Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title

Digital Media Technician

Department

Program Administration | Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory

Compensation Range

$5,439.00 - $5,910.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

October 17, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary
The Digital Media Technician contributes to the instruction and practice of digital media for the Department of Art History, Visual Art & Theory (AHVA). Major responsibilities include: ensuring the maintenance, supervision, and safe use of digital media equipment, performance of highly skilled technical tasks requiring education, training and experience in digital media; working collaboratively with fellow staff to support delivery of the arts curriculum with an emphasis on art making; digital lab support and oversight across multiple AHVA facilities; conducting technical demonstrations in visual art classes, and providing subsequent assistance to students and faculty in the use of digital equipment; selection, training and management of student Work Learn student assistants, and scheduling and delivering required safety training and orientations. Crossover with and current knowledge of a variety of media areas, art and technologies, current knowledge of digital and graphic art applications, IT developments, related equipment, software and maintenance is also desirable.

The department is housed in several buildings at the UBC Point Grey campus: the Frederic Lasserre Building, Auditorium Annex A, B.C. Binning Studios, Dorothy Somerset Studios, the Audain Art Centre, and the Wesbrook Building. Based in the Audain Art Centre, the Digital Media Technician interacts frequently with AHVA’s Visual Art faculty, sessional lecturers, staff, graduate and undergraduate students.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Administrator and the Studios, Exhibitions, and Facilities Manager; works directly with all Visual Art faculty and technical staff; liaises and collaborates with Art History faculty and fellow staff in the department as well as colleagues in Arts ISIT, Information Technology, Facilities Management, Safety & Risk Services, and Building Operations.

Work Performed
The work performed by the Digital Media Technician is divided between duties of general facilities operations and instructional support to Visual Art (VISA) courses, students and faculty.

• The Technician is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of digital instruction and practice spaces at the Audain Art Centre, BC Binning Studios, and Dorothy Somerset Studios.

• Establishes office hours and develops resources to support students and faculty in digital techniques.

• Responsible for ordering supplies and monitoring stock inventory for digital labs classes, student, faculty and staff use.

• Ensures that safety practices and procedures are observed and that digital media labs and equipment are kept in a clean and tidy condition and good order.

• Responsible for supervising use of and maintaining audio-visual equipment including projectors, sound equipment, and displays.

• Supervises, maintains and develops proposals for upgrades to digital lab, digital equipment and teaching and learning spaces.

• Researches and advises faculty and administration on new products and techniques in the areas of digital media.

• Supports the maintenance of digital equipment in serviceable condition, including both preventative maintenance and routine repair; for more complex repairs, identifies appropriate sources.

• Supports installation of digital aspects of artworks in exhibitions at the AHVA Gallery.

• Participates in ongoing reviews of long-term departmental instructional support needs in digital media areas and assists in the coordination of applications for support in collaboration with departmental stakeholders.

• Prepares budgets for areas overseen in collaboration with colleagues, supervisor and Faculty, and on approval of the Administrator and Head.

• Participates in hiring and managing Work Learn student assistants to support facility needs.

• Procures approved budgeted items, tracks expenditures and cost recoveries, and meets periodically to review actuals with the Administrator.

• General troubleshooting and maintenance of digital labs and instructional spaces for smooth daily operation.

• Through research, reading, learning and /or participation in professional associations, keeps current with advancements and trends in digital media with special emphasis placed on art and media education.

• Contributes to developing safety standards for the facilities and associated equipment through independent research, and consultation with the Manager of Studios, Exhibitions and Facilities, Faculty, and specialist bodies.

• Alerts Campus Security, Administration, Facilities Management and/or staff immediately of core building concerns and security issues in the areas of operation.

• Works with the Manager of Studios, Exhibitions and Facilities to design equipment handling and safety training for all digital media users ensuring appropriate use on, and introduction to, as well as ongoing vigilance with users to ensure safety standards, handling and procedures are upheld.

• Availability during scheduled digital media courses and some other studio courses on request in order to give technical demonstrations of digital media techniques, such as video creation and editing tools, programming for media applications, animation or visual effects software, digital equipment installation, electronic control systems, etc.

• Provides support to individual course instructors on the technical and digital processes in the design, development and teaching of courses for in person, hybrid and online delivery, drawing on approaches informed by the research, theory and practice as appropriate to the context of art making and studio-based learning.

• Provides guidance and develops resources for faculty and sessional instructors in the effective use of audio, video, graphic, multimedia and online resources within courses to improve learning and engage diverse learning needs.

• Demonstrates proper handling and use of related equipment to classes at all levels; ensuring safety standards are met and complied with.

• Prepares materials and equipment as required by Visual Art faculty for class use, instruction and demonstrations.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The incumbent is given wide latitude for exercising independent initiative and judgment in order to create an effective and safe teaching, research, and learning environment. Prompt attention to potential problems in all areas of responsibility is essential to the smooth running of these areas of the department.

Supervision Received
Works independently under the general direction of faculty and administration and in collaboration with other technicians. Reports to the Administrator and the Studios, Exhibitions, and Facilities Manager. Receives initial instruction on duties and thereafter only on new or unusual problems.

Supervision Given
Supervises student practice in the digital media areas and the work of Work Learn student staff. Demonstrates techniques to other staff, undergraduate, and graduate students; frequently assists and advises faculty. Hires and supervises Work Learn student assistants and ensures that they have adequate training to oversee the use of specialized equipment in the absence of the Technician. Coordinates other tasks as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Education and demonstrated experience in both technical and creative aspects of digital media and other advanced techniques.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software for digital media, including Adobe Creative Suite
• Familiarity with coding languages, use and digital media programs such as TouchDesigner, Blender, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, other animation or visual effects software, multimedia programming frameworks , web standards & server administration an asset
• Experience in a digital lab environment and practical knowledge of digital imaging, printing and related tools and equipment.
• Must have working knowledge of some, or all, of the following core equipment: 3D printers, 3D scanners, microcontrollers, electronic circuit building, digital cameras, projectors, monitors, macOS/Windows/Linux platforms, audio equipment, etc.
• Experience installing digital artworks for exhibitions is an asset.
• Knowledge of studio art theory and practice, and art history is recommended
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and schedule the work of students and instruct/demonstrate the handling of digital equipment and computer hardware and software.
• Ability to coordinate and oversee work processes.
• Ability to effectively use spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, and email applications at a basic level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel) in a PC/Mac environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion and judgment.