Digital Communications Specialist 4 (6077U), Public Affairs - #86016

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

UC Berkeley Strategic Communications leads institutional communications and brand management for the most prominent public university in the world. Our team tells UC Berkeley's story through news and media relations, marketing and brand management, social media, video, executive communications and internal communications, working in partnership with communicators across campus to amplify Berkeley's collective impact.

Position Summary

The video director leads video strategy and production for UC Berkeley's Strategic Communications office. The director develops original video concepts, series and campaigns; oversees a video producer, contractors and student workers; and manages all aspects of production from planning through delivery. The director shapes video content for multiple audiences and platforms, including social media, web and internal communications.

This hybrid position leads video strategy and production for Strategic Communications.

The video director is an experienced video professional capable of planning, shooting and editing videos independently or in conjunction with the expert communicators in the office.

Projects may include introducing and explaining a world-changing research breakthrough to audiences in the media and on social media, documenting the day when a faculty member finds out they won a Nobel Prize or creating short documentaries about compelling students, staff or faculty. The video director will also develop stand-alone video campaigns or series that further the communications goals of the office.

The video director must work collaboratively across Strategic Communications - with writers, copy editors, graphic designers, and marketing communications, social media and brand management professionals under, at times, ambiguous circumstances. In that ambiguity, they must identify how video is a tool to further the team's goals and then execute on that vision, keenly shaping the final product for its intended audience. The director must also have a strong ability to navigate and communicate complex issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, ability and other intersectional topics.

The video director must work effectively with a variety of campus leaders, faculty, and other stakeholders, ensuring efficient use of their time for video shoots and potential review/approvals of content.

The video director must demonstrate a full understanding of industry standards and the accessibility best practices, as well as a fluency with using metrics and analytics to measure success and map out a content strategy.

This position will manage a video producer and a team of student workers and reports to the executive director of news and media relations, with a dotted line to the executive director of marketing and communications.

Weekend and evening work may be required on occasion.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: May 20, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Conceptualizing, planning, shooting and editing videos that effectively illustrate the communications priorities of UC Berkeley. This includes developing repeatable formats for various channels as well as:

• Researching subjects and pre-interviewing
• Interviewing
• Script creation or co-creation
• Identifying, vetting, contacting and coordinating a wide variety of subjects with approving stakeholders while navigating complex issues of identity
• Scouting locations and acquiring permissions for their use
• Shooting videos that meet industry standards for lighting, color and sound
• Editing videos
• Creating a final product that meets approving stakeholders' standards, Strategic Communications' editorial guidelines and university accessibility requirements
• Providing the correct types of files to web, news and social media team colleagues in a timely manner

Supervision and creative direction: Manage the work of a full-time video producer, contractors and student workers, including assigning projects, reviewing edits, providing feedback and ensuring quality and consistency across all video output.

Providing subject matter consultation to campus units and communications colleagues who look to Strategic Communications for guidance and advice on industry best practices.

Departmental Collaboration: Participates in regular planning meetings for news and communications campaigns, as well as meetings to analyze metrics and analytics.

Professional Development: Maintains currency with current video trends and requirements, including accessibility requirements.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop original video concepts, series formats or campaigns that advance organizational communications goals.
• Thorough understanding of video equipment including cameras, lighting and sound and ability to operate all equipment.
• Ability to create video content that is clear, informative, accurate, compelling, functional, and consistent with the campus messages as directed by management.
• Thorough technical skills for video editing.
• Thorough understanding of and/or ability to learn institutional processes, procedures and applicable rules and regulations for video communications.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen and skill in troubleshooting and applying proactive and positive solutions.
• Ability to navigate and communicate complex issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, ability and other intersectional topics.
• Thorough skills to develop and implement original ideas and correctly identify and effectively avoid or resolve problems.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to track multiple concurrent productions across different stages, manage deadlines for a team and maintain organized workflows.
• Experience supervising or directing the work of video producers, freelancers or student workers, including managing production workflows and providing creative feedback.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement accessibility requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver consistent, on-time work across simultaneous projects.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with still photography.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $101,600.00 - $130,000.00. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• Travel requirement: the video director will, on occasion, need to travel to off-campus shoot locations.
• This position is eligible for up to 50% remote work. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.

Misconduct

SB 791 and AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have

left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.