.
• Serve as a visible member of the university community and provide assistance in photographic trends.
• Maintain consistent touch points with photo and communication team members to assist them with understanding photography trends and support them by demonstrating how the trends can be incorporated to enhance the visual brand of the university.
• Assist with multimedia efforts to train and provide resources and best practices for visual storytelling through branded photography styles to key communications staff both within Strategic Marketing and Communications and across campus.
• Manage an annual calendar of scouting and shooting of the 16 schools and colleges along with being informed and engaged with campus events and experiences, like commencement and convocation while coordinating with other campus photographers.

Photo Asset Management

• Assist with enhancing and maintaining a photo digital asset management system.
• Assist with the maintenance, organization, metadata tagging and sourcing of Strategic Marketing and Communication’s photo asset management system and archive (Photoshelter). Partner and coordinate with campus partners to curate and implement a university-wide approach and system.
• Assist Strategic Marketing and Communications staff and team members and campus partners with navigating the system and archive and retrieve collective photography assets for various campus messaging needs.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in film/video production, cinematography, radio and television, documentary film production, photojournalism, communications, graphic design, or a closely related field to the position.
• One (1) year (12 months) of professional work experience in areas including non-linear video editing, motion graphics, video lighting and composition, camera operation, graphics design, audio recording, video production, or a closely related professional area.

NOTE: Master’s Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization, with demonstrated ability to tell authentic stories that support student recruitment, engagement, research, and institutional branding goals.
• Experience planning and executing photo and video shoots, including location scouting, lighting, audio capture, drone operations (FAA Part 107 certification preferred), and project coordination with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience producing content across multiple platforms and audiences, including social media, marketing campaigns, executive communications, recruitment initiatives, and editorial storytelling.
• Demonstrated proficiency with industry-standard creative software, including Adobe Creative Cloud products such as Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Audition.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Looking for more University of Illinois positions?

We invite you to search for positions at each of the University of Illinois locations, the University of Illinois System Office and the University of Illinois Foundation. The University of Illinois System Office supports the primary missions of teaching, research, public service, and economic development for all of the Universities and offers positions in all locations. The University of Illinois Foundation is the official fundraising and private gift-receiving agency for the University of Illinois and also offers position in all locations. Click the links below to search for other University of Illinois positions.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, covid sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.