Media Center Manager

USC Annenberg is a renowned institution in the field of higher education and news production. As a leader in shaping the future of journalism, public relations and advertising, and communication, we are committed to delivering exceptional hands-on learning opportunities for students, faculty, and university stakeholders to create innovative, professional, and high-quality digital media content that engages and informs audiences. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Media Center Manager to join our dynamic team and contribute to our mission of excellence in news media education and production.

We are looking for a talented Media Center Manager to oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of digital media projects and programs within the USC Annenberg Media Center facility - a hands-on learning lab, converged newsroom and multi-media production center. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of digital media production processes (particularly in news and information), excellent project management skills, and a passion for providing an exceptional experience for students, faculty, and university stakeholders. The Media Center Manager will directly oversee the technical support staff and facilities for student-run live television and radio news production, podcasting and related web content delivery platforms, along with the use of video and audio studios, equipment and media editing facilities. 

The Media Center Manager will lead cross-functional teams, including journalism and communication faculty, students, staff, and technical experts, to ensure the successful completion of projects and news programs. Additionally, this role will encompass operational management responsibilities, including directly managing a team of 4 full-time employees and approximately 12 student workers, managing the facilities' open and close procedures, and coordinating and supervising the facilities' production and activities schedule.

Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Management:

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and budgets for digital media production projects related to news and higher education.
• Lead external stakeholders, such as journalists, faculty members, and administrators, to gather project requirements and ensure alignment with educational and journalistic objectives.
• Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members, monitor progress, and ensure project milestones are met.
• Manage resources, including talent, equipment, and software, to optimize efficiency and quality of production.

Content Production:

• Oversee the end-to-end production process, including pre-production, production, and post-production stages, for student-led news and information digital media content, as well as special projects.
• Collaborate with journalists, educators, videographers, web specialists, and editors to ensure content meets project objectives and aligns with the standards of USC Annenberg.
• Provide guidance and support to team members throughout the production process, ensuring adherence to timelines, quality standards, and educational goals.

Quality Control:

• Conduct thorough reviews and quality checks of all digital media production systems and workflows.
• Implement best practices and industry standards in news production workflows and educational media practices to ensure high-quality production output and student experience.
• Continuously evaluate and improve production processes to optimize efficiency, student experience, and maintain high standards of quality.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management:

• Identify and establish relationships with external vendors, contractors, and freelancers as needed, ensuring their adherence to USC Annenberg's quality and ethical standards.
• Manage relationships with vendors and ensure timely delivery of outsourced components of projects.
• Lead internal stakeholders, including journalists, educators, and technical teams, to align production objectives and deliver successful projects and programs.

Budget and Resource Management:

• Develop and manage project and operational budgets, ensuring cost-effective utilization of resources while maintaining quality standards.
• Monitor expenses, track project costs, and provide regular reports to stakeholders.
• Identify potential budget constraints and proactively propose solutions to minimize risks.

MC Operational Management:

• Directly manage a team of 4 full-time employees and approximately 20 student workers, providing guidance, support, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure smooth operation of the facilities by managing open and close procedures, including equipment setup, maintenance, and security protocols.
• Orchestrate and supervise the facilities' production and activities schedule, ensuring optimal utilization of resources and adherence to curricular constraints and deadlines.
• Maintain the facilities' production and activities calendar, ensuring accurate scheduling and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive and coordinate event logistics, training requirements, technical requirements, and staffing needs for productions and activities held in the facilities.
• Direct and coordinate portable equipment requirements for students and programming.
• Lead and coordinate facility tours for guests, including prospective students and donors.
• Oversee the safety and compliance protocols within the facilities, ensuring adherence to industry standards and relevant regulations.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement streamlined procedures to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment, promoting teamwork, professional development, and growth opportunities for employees and student workers.
• Stay updated on emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in media production and facility management, implementing relevant advancements when appropriate.

News Media Production and Workflow Technology Training and Support

• Direct, lead and participate in “Media Center Technology” training programs for approximately 500 unique students each semester. This includes production studio workflows for pod and vodcasting; live audio and video streaming workflows; news rundown solutions; teleprompters; pre-and post-production techniques and workflows; best practices for content acquisition (camera and microphone work); web publication tools; social media publishing and best practices; and other specialized media production applications.
• Build and maintain a repository of workflow training artifacts, including workflow diagrams, quick reference guides, video tutorials, etc.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Media Production, Journalism, Communications) or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience as a Media Center Manager or similar role, preferably in news production and/or higher education settings.
• This position requires someone who is patient and enthusiastic about guiding students who have little to no experience who are learning in a hands-on environment. 
• In-depth knowledge of digital media production processes, including pre-production, production, and post-production, within the context of news and educational content.
• Proficiency in industry-standard production tools and software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer).
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and adapt to changing project requirements.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, vendors, journalists, educators, and stakeholders.
• A keen eye for detail and a commitment to ensuring student access to learning opportunities to produce innovative, professional, and high-quality content that aligns with professional journalism and educational standards.
• Familiarity with news production workflows, journalistic ethics, and emerging digital media technologies.
• Passion for news, education, and the role of digital media in these fields.
• A strong understanding of DEIA competencies and a history of putting them into practice.
• A foundation in media asset management and media archiving strategies

Join a fast-paced news environment with students in the Media Center at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism who are producing original multiplatform content for a college-age audience in the Annenberg Media newsroom. To apply, please submit your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this position.

Applications should include the following: 

• Resume or CV (Please note: Our system will allow you to add additional documentation by clicking the “upload” button in the same section where you attach your resume.)

Additional Information:

• This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt staff position.

• The monthly salary range for this position is $8,500-$10,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.

• USC has excellent benefits, including health and dental benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans; tuition benefits for staff and their family; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, transit subsidy program, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

About the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California , the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is a national leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. With an enrollment of more than 2,200 students, USC Annenberg offers doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals across a broad scope of academic inquiry. The school's comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the core skills of leadership, innovation, service and entrepreneurship and draws upon the resources of a networked university located in the media capital of the world. For additional information, see our website: https://annenberg.usc.edu/ .

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected] . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring  ordinance

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Media Studies Or Bachelor's degree Journalism Or Bachelor's degree Communication Studies Or Bachelor's degree in related field(s) Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 5 years of experience as a digital media production manager or similar role, preferably in news production and/or higher education settings. Minimum Skills: In-depth knowledge of digital media production processes (e.g., pre-production, production, post-production) within the context of news and educational content. Familiarity with news production workflows, journalistic ethics, and emerging digital media technologies. Strong foundation in media asset management and media archiving strategies. Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, organizational, critical thinking and analytical skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills, and an exemplary attention to detail. Demonstrated understanding of DEIA competencies; ability to build, develop, and manage diverse, high-performing teams, fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, transparency, and accountability. Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and adapt to changing project requirements. Proficiency in industry-standard production tools and software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer). Preferred Education: Master's degree Media Studies Or Master's degree Journalism Or Master's degree Communication Studies Or Master's degree in related field(s) Preferred Experience: 7 years of experience as a digital media production manager or similar role, preferably in news production and/or higher education settings. Preferred Skills: Expert knowledge and understanding of communications principles, concepts, practices, and technical requirements in print and broadcast news, online media, and media relations, and the roles, processes, and protocols of each platform. Demonstrated budget management experience (e.g., purchasing and tracking inventory, monitoring financial documents, organizing data). Established reputation and relationships with local, regional and national media. Multilingual communication skills; fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, Korean and/or other languages beyond English.