Project Manager - Center for Conservation Media

Department Background

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Conservation Media (CCM) is a full-scale media production and communication strategy group, specializing in science-based content primarily focused on biodiversity conservation. Our explanatory media, documentary films, data visualizations, educational materials, and social media are designed to support scientific institutions, governmental agencies, conservation practitioners, local communities, and organizations around the world to impact priority environmental issues that are integral to sustaining species, ecosystems, and human livelihoods.

Our operating approach is to identify urgent issues where science is under-utilized; forge alliances with the local, regional, and international stakeholders leading established initiatives to accomplish specific objectives; work closely with those partners to co-design and produce high-quality content, educational tools, and media kits for tactical outreach; and disseminate media assets to all groups that are dedicated to a given conservation issue.

About the Position

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

As a leader and member of a dynamic team, the Production Operations Manager supervises budgetary, technical, logistical, and project management for all productions that are part of the unit's annual production slate and provides day-to-day supervision, mentorship, and career development for 3-5 CCM staff members.

The core responsibilities for this role are:

• Manage and supervise the operational activities of the CCM. This includes project budgets, production schedules, personnel assignments, contracts and licenses, and media asset management.
• Responsible for executing contracts; manage and distribute human and production resources; ensure that contractual obligations are met on time and on budget.
• Working with Center Director and Financial Specialist, create, schedule, and coordinate project budgets, the monitoring of expenses, and the leadership of long-term financial planning including assessing risks and benefits of expending program funds.
• Provide regular and accurate administrative and financial status reports on program operations, and ensure all activities align with University practices and formal policy.
• Manage, supervise, and mentor direct reports and freelance staff.
• Collaborate with Human Resources and other supervisors in CM to oversee personnel needs and manage personnel issues including conflict resolution and performance improvement plans and disciplinary actions.
• Directly formulate, implement, and manage the standard operating procedures for productions and detailed workflow processes for story development through project completion and archiving.
• Collaborate with other Center Directors and Administrators in the Lab to meet the goals and objectives of the Lab's strategic plan and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and respectful working environment that fosters a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork and high-quality results.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca, NY at the Lab of Ornithology approximately 3 miles from Cornell's main Ithaca campus. This position follows an in-person-to-home hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. This hybrid work arrangement is subject to change.

Culture of Inclusion and Community Standards

As a university founded to be a place where "...any person can find instruction in any study," diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Successare foundational to what is expected ofevery employee and leader working at Cornell. These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success

What you need

We are seeking a team member who is highly collaborative, organized, passionate about conservation and possesses strong leadership skills.

• Bachelor degree in film or communications, and/or 5-7 years equivalent work experience in media production.
• At least 3 years of experience in a production management capacity related to the development and completion of media deliverables, ranging from social media content to long-form feature films.
• Demonstrable experience in organizing and supervising complex projects, working quickly and effectively under pressure, using judgment in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature, to ensure project goals are met.
• Demonstrable experience leading operations for a media unit, including supervising complex projects, working quickly and effectively under pressure, using judgment in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature, to ensure project goals are met.
• Should be comfortable working in an environment where change in process, procedures, and priorities is frequently occurring.
• High competency with Office 365 (specifically Excel and Word), and project management software (ie Smartsheet, Asana, Trello), shared storage tools (Box, Dropbox, Google Drive).
• Working understanding of the Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Premiere, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, AfterEffects), non-linear editing software, data asset management software and NAS storage protocol (Qnap or similar).
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Leadership experience - minimum 5 years directly managing full time staff.

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include:

• Experience production managing science and natural history-related content (documentaries, short-form instructional videos) that relate to the environment, wildlife, or conservation subject matter.
• Experience production managing science and natural history-related content (documentaries, short-form instructional videos) that relate to the environment, wildlife, or conservation subject matter.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 day per week and in-person 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• This position is based in Ithaca, New York. Employees who work remotely may receive
  multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1 and two floating holidays. Learn more about holiday and accrued time off, visit: https://hr.cornell.edu/about/employment-policy-practice/employment-policies/time-and-leaves/holiday-and-accrued-time
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

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