Media Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

About Wayland

Wayland is an independent, coed college preparatory school for boarding and day students (grades 9post-graduate), founded in 1855. The school’s rich, rigorous academic program features exceptionally small classes, capstone projects at every grade, active STEAM, media studies, environmental science, and student success programs, and an array of AP offerings. The diverse and welcoming school community brings together students from across the United States and more than 25 other countries in an intimate learning environment, with a student-faculty ratio of 6:1. Wayland’s historic campus is located in the heart of the Midwest in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin—just 40 miles from Madison and 60 miles from Milwaukee.

Position Summary

Wayland Academy seeks a creative, highly skilled Media Specialist to lead the production of compelling video and photographic content that tells the Wayland story and supports the Academy’s enrollment, advancement, alumni engagement and communications goals.

The Media Specialist will serve as a visual storyteller, managing video projects from concept through completion—including creative development, storyboarding, filming, interviewing, lighting, audio, editing, graphics, captions, and final delivery. The ideal candidate combines strong technical production skills with an instinct for storytelling and an understanding of how visual content can connect with prospective students and families, alumni, donors, and the broader Wayland community.

This position works closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications and collaborates with faculty, staff, students, coaches, alumni, donors, and other members of the Wayland community to identify and tell authentic stories that showcase the Academy’s distinctive educational experience through these key areas.

Video Production and Storytelling

• Concept, storyboard, film, edit, and deliver engaging short- and long-form video content that supports Wayland’s marketing and communications priorities.
• Develop creative concepts and visual approaches based on the intended audience, message, platform, and purpose of each project.
• Produce student profiles, admissions videos, program and faculty features, athletics content, event highlights, alumni and donor stories, social media content, promotional videos, and other projects that showcase the Wayland experience.
• Conduct and record compelling interviews with students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and other members of the Wayland community.
• Capture high-quality video and audio in classrooms, residence halls, athletic facilities, performances, events, outdoor spaces, and other campus environments.
• Apply professional cinematography techniques, including composition, camera movement, lighting, exposure, depth of field, and visual storytelling.
• Record and edit professional-quality dialogue, interviews, voiceovers, and other audio.
• Edit video projects using Adobe Premiere Pro or comparable professional editing software, incorporating music, sound design, color correction, graphics, titles, transitions, captions, and other appropriate elements.
• Create motion graphics, animated titles and other visual elements as appropriate to enhance video storytelling.
• Repurpose long-form video projects into short-form content for social media and digital advertising.
• Ensure all video content accurately reflects Wayland Academy’s brand, voice, mission, values, and visual identity.
• Manage video projects from initial concept through final delivery, including scheduling, production, editing, revisions, and delivery of final assets.
• Maintain an organized digital library of video footage, photographs, project files and completed media assets.

Photography

• Capture high-quality photography for use in marketing materials, social media, website content, publications, advertising, public relations, and other communications.
• Photograph students, faculty, staff, campus life, academics, athletics, events, facilities and other subjects that contribute to the Academy’s visual storytelling.
• Edit and organize photographs using appropriate professional software.
• Assist in maintaining an accessible and organized photo library for ongoing marketing and communications needs.

Social Media and Digital Content

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to develop video-first content for Wayland’s social media channels.
• Identify opportunities to transform video projects, photography, and campus activity into engaging short-form digital content.
• Generate creative content ideas informed by social media trends, audience behavior, school initiatives, and marketing priorities.
• Assist with posting and publishing visual content across the Academy’s digital platforms as needed.
• Monitor emerging video and social media trends and recommend opportunities for Wayland to experiment with new formats and platforms.

Marketing & Communications Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to develop and maintain a video content strategy and editorial calendar aligned with institutional priorities.
• Translate marketing strategies and key messages into compelling visual stories for specific audiences, including prospective students and families, alumni, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Develop video content to support admissions campaigns, donor appeals, stewardship, alumni communications, publications, website content, email marketing, public relations and special initiatives.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, coaches and administrators to identify stories and opportunities for visual content.
• Provide creative input on the use of video and photography across digital, print and other marketing channels.
• Assist with basic graphic design and visual content production when appropriate.
• Wayland Academy expects all staff to be fully engaged in the school’s life and mission on campus. To that end, the Employee is encouraged to take meals in the dining hall, participate in Wayland Academy community events and to, in general, expected to be a positive role model for students.

Competencies

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member
• Is resourceful and understands basic marketing principles
• Ability to interpret the school’s brand voice and style, ensuring videos align with the
• Motivated, flexible, and collaborative with strong team-building skills
• Highly organized, passionate, and able to motivate others.
• Excellent video editing and public speaking skills
• Ability to creatively compose video and photo content
• Capable of prioritizing and managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
• Exercises an understanding of and supports the mission and vision of Wayland Academy
• Displays enthusiasm and dedication to contributing to our healthy learning community, energetically supporting colleagues, sharing ideas and resources, and being there for others
• Exercises confidentiality regarding student, parent, or administrative information
• Maintains an accepting and supportive attitude that encourages diverse perspectives and productive risk-taking to challenge students to think and explore opportunities that allow them to become their best
• Ability to immerse themselves in the Wayland Academy community and culture with the outcome of clear understanding of and connection to Academy students, families, alumni, and stakeholders
• Authentically conveys compassion for students and colleagues, with a high level of cultural competency
• Ability to pivot video style based on the format, message, audience, and purpose

Portfolio
Applicants must submit a professional portfolio or reel demonstrating videography, editing, interviewing, and visual storytelling skills. Portfolio should include examples of both short-form and long-form work, as well as photography samples.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may occasionally supervise students or student groups.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally work in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Regular and predictable on-site attendance is an essential job function and a prerequisite to perform other functions of the job.

Travel Required

• Overnight out-of-state travel for school related business may be assigned.
• Unless otherwise explicitly agreed upon by the Head of School, the employee must have a valid driver’s license, three years of U.S. driving experience upon hire, and maintain the motor vehicle records standards as set forth by the employee handbook.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate degree (film/video production, media studies, or a similar discipline) or Equivalent Experience (portfolio + demonstrated ability)
• 2+ years of professional videography, video production and editing experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience creating videos and capturing photos for marketing, advertising, public relations, and social media
• Manage multiple video projects simultaneously, from initial concept through final delivery, while meeting deadlines and maintaining consistent quality and brand standards
• Demonstrated excellent videography and video editing skills with a focus on marketing and storytelling
• Experience working with social media
• Excellent research, interviewing, and communications skills
• High level of creativity, attention to detail, and project management skills
• Creative thinker who enjoys storytelling through a variety of media
• Photography experience (including editing)
• Ability to pivot video styles based on the format, message, audience, and purpose
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Lightroom, and Audition (or equivalent audio editing software)
• Experience with InDesign, Illustrator, and Canva is a plus

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or other advanced degree (film/video production, media studies, or a similar discipline)
• Experience working in After Effects, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Experience working in education (independent boarding school experience preferred)
• 2+ years of marketing and professional videography/video editing and production experience
• 1+ years of photography experience focused on marketing
• Some graphic design experience

Work Authorization

• Bachelor’s or other advanced deg Employee must be authorized to work in the United States of America.
• Employee must provide identification documentation, provide a list of all states/countries of residence over the past seven years, and pass a comprehensive consumer background check (criminal, department of motor vehicle, credit, and others as needed) prior to employment.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

Wayland Academy is committed to a workplace free of discrimination. Wayland Academy cannot and will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sex stereotyping, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status), national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or retaliation. In addition, Wayland Academy will not tolerate any type of harassment, either sexual or nonsexual, of any employee or applicant for employment.

Other Duties

Employee may have reasonable duties and responsibilities assigned to him/her by the Head of School or primary supervisors that is deemed in his/her sole discretion to be desirable to the smooth functioning of the Wayland Academy programs.