Job Description

Staff - Union

Job Category CUPE 116

Job Profile CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title Research Asst/Tech 4

Department Administrative Support | Department of Geography

Compensation Range $5,281.00 - $5,738.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date December 16, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date Dec 19, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Summary

Serves as a consultant, trainer, developer, and producer for digital media projects, including photo, audio, video, and multimedia materials for instructional, research, and administrative purposes. Provides audiovisual classroom support and information technology support for the department. Contributes to expanding the use of audiovisual methods in teaching and research. Integrates these services with university-wide priorities in the delivery of multimedia services. Builds and maintains relationships with other IT, IS, and media resource centres at UBC. Develops support structures and acts as a facilitator and resource point of contact for innovative teaching, learning and research initiatives within the department

Organizational Status

Reports to Administrator; interacts directly with faculty, staff and students, in order to fully understand client needs and departmental priorities; liaises and collaborates with UBC service partners, including UBC IT - AV Services, Centre for Teaching and Learning Technologies, Arts Instructional Support and Information Technology, Copyright Office, Building Operations and Risk Management.

Work Performed

Multimedia Development, Production Services and Support

-Coordinate all aspects of multimedia production from intake through completion, including: scheduling, storyboarding, scripting, and equipment management; audio and video recording, editing, animation and motion graphics; and archiving and digital distribution.

-Consults and advises faculty in the department to develop media for undergraduate teaching.

-Demonstrates, instructs and advises faculty, staff, and students in the proper use and operation of a variety of multimedia equipment and systems, and how to incorporate multimedia and digital content into their work. Prepares written material or instructional videos on how to use specific equipment.

-Contributes to planning and provides expertise for audio-visual projects by advising faculty and staff in selection, purchase and use of multimedia equipment to facilitate administration, teaching and research.

-Acts as departmental photographer, capturing images of receptions, conferences, guest speakers, and other events. Takes formal portraits for use on departmental website and for publication purposes.

-Maintains awareness and knowledge of university-wide teaching and learning technology initiatives by attending meetings, workshops, and lectures.

-Provides technical guidance to faculty preparing grant applications that have an audio-visual, multimedia, or learning technology component. Investigates and applies for funding that supports digital media endeavors when such funding opportunities are available.

-Promotes the use of digital media and audio-visual methods in faculty and graduate research and supports lab spaces using audio-visual equipment.

-Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with Arts Instructional Support and Information Technology and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology.

-Develops internal policies, procedures and systems to streamline media production within the department.

-Acts as a resource point of contact on copyright issues. Liaises with UBC Copyright Office when necessary.

Audio-Visual and Classroom Technology Support

-Provides support for the provision of audio-visual, videoconferencing and classroom technologies to faculty and staff in Geography. This includes data projectors, lecture capture systems, iClickers, learning management systems, presentation software, etc.

- Coordinates delivery, set-up, and retrieval of AV equipment using a reservation system.

-Maintains and documents equipment and infrastructure problems in unrestricted classrooms by using incident management systems and working closely with UBC IT - AV Services and Building Operations.

-Manages a large audio visual equipment inventory, including checking and ordering supplies and parts, maintaining accurate service records, and tracking of equipment warranties.

-Performs and coordinates both preventative and service maintenance on audio-visual equipment and systems. Repairs equipment, replaces parts, troubleshoots electrical and mechanical problems, makes arrangements for external repairs for work that cannot be done within the department.

-Coordinates and conducts monitoring of classroom equipment and systems to ensure that they are in good operating condition; this includes responsibilities for whiteboards, podium computers, projection screens, electrical wiring, ventilation, heating, furniture, window blackout drapes, etc.

-Maintains contact with suppliers and product vendors as well as contractors and consultants in regards to departmental renovation and installation projects in classrooms, research labs, or other audio-visual spaces.

-Evaluates processes and procedures with regard to AV and multimedia needs within the department. Implements systems and develops solutions to improve services.

-Maintains AV budget for the department.

Information Technology

-Shares select responsibilities with Geography IT staff for ongoing management of departmental computing facilities; including system configuration settings, hardware and software upgrades, data recovery, data encryption, networking, software license compliance, departmental website maintenance, printer configuration, and other areas when needed.

-Coordinates departmental electronic waste disposal and keeps abreast of evolving disposal procedures.

-Participates as a member of the department s Computing Committee.

Safety

-Acts as Chair of Local Health and Safety Committee, Emergency Director, and First Aid Attendant. Training for these roles will be provided by UBC. Holds committee meetings; investigates accidents; performs safety inspections; develops safety manuals, new worker orientations, emergency evacuation plans, and other documentation per Risk Management and WorkSafeBC guidelines; recommends actions to improve safe working conditions.

Miscellaneous

-Responsible for building maintenance by doing routine checks and reporting deficiencies. Coordinates work requests with Building Operations.

-Maintains departmental vehicles by ensuring regular maintenance and safety checks are done. Coordinates reservations of vehicles and charge-outs with office staff.

-Assists with moving furniture and classroom setup.

-Performs other duties related to the skills and qualifications of the position.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Must be able to exercise judgment and tact when dealing with clients and data. Due to the unpredictability of support issues and equipment failures, the individual must have the ability to troubleshoot and work with alternative solutions in a time sensitive manner. Errors in judgment would have serious impact on the work of faculty, staff and students, including lost productivity in the classroom.

Supervision Received

Works under the general direction of Administrator and Department Head, with minimal supervision. Exercises judgment and initiative in planning projects, sequence of duties, and actions to be taken. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement and desired results. Must be able to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.

Supervision Given

Supervises a student staff member during academic year to act as an assistant, if funding is available. Provides technical guidance and training to faculty, staff and students on audio visual equipment and teaching and learning technologies

Minimum Qualifications

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Graduation from a technical college or institute. Some position may require a graduate degree.Minimum of 4 years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.Interdisciplinary background highly desirable. Experience working in an academic setting preferred. Experience in information technology, particularly in technical support. Experience with audio and video production equipment and techniques. Very strong photographic and videographic skills. Experience with DSLR cameras, HD camcorders, audio mixers, microphones, and lighting kits. Familiarity with narrative and illustrative conventions and techniques in temporal media. Knowledge of copyright and licensing issues in regards to media. Solid knowledge of video editing software such as Final Cut Pro andAdobe Premiere. Familiarity with motion graphics software such as Adobe AfterEffects or Motion. Knowledge of photo editing and manipulation software such as Adobe Photoshop. Knowledge of multitrack audio recording/editing software such as Adobe Audition or Audacity. Familiarity with consumer-level software like iMovie, GarageBand, and Camtasia. Experience with presentation software such as PowerPoint, Keynote, and Prezi. Experience with computer hardware (building, repairing diagnosing and replacing components). Experience with basic computer network troubleshooting. Working knowledge of operating systems, e.g. Apple (OS X) and Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8), and Microsoft Office. Ability to operate and maintain equipment (data projectors, digital audio and video recorders and processing equipment, video, film, slide, sound production equipment, PA systems, lecture capture systems, and photographic equipment).
-Ability to use a variety of hand tools, such as screw drivers, drills, pliers, simple electronic test equipment such a multimeters, continuity checkers, soldering equipment, etc.Ability to read and comprehend technical material.Physical ability to perform the duties of the job. (e.g., lifting, standing, working at heights, operating forklifts)Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.Ability to select the most effective communication media for a situation.Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thorough decisions.Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.Ability to determine the nature and urgency of inquiries and issues, and triage appropriately.High level of motivation and ability to learn and work independently with minimal supervision.Ability to work in a team environment with direct service orientation.Ability to organize and provide basic training and tutorials to faculty, staff, researchers and students.

University of British Columbia