Lead Technical Specialist, Academic Technology

Job Details

Job Location

Santa Clarita, CA

Position Type

Full Time

Salary Range

$37.57 - $37.57 Hourly

Job Posting Date(s)

Start Date

08 / 18 / 2025

Description

SUMMARY

The Lead Technical Specialist, Academic Technology is a full-time unionized staff position providing leadership of the academic technology in the School of Film / Video. This position is responsible for academic technology with the School's labs and classrooms. The School encourages highly motivated students within four unique programs of study.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

• Leadership and training of the School of Film / Video technical staff in the area of academic technology and technical support, which includes the Technical Support Coordinator.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the School of Film / Video classroom / lab technology.
• Consult with the Director, Technology & Operations and technical staff to exchange information, present new approaches and to discuss equipment / system changes.
• Provide advanced and specialized technical expertise to support faculty, students and staff of the School of Film / Video.
• Analyze, diagnose, and resolve hardware, software, and network issues within labs, classrooms, and other facilities.
• Consult with Program Directors, faculty, staff, and students to ensure that academic technology needs are met.
• Configure, test, and maintain Mac and Windows workstations.
• Configure, test, and maintain the render farm.
• Supervise, train and schedule student workers who assist in maintaining the labs and classroom equipment.
• Train classroom and teaching assistants in the setup and use of classroom equipment.
• Collaborate in the creation, testing and deployment of animation lab client computer images, including preparation of application-specific deployment packages.
• Provide end-user technical documentation.
• Analyze support requests and needs to identify areas of improvement both in terms of documentation and instruction.
• Track technical / operational issues; discover trends and alert technical staff.
• Responsible for consistent instructional signage and labeling of equipment and facilities.
• Develop a consistent written style, graphic design, and branding for all documentation, signage, and labeling.
• Manage communications with School of Film / Video students, faculty and staff regarding academic technology.
• Coordinate operations with other Institute and School IT admin support staff.
• Analyze and implement security related procedures including regular software patches and physically securing equipment.
• Manage the School of Film / Video's ticketing / online resource website.
• Develop, maintain, and update relevant web information on the School of Film / Video technical resource website.
• Advise management on future growth of classrooms and computer labs. Conduct research accordingly, and draft proposals including budget estimates.
• Research, install, maintain and repair (or coordinate the repair of) classroom-related and technical equipment used throughout the School, except that which is maintained by CalArts IT and outside contractors.
• Maintain inventory of equipment in the School.
• Coordinate with Facilities Management, CalArts IT, and outside contractors in the implementation of facility repairs and improvements.
• Maintain compliance with CalArts IT and the School of Film / Video's lab and safety policies and promote standards for security conscious awareness and behavior.
• Represent the School of Film / Video to groups both inside and outside of the CalArts community.
• Attend sponsored classes and maintain relationships with company representatives in order to keep abreast of technological advances in the field.
• Attend technical and regular staff meetings within the School and Institute.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Qualifications

SKILLS / ABILITIES :

EDUCATION :

EXPERIENCE :

FURTHER INFORMATION

The terms and working conditions of this position are subject to the collective bargaining agreement between CalArts and CWA, Local 9003. In the event of a conflict between this posting and the collective bargaining agreement, the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail.

ACKNOWLEDGE STATEMENT

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The actual essential duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary by department, reporting structure or other business needs. No inference should be drawn that a specific job duty, responsibility or qualification is non-essential by its absence from this description. This does not constitute a contract for employment CalArts management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.