Multimedia Technical Support Specialist

About the role

The Multimedia Support Specialist provides audio visual, digital signage, and lecture capture system support for Parkland College and individual departments. This position is an on-campus, full-time, 12-month appointment based in Champaign, Illinois covered by the Professional Support Staff (PSS) Union with an annual salary of $53,809.60.

Responsibilities

• Delivering excellent customer service by responding to requests in person, on the phone, or via email in a timely, polite, and professional manner.
• Actively maintaining relationships with user community, proactively communicating relevant information, and staying informed of user's needs and initiatives.
• Working on a team of Multimedia Support Specialists supporting instructional, administrative, research, and athletic A/V technology for Parkland College.
• Analyzing functional and performance issues associated with use of A/V technology, collaborating with peers on possible solutions and implementing corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Coinciding and implementing the deployment of systems for classroom technologies, such as projectors, screens, and lecture capture equipment.
• Coinciding and implementing deployment of systems for conference room technologies, such as projectors, displays, and video conferencing equipment.
• Coinciding and implementing deployment and technology maintenance of digital signage systems.
• Performing various technical tasks including soldering, cable fabrication, and connection termination to support audiovisual systems.
• Providing extensive troubleshooting and testing of videoconferencing, audiovisual equipment (multimedia, projection systems, displays, cameras, microphones, integrated A/V control systems, document cameras, and streaming technologies) and wireless collaboration technologies.
• Communicating with vendors concerning purchase and/or repair of equipment and supplies.
• Serving as the Video Engineer for the PCTV studio; maintaining satellite links for PCTV programming.
• Ensuring technical standards and compliance with communications regulations.
• Staying abreast of trends in A/V technology, and integrating appropriately, to ensure the College’s excellence in instructional, conference, and collaboration spaces.
• Developing and encouraging best practices regarding the use of A/V technology.
• Developing, implementing and/or coordinating processes for the regular maintenance, replacement, upgrade, and standardization of A/V technology across the College.
• Developing documentation and providing training for units and individual users on the use of A/V technology.
• Preparing proposals and operational guides for equipment usage and systems.
• Instructing, installing, and configuring, of videoconferencing, audiovisual equipment (multimedia, projection systems, displays, cameras, microphones, integrated A/V control systems, document cameras, and streaming technologies) and wireless collaboration technologies.
• Managing inventory of audiovisual equipment, ensuring adequate stock levels and facilitating timely maintenance and replacement, completing purchase requests as needed.
• Installing, operating, and maintaining equipment for media studios, classrooms, and other Parkland facilities.
• Managing individual A/V projects and ensuring timely delivery of the product.
• Promoting the use of standard A/V systems and services where practical and working to adapt such services to the unique needs of the unit where necessary.
• Partnering with Technology Client Services customer support staff on the support of A/V technology.
• Working with the Technology Client Services, Campus Technologies Infrastructure, and Physical Plant teams to provide special event A/V support for regular college events (including board meetings), outside rentals, and occasional high-profile events, which may occur outside business hours.
• Inspecting and maintaining campus conference and performance spaces to ensure reliability and availability of equipment.
• Hiring, training, and supervising part-time hourly employees.

Requirements

• Five (5) years of work experience in AV or IT-related functions such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field.
• College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT systems, or a closely related discipline may be substituted for experience as follows: 30 semester hours equals one (1) year of experience, Associate’s Degree equals eighteen (18) months, 90 semester hours equals two (2) years of experience, Bachelor’s Degree equals three (3) years of experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including customer service skills of actively listening and responding appropriately when interacting with all staff levels and customer groups.
• Mental skills sufficient to make calculations for scheduling and equipment needs, preparing proposals and instructions, and performing other duties are necessary.
• Ability to oversee and coordinate activities of user groups and contribute to cross-function groups assigned to tasks or project work.
• Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting common desktop and mobile computing applications and hardware with the ability to identify and resolve technical problems and to demonstrate fundamental knowledge of effective troubleshooting methodologies.
• Knowledge of networking concepts and connectivity.
• Experience with A/V technology support that includes setup and coordination for large and/or remote events, including projectors, microphones, cameras, digital signage.
• Familiarity with enterprise tools or services such as endpoint management, imaging, or centralized solutions.
• Also, with instructional or collaborative space design.
• Experience in project management concepts, such as generating project timelines, drafting project charters, creating stakeholder communications plans, and tracking action items.
• Proficiency and knowledge of current technology and software for production and display of multimedia content (e.g. cameras, document cameras, mixers, projectors, and digital displays), with the ability to learn the Parkland information system and adapt to new programs as technology progresses.
• Ability to lift and move equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds; climb ladders and work in dusty environments to conduct overhead work; climb under tables, maneuver into tight spaces; push/pull multimedia carts, dollies, and two wheeled carts.

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements:
• Five (5) years of work experience in AV or IT-related functions such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field.
• College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT systems, or a closely related discipline may be substituted for experience as follows: 30 semester hours equals one (1) year of experience, Associate’s Degree equals eighteen (18) months, 90 semester hours equals two (2) years of experience, Bachelor’s Degree equals three (3) years of experience.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including customer service skills of actively listening and responding appropriately when interacting with all staff levels and customer groups.
• Mental skills sufficient to make calculations for scheduling and equipment needs, preparing proposals and instructions, and performing other duties are necessary.
• Ability to oversee and coordinate activities of user groups and contribute to cross-function groups assigned to tasks or project work.
• Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting common desktop and mobile computing applications and hardware with the ability to identify and resolve technical problems and to demonstrate fundamental knowledge of effective troubleshooting methodologies.
• Knowledge of networking concepts and connectivity.
• Experience with A/V technology support that includes setup and coordination for large and/or remote events, including projectors, microphones, cameras, digital signage.
• Familiarity with enterprise tools or services such as endpoint management, imaging, or centralized solutions.
• Also, with instructional or collaborative space design.
• Experience in project management concepts, such as generating project timelines, drafting project charters, creating stakeholder communications plans, and tracking action items.
• Proficiency and knowledge of current technology and software for production and display of multimedia content (e.g. cameras, document cameras, mixers, projectors, and digital displays), with the ability to learn the Parkland information system and adapt to new programs as technology progresses.
• Ability to lift and move equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds; climb ladders and work in dusty environments to conduct overhead work; climb under tables, maneuver into tight spaces; push/pull multimedia carts, dollies, and two wheeled carts.

Benefits

• Robust benefits, including medical insurance with no monthly premiums, dental, life, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending, dependent care, EAP, work/life balance with generous paid time off, and tuition waiver.