Media Design and Production Lead

How to Apply

A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Candidates are also required to provide a diverse portfolio of previous work and/or a demo reel. Please describe your affiliation with the works shown in your portfolio. Additionally, please submit all materials as one file because of system limitations.

What You'll Do

The Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan is looking for a qualified Media Design and Production Lead to manage our Media Design team, a multimedia production group responsible for developing audio/visual content for online and residential educational experiences. You will combine managerial responsibilities with creative production tasks, involving mentorship and collaboration within a team to create high-quality video segments and other multimedia content. You will report to the Associate Director of Media Design and Production, and will work across many teams within the Center for Academic Innovation. Ideal candidates excel at solving tough problems, demonstrate a passion for education, and work well within a diverse team of artists and academics.

Mission Statement

The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) is committed to inclusion in our organizational work, culture, climate, and the products we create. We strive to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse team as a reflection of our commitment to our work designing equitable and inclusive learning and work environments that are necessary for the university community to make progress on solving societal challenges. CAI draws on each of our team member's unique backgrounds and experiences to guide our everyday work in the center, and our team collaborates with students, staff, and faculty on projects that center our commitment to DEIJ work. All interested applicants, including those from groups historically marginalized by educational privilege, are encouraged to apply.

We believe all individuals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and have the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes mutual respect and a safe space for collaboration. Any concerns shared with Individuals with Reporting Obligations in the Center for Academic Innovation will be reported to the Equity, Civil Rights, & Title IX Office to be reviewed and addressed, and the Center for Academic Innovation encourages reporting of any forms of harassment including sexual and gender-based harassment.

Who We Are

About the Center for Academic Innovation The Center for Academic Innovation is where creativity, excellence, and the University of Michigan's aspirations for societal impact combine to reimagine the future of higher education. Through curricular innovation, educational data and research, and educational technology, we position U-M as a global leader in academic innovation to create and inspire change in higher education and to reinforce an engaged and informed society.

About the XR, Media Design and Production Team The XR, Media Design and Production Team helps online learning experiences come alive for millions of learners around the world. Our state-of-the-art production facilities, located on campus, are equipped with cutting-edge resources such as an LED volume for virtual production and extended reality (XR) projects. The Media Design team supports new digital learning initiatives through collaboration with world-class faculty at the University of Michigan. We provide essential technical support and performance coaching when producing multimedia pieces, allowing faculty to focus on what they do best: delivering life-changing education to millions of learners around the world. For more information, please visit our website: Academic Innovation

Responsibilities*

• Supervise a team of Media Designers (MDs) by managing assignments, overseeing project components, providing mentorship, and managing the administrative components of supervision such as time approvals and performance reviews
• Facilitate communication and work across multiple teams within the organization to ensure timely completion of high-quality projects
• Manage bandwidth across the Media Design team; balance employee workloads as we continue to grow our portfolio of work
• Represent the Media Design team in department-level meetings and individual project meetings
• Conduct early consultations with instructors and project teams to develop multimedia plans for each project
• Manage and align diverse perspectives, including those of faculty partners, external partners and collaborators, CAI colleagues, and other U-M and external stakeholders and drive consensus to move projects forward
• Ensure content quality and oversight of completed media assets
• Below are responsibilities shared with other members of the Media Design team:
  • Collaborate with faculty and design teams to identify opportunities to include multimedia elements in online and residential education initiatives
  • Conceptualize, create, and prepare media of different styles, including: lectures, screencasts, podcasts, promotional videos, demonstrations, dramatizations, documentaries, tutorials, graphics, animations, and live webcasts
  • Set up and operate cameras, lighting equipment, audio devices, teleprompters, wireless microphones, and other related audio/video equipment during studio and field recording sessions
  • Using appropriate techniques and effects, edit raw video, select music, and design graphics and/or digital video effects in order to create a high-quality, creative, finished product
  • Provide coaching and support for presenters during lecture recording sessions
  • Write and edit scripts for video content, either individually or as a member of a team

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in digital media production, broadcasting, or closely related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Ability to lead a creative team and prioritize competing demands
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles, practices, techniques, technology, and standards of video and audio production
• Demonstrated expertise shooting on-location as well as in-studio video
• Expertise operating post-production equipment and non-linear editing software
• Working knowledge of graphic design principles with ability to conceptualize compelling visuals to support multimedia projects
• Expertise creating motion graphics and designing digital video effects in programs such as Apple Motion, Adobe After Effects, and emerging software and technologies
• Understanding of multiple delivery modes and formats for distributing video for diverse client needs
• Experience with HD video workflows, storage, retrieval and archival
• Comfort identifying and experimenting with innovative modalities and technologies
• Strong organizational, problem-solving and decision-making abilities both independently and collaboratively
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within deadlines with strong attention to detail
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• 5-10 years working with non-linear digital video editing systems and significant experience editing with Final Cut Pro
• Demonstrated ability to work in an academic setting, particularly in roles supporting faculty designing instructional videos

Additional Information

The general salary range for this position is $70,000 - $78,000. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position and internal equity within the unit. All candidates are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor alignment and transparency throughout the recruiting process. Please Note: This is a 3-year, term-limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding. This is not a remote position and any adjustments to a standard in-person schedule will be discussed during the hiring process. The salary for this position will be based upon the selected candidate's education and experience. This position may entail occasional non-standard work hours, such as evenings or weekends. The candidate must have legal authorization to work in the United States. Excellent benefits are available. For details, see

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

Decision Making Process

Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Job Opening ID

241716

Working Title

Media Design and Production Lead

Job Title

Instructional Learning Senior

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Vp Acad Innovation

Department

Center for Academic Innovation

Posting Begin/End Date

11/08/2025 - 11/29/2025

Salary

$70,000.00 - $78,000.00

Career Interest

Instructional Services