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Computing & Multimedia Specialist

Department: School of Architecture Effective Date: August, 2010
Grade:

USG 8

35 hr/wk

Reports to: Systems Manager

General Accountability

Reporting to the Systems Manager (SM) of the School of Architecture, the Computing & Multimedia Specialist (CMS) is responsible for the provision of photographic services (digital and film), video recording equipment, digital projectors, and audio recording equipment to students, faculty, and staff within the school. The CMS will coordinate the selection and procurement of said equipment in consultation with the Systems Manager, Computing Committee, and student organizations (WEEF/WASA). The CMS will assist the SM with deployment, maintenance and troubleshooting of school computing equipment (workstations, printers, plotters, and scanners). The CMS will assist the SM and Client Support Specialist with help-desk issues as required.

Nature and Scope

Located in the Galt city centre of Cambridge Ontario (30km southwest of the main campus), the School of Architecture offers a program leading to an accredited professional degree. The program has two components, a four-year Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), and a one year professional Master of Architecture. The two degrees in combination constitute the professional program accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board.

 

The incumbent ensures that all rental equipment (cameras still & video), tripods, projectors, sound recording equipment, laptops (PC & Mac), and speakers/AV equipment are maintained in good working condition and made available to the academic programme, research, and design activities of the School of Architecture. He/She will also work with the SM with respect to sourcing, ordering, and installing multimedia equipment as required by the school. The position provides support to academic, faculty, administrative, and professional activities in consultation with the Director, General Manager, and/or Systems Manager. The CMS coordinates the school’s multimedia needs as well as special projects and assignments. He/She is responsible for providing technical expertise and mentorship relating to photography, digital media, and any of the school’s technology/equipment.

Working with the General Manager and the Graphics Manager, the CMS provides technical support to school exhibitions, publications, international lecture series (i.e. Arriscraft), and special projects. Each year the CMS provides supervision and mentoring to 2 part-time students in the dark room.

Statistical Data

The CMS is responsible for supporting multimedia services for the school’s clientele (12 full-time staff, 19 regular and approximately 30 adjunct faculty, and 400 students). He/She also oversees 2 classrooms/lecture halls containing 3 large projectors each, a conference room in the Musagetes Library, a photography darkroom and studio, and an audio/visual computer lab (9 workstations). In addition, the CMS lends support to 6 staff members in the school’s library. The CMS is also responsible for managing a budget of $2000 to cover photographic equipment and supplies.

Specific Accountabilities

The CMS will provide mentorship and demonstrative photographic technique, both film and digital addressing students and faculties technical and artistic needs. He/She will ensure that conventional and digital photographic production, plotting, and scanning needs are provided within the school (studio/darkroom), and field locations. He/She will consult on all aspects of digital imaging, and video and sound production for faculty and students.

 

The CMS lends support to the Library in maintaining a digital photographic archive relevant to the mission of the School of Architecture. The incumbent also works closely with the Cambridge Gallery and the Graphics Manager on the management and operation of gallery space in the School. He/She will assist with the installation of exhibitions when appropriate.

 

The CMS manages all multimedia equipment within the school. (Main Lecture Hall, E-classroom, Loft, Multimedia computer lab, and the schools fleet of loan-able equipment: cameras, projectors, sound recording equipment etc.) The CMS will be responsible for planning upgrades and procurement of new equipment when required by the school. He/She will keep informed on new developments in digital and conventional photography/imaging both still and video by following trade journals and attending trade shows where applicable.

 

The CMS is responsible for the maintenance, servicing, and security of all aforementioned equipment and will be responsible for safety and security when equipment is used for installations throughout the school. He/She will manage the use of the conventional darkroom and photography studio spaces.

 

The CMS will oversee the video recordings/podcasts of lectures, guest lecturers, and school events. Converting these recordings to DVD for distribution in the school’s library.

 

The CMS will assist the SM and other ACM staff in the deployment, security, maintenance, and troubleshooting of school computing equipment. (Lab machines, network printers, scanning stations, large format plotters, etc.) In addition he/she will participate in providing troubleshooting expertise along with the Client Support Specialist and other ACM staff to students at the help-desk as required.

 

Evenings and weekends hours are required in this position to support the AV requirements of school events occurring outside regular working hours.

Working Conditions