Communications Specialist Videographer

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Create compelling visual content to enhance family-finding efforts for youth in Michigan’s foster care system.
• Produce high-quality recruitment videos featuring youth awaiting adoption, utilizing Adobe Creative Suite and other multimedia tools.
• Scout and identify locations throughout Michigan that provide engaging visual backdrops, quality audio conditions, and positive, memorable experiences for youth participating in recruitment video projects.
• Collaborate with child welfare professionals, photographers, and communications staff to develop creative recruitment strategies and visual storytelling campaigns.
• Aid in photography sessions for MARE photolisted youth, adoptive families, and program events as needed.
• Support the development and maintenance of digital content for the MARE website, social media platforms, electronic newsletters, and promotional materials.
• Partner with other MARE staff on the development of In-Depth Profiles – a youth-led profile that creatively highlights a special interest of featured youth.
• Attend community outreach and recruitment events to capture content, promote MARE's mission, and engage prospective adoptive families.
• Assist with the planning, promotion, and coordination of the Michigan Heart Gallery, helping showcase youth waiting for adoption through powerful photography and multimedia displays.
• Develop a 15–30-minute film for the annual Heart Gallery Premiere.
• Ensure all visual content reflects trauma-informed, strengths-based, and youth-centered practices while maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.
• Travel throughout Michigan to conduct video and photography sessions with youth and families.
• Serve as an ambassador for MARE's mission, helping elevate the voices of children and youth through creative storytelling.

Job Qualifications

• Experience planning, filming, and editing video projects independently; a portfolio or demo reel is required.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the state of Michigan.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, including Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Strong organizational, project management, communication, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Flexibility to accommodate filming schedules, events, and occasional evening or weekend work.
• Basic graphic design skills and experience creating content for websites and social media.