Audio Systems and Reinforcement Lead

09-Aug-2022

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

59366BR

Job Summary

Education Support Services (ESS), in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), provides world-class audiovisual and instructional support, training, and consulting services to faculty, staff, and students. The team supports the school’s mission by delivering premium technology offerings that enhance and creatively advance the teaching & learning environment.

ESS is comprised of six service groups: Assistive Technology Center, Piano Technical Services, the Language Center, Teaching and Learning Support, Design and Engineering, and Event and Media Production. This role will be a part of the Teaching & Learning Support team.

This position is responsible for providing production services and leading in-studio and location live-sound reinforcement and recording.

Position Description

This position is responsible for producing high quality media materials and presentations that document the teaching and research of faculty; document achievements and learning of their classes; and allow faculty, administrators, and departments to communicate their missions and activity to both internal and external communities using media materials. These positions also extend the MPC’s mission to assist all members of the Harvard community to use multimedia materials in their daily work.

These positions work directly with constituents across the University, including FAS, HKS, HLS, GSD, HAA, OFA, Central, HR, CWD, HUIT, etc. This position interacts with VIP faculty, administrators, alumni, and publicly known visitors from the worlds of education, politics, the arts, and entertainment on a weekly basis.

Systems configuration and troubleshooting: Following departmental procedures, specify, configure, and build out system components to achieve efficient, contained systems integral to production workflows. When systems malfunction, will work with co-workers to reproduce the malfunction, troubleshoot, and repair the problem, or work with their manager to specify replacement or identify a repair resource. Studio and location systems examples include audio networking, video switching and streaming, communications, lighting grid power distribution, timecode and genlock distribution, and others.

In-Studio:

Audio:  Configures the studio using seating, music/laptop/script stands or table(s), and portable acoustical materials for effective capture of sources (voice-over(s), podcasting, remote calls, musical instruments, complex audio mix for simultaneous video shoot, etc.); select and deploy/position appropriate microphones for capture of sources; route signals, and set up and operate digital mixing console setting audio levels, equalization, and dynamics signal processing as required; select, deploy, and route signals to produce multitrack recording and mix products.

Video:  Composes the set for effective presentation (seating, backdrop, props, lightboard), light set/sculpt lighting using multiple lighting instrument types to flatter the on-camera talent’s look, set up and operate teleprompters and/or talent/producer video monitors and audio talkback as needed; set up camera(s) and camera supports (head/tripod, dolly, slider, etc.) and select appropriate lensing and set exposure, color profile, recording codec and format for proper capture; route video signals and set up and operate switcher for multiple cameras/laptops, etc. including live chroma keying (green screen), graphics, and pre-recorded video roll-ins, select and deploy/position proper microphones per situation including hiding microphones on talent and in set, set audio levels, equalization and dynamics signal processing; route audio signals and operate digital mixing console; actively operate camera(s) (compose shot and pan/tilt/zoom/focus) per role.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION

Basic Qualifications

• At least two years of successful completion of college or technical school courses
• 3+ years of relevant experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree OR technical school certification desirable
• Courses in instructional media preferred
• Thorough knowledge of the use and design of media equipment and systems
• Ability to educate and communicate with a diverse customer base about complex technology applications
• Previous leadership or coordinating experience helpful.

Physical Requirements

Pushing 300+ lb. hand truck distances of up to 0.75 mi.; Lift loudspeakers of up to 50 lbs. overhead onto stands with assistance.

Working Conditions

Studio, campus locations, and performance venues, post suite (office).

The position is based in Cambridge, MA.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s "COVID-19 Vaccine Information" webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/ .

Additional Information

Location

Audio:  Reinforcement and recording: working from pre-production notes, select, pack, and transport equipment needed, including microphones, stands, cabling, interfaces, computers, networking, digital consoles, wireless transmitters/receivers, multitrack recorders, feed to video/live-stream, Front-of-House loudspeakers, stage and/or in-ear monitors, and loudspeaker/in- ear management. During event/session, actively mix Front-of-House/monitors and/or recording per role. Produce and retain session notes and documentation as needed for post or reproducing session.

Video: Working from pre-production notes, select, pack, and safely transport equipment needed. At location determine position, set up, and deploy camera(s) and camera supports (head/tripod, dolly, monopod, slider, etc.), select appropriate lensing and set exposure, color profile, recording codec, and format for proper capture; set up monitors and recorders and format media as necessary. Set up communications. Review and ensure safe location for clients, audience, and crew. Greet client and discuss event/shoot parameters and camera deployments.

Direct client and crew as necessary. During event/shoot, actively operate camera(s) (compose shot and pan/tilt/zoom/focus) and communicate per role; produce and retain session notes as needed.

Pre-production: work directly with client, or with manager and/or production coordinator to plan effective capture and/or presentation of client’s event/materials. For very complex productions, manager or crew lead will present completed planning documentation for review and feedback.

Post-production: encode product files from MPC-generated multi- camera footage & multi-track audio, and client-provided materials and edit, color grade, produce graphics and animation, sound mix, master.

Proactively stay abreast of emerging industry trends and identify appropriate tools and workflows that may be of benefit to the team and departmental mission. Research and acquire skills for new technologies for future deployment by MPC, as directed by the manager.

Crew Lead

• Directs other crew members during session; mixes sources to produce reference/final mix during session; coach talent and advise client production team as needed to obtain best possible performance result.
• Direct other crew members during shoot; coach talent and advise client production team as needed to obtain best possible performance result. At conclusion of shoot, discuss/advise client as to next steps; transfer footage from all cameras and recorders to storage and properly name files for easy retrieval/post, produce, and retain session notes
• Digitize and transfer legacy media
• Manage own media files on local and central storage; report time spent on jobs in schedule database.

All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

405024 Technical Professional (N)

Department

Education Support Services

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Identity

Schedule

8:00am - 4:00pm; 35 hours per week

This is an 18-month term position from date of hire.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.