Audio-Visual Technology Manager

Department
 

F&A ITS - Education and Technology Solutions

About the Department
 

IT Services collaborates with campus partners to support the mission of the University of Chicago through the consistent delivery of high-quality solutions and services. • We provide secure, stable, and reliable infrastructure and applications to support the mission of the University. • We support and enable faculty research and teaching with the effective use of technology. • We simplify the technology experience for faculty, students, alumni, and staff, and we ensure technology is mobile-friendly and accessible. • We identify, manage, and mitigate the technology risks of the University.

Job Summary
 

The Audio-Visual (AV) Technology Manager is responsible for the strategic long-term vision of AV technology and standards for the University and the continuous improvement of day-to-day AV support operations. This role will develop and maintain AV Standards for the University of Chicago classrooms and lead the AV technology consulting service for the University. The AV Technology Manager reports to the Executive Director for Academic Technology Solutions and leads a team of 11, with 3-4 direct reports. The AV Technology Manager directly manages the AV engineering and digital signage staff, as well as the manager for AV Services. The primary service areas under the AV Technology Manager are: 1) AV standards and consulting, 2) annual classroom AV refresh projects, 3) AV Services support for classrooms and equipment rental/events, and 4) digital signage.

Responsibilities

• Leads and provides coaching and development of the AV Engineering group, including conducting performance evaluations, and providing staff with strategic and creative guidance, mentorship, and feedback on projects.
• Leads the AV engineering group in the planning and execution of all campus classroom AV refresh work and installations, including the management of the AV integrator and infrastructure vendors, as needed.
• Ensures that all Audio-Visual systems are monitored and managed using vendor-specific monitoring tools (e.g. Extron Global Viewer, Poly Lens, etc.). Delivers training to other technology support teams in distributed units at the University to allow distributed monitoring proprietary rooms’ AV systems.
• Consults on the AV design, use, and maintenance of media-equipped classrooms and learning spaces for higher education.
• Consults on AV requirements for administrative meeting rooms and event spaces.
• Leads the process to update the University Audio Visual Technology Standards.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with the major AV manufacturers and AV integrators, allowing access to test new equipment and remain aware of advances and best practices with AV equipment and software.
• Develops relationships within the University to gain an understanding and awareness of internal and external AV challenges and opportunities that will enable improvements to University processes and services.
• Coordinates Tier 3 support with manufacturers and AV integrators.
• Develops data and metrics, and regularly compares performance with industry and peer schools to inform strategic priorities and investments in AV technology.
• Manages in all levels of production management, including researching and purchasing video/audio equipment and administering media servers. Continually evolves processes and protocols and implements new hardware, software, and equipment solutions to enable higher quality productions with improved workflow and shorter turn-around times.
• Manages and conceptualizes the scope of projects, and provides content strategy and editorial direction.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Seven years of work experience in AV-related roles.
• Seven years of a demonstrable history of customer service support in AV field roles.
• Five years of experience working with AV engineering support and AV control systems.
• Five years of experience supporting live events.
• Five years of experience working in a team atmosphere.
• Three years of experience managing operations of an AV team.
• One year or more of experience supervising AV staff and managing AV team.

Certifications:

• Extron.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Strong familiarity with the correct configuration and use of microphones, audio mixers, projectors, and professional-grade video cameras.
• Contribute to the creation of new services and support models for AV services across campus.

Preferred Competencies

• Possess outstanding initiative, customer service, and collaborative skills to effectively cooperate with staff, faculty, peers, student employees, vendors, managers, and senior leadership.
• Outstanding communication and collaboration skills.
• Respond to new ideas and projects quickly and productively.
• Demonstrate leadership ability to manage a team of highly specialized AV staff to support the academic needs of the University.
• Capable of coordinating the efforts of a team in response to urgent issues.
• Professional and patient customer service attitude, including the ability to understand customer needs quickly and explain technical topics to a non-technical audience.
• Readily learn new technologies without extensive direction.
• Work in high-pressure situations.
• Manage multiple priorities and competing projects under general direction.

Working Conditions

• Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work.
• Work normal business hours, plus occasional off-hours for maintenance or installation support.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Communications

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.