Photographer, Staff Assistant

Bridgewater Bagel & Coffee; Bridgewater, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridgewater State University seeks a Staff Assistant, Photographer and Digital Media Specialist to serve as the campus photographer for BSU’s website, social media, and marketing materials. You will also manage the digital photo library and oversee student photographers and equipment in the BSU photo studio.

The role requires professional portrait skills, studio lighting expertise, and experience with PhotoShelter. Hybrid work on campus in Bridgewater, MA is available under BSU policy.

Qualifications

• 1 year of professional-level photography experience.
• Portfolio with professional-quality portraits, event images, and editorial photography.
• Advanced skills with mirrorless and/or DSLR cameras, studio lighting, off-camera flash, and other professional photography equipment.
• Experience with professional photography editing tools (Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop).
• Demonstrated knowledge and usage of digital asset management best practices (keywording, metadata, taxonomy).
• Flexible schedule to provide occasional night and weekend availability.
• Knowledge of portrait photo techniques (posing) and ability to direct subjects during shoots.
• Familiarity with collaborative digital content workflows and content delivery.
• Familiarity with social media content trends and best practices regarding visual content.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, execute, edit, and deliver top-flight imagery aligned with BSU’s visual identity.
• Produce high-quality portraits of students, faculty, staff, and others in studio and on campus.
• Update stock images of campus buildings, classes, programs, and activities.
• Provide event photography coverage with occasional evening/weekend availability.
• Manage and maintain BSU’s digital library of photographs (PhotoShelter) and optimize searchability through keywords and asset ratings.
• Collaborate with Director of Digital Content to advance photography standards and brand alignment for campaigns.
• Manage pre-shoot production: scheduling, booking subjects, and communicating with stakeholders.
• Edit photographs to meet aesthetics and project requirements.
• Mentor student-employee photographers and monitor metadata quality.
• Maintain photography equipment inventory and advise on purchases.
• Capture footage to support video production when needed.
• Fulfill all other duties as directed.

Skills

Portrait photography

Studio lighting

Photo editing

Digital asset management

Keywording & metadata

Directing subjects

Social media visuals

Collaboration workflows

Tools

Mirrorless/DSLR cameras

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

PhotoShelter DAM

Studio lighting equipment

Job description

Title

Photographer, Staff Assistant

Department Summary

University News & Digital Content is responsible for telling the story of Bridgewater State University by writing enterprising news stories, producing high-quality videos, capturing professional photographs and creating original, captivating content for our many social media channels. The content we create can also be found on our university’s website bridgew.edu , in Bridgewater Magazine, in our weekly online newsletter Bridgewater Today, in marketing campaigns and our internal intranet platform BridgeNet. The department is responsible for telling the BSU story to the institution’s diverse campus community including current and prospective students, faculty and staff, alumni and donors, and the general public – all of which enhances BSU’s reputation.

Position Summary

The staff assistant, photographer and digital media specialist, is responsible for serving as the University’s primary photographer provide high-quality images of people, programs, events, and campus life for BSU’s website, social media channels, marketing materials, and other institutional projects. The staff assistant, photographer and digital media specialist, will also be responsible for maintaining and optimizing the institutional digital photo library. The staff assistant, photographer and digital media specialist, will also assist in the management of our student-employee content creators, University-issued equipment, and photo studio.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the director of social media and digital content, the photographer and digital media specialist, will:

• plan, coordinate, execute, edit, and deliver top-flight imagery that is authentically, inclusively, and unmistakably aligned with BSU’s visual identity
• produce high-quality portraits of students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders in our studio and on campus
• continually update stock images of campus buildings, classes, programs, and activities
• provide event photography coverage for the Division of Enrollment, Marketing, & Communications and the Office of the President, which will require occasional evening and weekend availability
• manage and maintain the University’s digital library of photographs located in PhotoShelter, which includes optimizing system functionality, ensuring searchability through keywords and asset rating, providing quality control, and delivering images to campus partners
• collaborate with Director of Digital Content to advance institutional photography standards and style, develop creative concepts, and align visual content to brand messaging for campaigns and external-facing projects
• manage pre-shoot production, including scheduling, booking subjects, and communicating with campus stakeholders
• edit photographs to meet University’s aesthetic style, technical standards, and project requirements
• mentor division’s student-employee photographers and monitor the photography workflow, which includes quality control of keywords and other metadata
• maintain photography equipment inventory in our photo studio, coordinate usage of equipment and studio with other University content creators, and advise on new equipment purchases
• capture footage occasionally to support the video production team’s projects
• fulfill all other duties as directed

Supervision Received

The staff assistant, photographer and digital media specialist, reports to the director of social media and digital content.

Supervision Exercised

The staff assistant, photographer and digital media specialist may assist in the oversight of student-employees and/or student interns for the Division of Enrollment, Marketing & Communications.

Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, some nights, and weekends. This position is located on campus in Bridgewater, MA. This position is eligible for hybrid / remote work in accordance with BSU remote work policy.

Required Qualifications

• 1 year of professional-level photography experience
• portfolio with professional-quality portraits, event images, and editorial photography
• advanced skills with mirrorless and/or DSLR cameras, studio lighting, off-camera flash, and other professional photography equipment
• experience with professional photography editing tools (i.e. Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, or equivalent programs)
• demonstrated knowledge and usage of digital asset management best practices (i.e. keywording, metadata, taxonomy)
• flexible schedule to provide occasional night and weekend availability
• knowledge of portrait photo techniques (including posing) and comfort in directing photo subjects during shoots
• familiarity with collaborative digital content workflows and content delivery
• familiarity with social media content trends and best practices regarding visual content

Preferred Qualifications

• professional photography experience within the higher education, marketing, and/or public relations industries
• experience with professional-level digital asset management tool (i.e. PhotoShelter or equivalent)
• familiarity with Canon mirrorless cameras and lenses
• familiarity with shooting video footage
• familiarity with professional software for video production (i.e. Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe After Effects, etc.)

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check. Bridgewater State University is an E-Verify employer.

This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Type

APA Professional

Salary Range

$65,000-$70,000

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Are you currently a member of a collective bargaining unit that governs employment at Massachusetts State Universities?
  • AFSCME
  • APA
  • MSCA
  • Other