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The Maryland Institute College of Art seeks a part-time Photography Lab Assistant to support the photography department. Key responsibilities include assisting students with equipment, supervising lab activities, and maintaining a clean work environment. Candidates should have a BFA in Photography and exhibit strong knowledge of photographic practices and customer service skills.
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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 it’s 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.
Applicants must apply online for each job in which they are interested. You will not be considered for any job for which you have not specifically applied. We do not accept applications via email, U.S. mail, or fax. Successful candidates for any staff or faculty positions will be subject to a pre-employment background check.
MICA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at 410-225-2363.
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As the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation, MICA is located in Baltimore, deeply connected to the community. It is a leading contributor to the creative economy regionally and a top producer of nationally and internationally recognized professional artists and designers.