Multimedia Services Manager (At-WIll)

Over the course of three years, the City of Santa Monica will have hosted six weeks of exciting World Cup–related programming, bring a music festival to our beach, welcome ESPN and Super Bowl LXI to the Pier, and open our doors to international hospitality houses from around the globe during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of this amidst Santa Monica’s largest municipal reform in years. Under the City’s Realignment Plan, great efforts have been undertaken to achieve safe neighborhoods and clean streets, activating economic opportunity and growth, and developing affordable, livable, and secure housing for all.  The City Manager's Office is seeking a Senior Multimedia Producer to lead the creative work that tells that story.

The ideal candidate leads the concepting, production and delivery of the City's flagship multimedia content, personally executing graphic design, video production, video post-production, photography and even web design with equal fluency and speed, and owning signature projects from creative concept through finished delivery. Under the direction of the City’s Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, this newly established position expands the City's in-house creative capacity and works in close collaboration with the City's established multimedia and production team, complementing and extending the team's capabilities.

*The current vacancy is an at-will position assigned to the City Manager's Office. The applications screened for this position will be considered for the current vacancy in the City Manager's Office only. Those successful in the application screening process will be referred to the City Manager's Office for consideration.

Produces, directs, shoots and edits video content from concept through final delivery.

Scripts, storyboards and conducts interviews; scouts locations; designs lighting; records production sound; operates single- and multi-camera setups in field and studio settings.

Performs advanced post-production, including editing, color correction and grading, motion graphics and animation, visual effects, sound design, mixing and mastering for broadcast, web and social distribution.

Provides professional photography of City programs, events, officials, facilities and public spaces, including photojournalistic, portrait, architectural and aerial coverage.

Performs advanced retouching and manages the City's digital asset library.

Designs print and digital graphics, including campaign identities, annual reports, infographics, signage, presentations, publications and social media creative.

Designs and produces web and interactive content, including landing pages and campaign microsites, in coordination with the City's web and digital staff.

Develops creative concepts, treatments and visual approaches for campaigns and initiatives; presents concepts to City leadership and translates approved directions into finished work.

Manages the production pipeline for flagship and assigned projects, including intake, prioritization, scheduling, resourcing and delivery across multiple simultaneous efforts.

Develops and stewards shared visual brand standards, templates and production workflows in collaboration with the City's creative and production team.

Partners with the City's multimedia and production team on joint productions.

Directs freelance crews, photographers, editors, designers and production vendors; negotiates and coordinates contract services.

Provides creative guidance, mentorship and lead direction to multimedia production staff on assigned projects.

Plans, specifies, operates and maintains cameras, lighting, grip, audio, studio and post-production equipment and systems; recommends equipment and software acquisitions.

Supports and produces live and livestreamed coverage of City meetings, briefings, ceremonies and special events.

Assigns, monitors and reviews work of support staff, as assigned.

Performs other duties, as assigned.  

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices and techniques of video production and cinematography, including camera systems, lensing, lighting design, and location and studio audio recording

Advanced post-production techniques, including nonlinear editing, color grading, motion graphics, compositing and sound design

Professional photography, including composition, exposure, off-camera lighting and retouching

Graphic design principles, including typography, layout, color theory and brand identity systems

Web design principles, including responsive layout, user experience fundamentals and content management systems

Video compression, codecs and delivery specifications for broadcast, web and social platforms

Digital asset management practices

Copyright, licensing and talent release requirements

Project management principles for high-volume creative production

Principles of lead direction, mentorship and collaborative creative work

Effective customer service techniques

Ability to:

Execute professional-quality work across graphic design, video production, video post-production, photography and web design with comparable skill and speed

Carry projects independently from creative concept through finished delivery under tight deadlines

Manage multiple simultaneous productions while maintaining a consistently high standard of craft

Translate complex civic programs and policies into clear, engaging visual storytelling

Direct on-camera talent, including elected officials, executives, staff and members of the public

Provide lead direction, mentorship and constructive creative feedback to staff, contractors and vendors

Recommend, implement, evaluate and modify goals, objectives and practices

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees and the public

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Transport, set up and operate production equipment at field locations

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City officials, employees members of the press and the general public

Work with persons from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds as well as a variety of work styles, personalities, and approaches

Acknowledge, value and support diversity of thought, opinion and approach with customers and colleagues regardless of background, culture and organizational level

Execute work that adheres to the City’s stated principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion including, but not limited to, your “duty to act” to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all persons and historically underrepresented groups

Supervise, train and evaluate the work of staff

Provide effective customer service      

Skill in:

Professional video production and cinematography

Nonlinear editing, color grading, motion graphics and sound design using industry-standard software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Lightroom; DaVinci Resolve; or equivalent

Professional still photography and retouching

Graphic design for print and digital formats

Web design and content management tools

Operation of professional camera, lighting, grip and audio equipment in studio and field settings

Utilizing judgment and creative problem-solving skills

The use of personal computers and applicable software applications, including media database, monitoring and measurement platforms 

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Film, Television, Media Production, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Photography, or a closely related field. Additional qualifying professional production experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Experience: Six years of recent, paid and progressively responsible professional experience in multimedia production, including demonstrated expert-level work across video production, video post-production, photography and graphic design. At least two years of recent experience must have included leading productions or creative projects from concept through delivery. Experience in broadcast, studio, agency or comparable high-volume production environments is desirable.

How to Apply:
 
Applicants must submit a completed on-line City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your on-line application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Resumes, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process.
 
If you would like for your education to be considered, you must attach a copy of your college level transcripts or diploma to your online application. Applicants who indicate receipt of college level coursework or degree from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcripts. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than the filing deadline. Failure to do so will result in your application being evaluated without the education being considered.
 
Selection Process:

All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding your work history and qualifications for the position. All applications will be reviewed and only those applicants determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. 

Background Investigation:
 
Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally rich community.  As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact. 

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees.  Join us!

Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities.  Call (310) 458-8246, TDD (310) 458-8696 (Hearing Impaired Only).

Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three work days prior to the examination.