Director - Photography

Position Announcement

Join a collaborative, creative environment where your leadership directly shapes Utah Valley University's story. As Director of Photography, you will guide a talented team, from staff and student interns to freelance creatives, while partnering across departments to bring the university’s mission and vision to life through compelling visual storytelling. This role offers the opportunity to influence campus-wide communications, ensuring that every image reflects UVU’s identity, values, and impact.

You’ll have both strategic and hands-on influence, overseeing the full creative and technical lifecycle of photography, mentoring emerging talent, and fostering innovation. With ownership of photo direction and assignment approval, you will elevate the quality and consistency of visual assets that reach broad audiences. This is a unique opportunity to combine artistic leadership, collaboration, and purpose-driven work in a dynamic university setting dedicated to student success and community engagement.

Summary Of Responsibilities

• As chief campus photographer, manages the photography staff, freelance photographers, and oversees all photography operations. Manages quality control and oversees all departmental photography. Needs to be available outside normal working hours, including early mornings, late evenings, and weekends.
• Produces professional-quality photographs that require creativity, insight, and awareness of production standards. Functions as Art Director for the Photography department and coordinates all photo shoots. Administers the design, content, and functionality of all photography, including University Marketing publications such as the Annual Report, catalogs, social media, etc. Coordinates with clients across campus as well as within the Marketing Department on all photography and works to maintain a high level of photographic excellence across all campus photography usage. Provides quality photographic services to the off-campus university community, news media, and other organizations with an interest in activities of the university, its faculty, staff, and students. Travels on assignment as needed domestically and internationally with a personal passport.
• Monitors the administration of the daily tasks and workflow of the photo department, working closely with the assigned project manager, including archiving, maintaining online photo galleries, editing photos, and content delivery to clients both on and off campus. Manages efficiency in photography production and project workflow. Works with and attends meetings with other senior directors and university clients to coordinate photographic coverage across all platform verticals and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality assets. Manages the department budget.
• Keeps informed of current photographic trends within the industry, as well as equipment, and works to inform, teach, and mentor Marketing Department staff to empower them and provide them with the equipment and knowledge they need to create an atmosphere where they can elevate their photography and skill set to be the very best.
• Performs other miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor's degree in a related discipline, plus three years of staff-level experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the Summary of Duties totaling seven years.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• A valid, personal passport for international travel is required.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited institution plus three years of staff-level experience in Photography.
  
  

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of digital photography and workflow. Digital asset management, specifically PhotoShelter. Commercial Studio lighting techniques, camera tethering, and set etiquette, coupled with high-level photo studio, on-location, and mixed lighting skills. Significant post-production and retouching experience, along with proficiency in techniques, are required.
• Knowledge of advanced photographic principles, practices, and techniques.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with Canon EOS mirrorless camera and lens system, Canon Professional Services, Profoto Lighting equipment system, wireless digital transmitting, and studio grip equipment required.
• Knowledge of design and production software such as Photo Mechanic,
• Capture One and the Adobe Creative Suite are required, with a particular emphasis on Photoshop.
• Knowledge of project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
• Knowledge of copyright & model release standards, photo usage agreements, and regulations is required.
  
  

Skills

• Experience leading a team of photo professionals.
• Demonstrates customer service skills with a strong attention to detail, organization skills are a must, as is an eye for good design.
• Teaching and strong mentoring experience and skills are required.
• Skills in creativity, imagination, and originality in photograph composition.
• Written and strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of departments, roles, and individuals are essential.
  
  

Abilities

• Proven ability and experience managing, supervising, and motivating others in a professional setting.
• Ability to manage a production schedule, meet and enforce deadlines, and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with teams outside of the division and across campus, and internally with the photo team.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects at once.