Description

Stillman College, West Alabama’s only four-year HBCU and one of the nation’s most storied historically Black institutions, is at a defining moment in its history. As the College celebrates its sesquicentennial and advances the ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan, telling the Stillman story clearly, consistently, and compellingly has never been more important to its growth. To meet this moment, Stillman seeks a creative, organized, and mission-driven Director of Creative Media and Office Manager. Housed in the Office of the President, this position will build the President’s creative media function from the ground up, working in collaboration with the Director of Communications, capturing and sharing the people, programs, progress, and traditions that define Stillman, while also ensuring the efficient daily operation of the Office of the President. This is an exceptional opportunity for a skilled visual storyteller and capable administrator who is drawn to the meaning of elevating an institution with irreplaceable cultural significance, and who thrives in a role that combines creativity, initiative, and service.

Key Priorities and Early Leadership Agenda

The incoming Director will be expected to make meaningful progress in the following areaswithin the first six to twelve months: Building the President’s creative media function in collaboration with the Director of Communications Completing an audit of the College’s existing cameras, lighting, audio, software, storage, archives, and social channels within the first 30 days, before recommending purchases Establishing a consistent publishing schedule of original institutional content, including regular short-form video Building a centralized, well-organized archive of institutional photography and video Launching recurring storytelling series featuring students, scholarships, alumni, academics, and community impact

 Recruiting, training, and supervising a team of student creatives Establishing efficient systems for the daily operation of the Office of the President

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Creative Media and Office Manager buildsand leads the President’s creative media function, producing photography, video, social content,and visual storytelling for the College in collaboration with the Director of Communications. Theposition also supports the creative media efforts of the Director of Athletics and other membersof the senior leadership team as needed, and manages the daily operations of the Office of thePresident. Approximately 80 percent of the position’s effort is devoted to creative media and 20percent to office management.Creative Media and Visual Storytelling Lead photography, video, interviews, social content, and visual storytelling for the College and its approved institutional priorities Develop and produce recurring storytelling series featuring students, alumni, faculty, scholarships, traditions, and community impact Produce short- and long-form stories, profiles, event recaps, and multimedia projects approved through the institutional planning process Maintain an annual storytelling calendar aligned with fundraising, alumni engagement, enrollment, major College events, and presidential priorities Prepare captions and accessible assets and publish approved content through authorized College channelsPresidential and Institutional Event Coverage Accompany the President to institutional, community, and external events to document the College’s presence and leadership Publish approved content from presidential and major institutional events in real time or promptly afterward Document academics, student life, athletics, campus events, milestones, and institutional achievementsSupport for Athletics, Senior Leadership, Advancement, and Admissions Support the creative media efforts of the Director of Athletics, including coverage of Stillman Athletics and the return of football Support the creative media efforts of other members of the senior leadership team as needed Create donor, scholarship, stewardship, and alumni impact content in partnership with Institutional Advancement

 Produce authentic student experience and campus content in partnership with Admissions Coordinate permissions, factual review, campaign timing, and calls to action with the department that owns each message or campaign

Visual Asset Management Build and maintain a centralized photo and video archive with consistent naming, metadata, storage, access, and backup practices Create a reusable library of current images and video for leadership, Institutional Advancement, Admissions, and campus departments Maintain visual documentation of major institutional milestones as part of the College’s historical recordStudent Creative Development Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise a team of student creatives Provide students with professional experience in photography, videography, editing, interviewing, social content, and equipment care Establish clear procedures for supervision, releases, equipment checkout, and credit for student workMeasurement and Reporting Track published content, audience reach, engagement, turnaround time, archive growth, and department support Provide regular reports to the President on creative media output and results Use results to adjust the publishing calendar, coverage priorities, and resource recommendationsOffice Management Manage the daily operations of the Office of the President, including office systems, supplies, and records Process purchasing requests and monitor the Office of the President budget in coordination with Finance and Administration Coordinate logistics for meetings and events hosted by the Office of the President Schedule and supervise work-study students assigned to the Office of the President Work in close coordination with the Executive Assistant to the President to ensure the office runs smoothly and responsivelyCoordination and Institutional Standards Work in collaboration with the Director of Communications to align creative media with the College’s communications strategy; the Director of Communications retains approvalauthority for institutional messaging, brand standards, public relations, and crisis communication Follow College policies for photo and video releases, privacy, image and music licensing, and account security Follow College procurement, inventory, and equipment policiesGeneral Responsibilities Maintain confidentiality and discretion appropriate to the Office of the President Serve on institutional committees and participate in College events as assigned Perform other duties as assigned by the President

Funding and Effort Reporting

This position is supported in part by federal Title III funds. The creative media portion of the position, approximately 80 percent of effort, is supported by Title III. The office management portion, approximately 20 percent of effort, is supported by institutional funds. The incumbent will complete periodic time-and-effort certifications documenting the actual distribution of work, in accordance with federal requirements.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

Required QualificationsThe successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in communications, journalism, digital media, film, photography, marketing, or a related field, and will bring a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in photography, videography, and digital content production. A portfolio demonstrating photography, video, and storytelling work is required. Experience in office administration or operations is preferred, and experience in higher education is strongly preferred.Highly Desired Experience Proficiency with professional editing and design software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Photoshop, or comparable tools Experience managing institutional social media channels and publishing calendars Experience building and maintaining digital asset archives Experience supervising and training students or junior staff Experience in an executive office or with office budgets, purchasing, and records Familiarity with HBCU culture and the mission of historically Black colleges and universitiesLeadership Attributes

 A compelling visual storyteller with a strong eye for composition, quality, and authenticity Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and requests at once Discreet and professional, with sound judgment in a high-visibility executive office Flexible and available for evening and weekend events as required Collaborative, with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and external partners A strong work ethic and a high level of personal and professional integrity

Background Investigation Statement

Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior convictionreported as a result of the background investigation does NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a previous conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review before a hiring decision is made.

Application

Review of confidential applications will begin immediately and remain open until the position is filled. Applicants should include a portfolio or links to recent work. Visit www.stillman.edu toapply for the position. Stillman College is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate unlawfully in employment matters based on race, religion, gender, color, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, or any other category protected by law.