FCCP Learning and Media Professional

Hiring Organization: Department of Forestry Forest Carbon and Climate Program
Employment type: Part-Time
Application Due Date: October 15, 2024

Position description: The Department of Forestry at Michigan State University invites applications for a part-time Learning and Media Professional (Professional Aide) as an integral team member within the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP). This position will provide support for the creative and knowledge transfer activities of the FCCP by planning, developing, and maintaining educational materials needed for professional training. The successful candidate will lead technical components of the video development including creation of all visual components including graphic renderings, animation, video building, and exporting in multiple formats. Responsibilities include managing and engaging with various online learning platforms and maintaining comprehensive records for all online learning and transfer activities, including course design and development. The role also involves collaborating with partners and contributing to joint efforts such as the Forest + Climate Visualization Partnership. This is a part-time, temporary position, expected to work approximately 20 hours per week for approximately six months. Position extension would be based on continued funding.

This role is a unique opportunity to provide essential support to the Forest Carbon and Climate Program by planning, developing, and maintaining educational materials, allowing us to best reach the diverse professionals making decisions for forests and climate.

Together with FCCP’s Director and in coordination with the FCCP staff, the FCCP Learning and Media Professional will focus on the following:

Provide leadership on use and implementation of online learning technology equipment (í.e., Adobe Captivate license, audio/visual equipment and related learning tools).
Lead development of visualizations (unique figures and graphics), creating the online engagement interface, and layout of any knowledge transfer materials including course-related content.
Coordinate and oversee the set-up and take-down of online learning space.
Finalize learning content and instructional materials developed with faculty and FCCP program assistants.
Create graphics, collect resources, work with video and audio files and build content and learning assessment into the learning management.
Contribute to learning activity development efforts including reviews and formatting.
Elevate FCCP outputs and learning opportunities, working with FCCP communications lead and student employees.
Help to convert education resources that have been used live or in-person to a virtual, on-demand format.
Create data-driven graphics, figures, animations and videos for various learning uses.
Participate in creative projects and activities as a part of sponsored projects.
Photograph and film new content for subsequent use editing and production.
Upload content to D2L, Coursera and other learning platforms.
Generate impact reporting metrics including track participation in short courses, completion rates and issuance of certifications.
Communicate as needed to external actors about continuing education credits.

Required qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Education, Art and Graphic Design or other related field; one to three years of relevant work experience and knowledge of curriculum in natural resource science education, writing infographics and text and video explainers; experience with translating science writing for general public. Work experience should be in public and media relations, composing editing and publication production, news, and print media and/or marketing, creative services or other similar area. Experience should include graphic design, virtual reality technology, word processing, desktop publishing and video editing visual communications. Required skills include graphic design, webpage development, online learning systems, film, media, broadcasting, or video production, visual storytelling and general academic programming coordination and project management.

Preferred qualifications: The preferred candidate will be proficient with an advanced portfolio in Adobe illustrator, Adobe Captivate, Adobe Presenter, Figma, the MSU Desire2Learn system, and various video editing programs including Adobe Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, Davinci Resolve Studio, Edius, Sony Vegas and Kaltura MediaSpace. Previous experience with virtual-reality media using state-of-the-art geospatial, 3D modeling and real-time rendering platforms. We are seeking a motivated self-starter, highly creative and independent individual, with a focus on high-quality outputs and continually learning new and creative educational and knowledge transfer approaches. Recommended skills include ability to communicate well with others, active listening skills, attention to detail, creativity, flexibility and problem solving. The ideal individual will be comfortable working with science-based information and outputs, using data from research and projects to undertake ambitious communications projects. Previous experience with hyper-realistic forest visualizations and graphic designs to produce immersive, state-of-the-art depictions of forest ecosystem dynamics and carbon sequestration that are founded in science but accessible to all is a plus. We seek an individual who can familiarize with MSU policies for online learning and communication branding, can demonstrate proven ability to handle multiple projects at once in a fast-paced and upbeat environment, who is willing and able to lead meetings, share results and contribute to the FCCP mission.

Location: This position has been identified as remote-friendly, meaning some or all of the duties can be preformed remotely by mutual agreement. The FCCP is based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA.

To Apply: Apply online. Upload the following required documents: 1) a letter of interest detailing qualifications for the position; 2) resume/curriculum vitae; and 3) at least three professional references with contact information. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Do not upload your portfolio, but we may request examples of your work during screening.

Application deadline: Application review will begin on September 23, 2024, and will continue until the position has been filled. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Daniel Ortega Pacheco at ortegapa@msu.edu.

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