Posted: 11-Jun-25
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Employment Type:
Organization Type:
Required Education:
Reports To: Executive Director, Public Relations & Marketing
Job Summary
Are you a skilled storyteller with a strong eye for visual design, a commitment to accessibility and have a passion for connecting a wide array of audiences? Do you have a deep understanding of digital trends? If so, Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you!
Hawkeye Community College is seeking a full-time creative, organized, and tech-savvy Digital Media Specialist to join our dynamic Public Relations and Marketing team. Our role is essential to enhancing the college’s visual storytelling and digital presence. As our Digital Media Specialist, you are responsible for developing content designed to engage audiences across multiple platforms—online, on social media, and through traditional broadcast media. Key responsibilities include producing high-quality video and photo content, maintaining a strategic 12-month social media calendar, and managing the college’s digital asset library.
As part our Public Relations & Marketing team, you collaborate with passionate professionals to craft compelling stories, connect with a wide array of audiences and shape the voice of the college in fresh, innovative ways. We value creativity, strategic thinking, and adaptability – and every day offers new opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact.
Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a wide array of students through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs, our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as. Hawkeye Community College’s mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Essential Job Functions
Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Creates engaging video content for the college’s website, social media, YouTube, and other platforms. Responsibilities include, but not limited to planning, scripting, filming, and editing videos; collaborating on promotional and profile pieces; covering events; and ensuring content meets brand and accessibility standards. Proficiency with video equipment and editing tools required.
- Lead photographer for campus events and key moments. Captures and curate high-quality, brand-aligned images for use across print and digital platforms.
- Develops and manages a year-round content calendar in collaboration with PR & Marketing team, creating and scheduling engaging and trending posts across platforms while monitoring metrics and adjusting strategies to connect with college audiences.
- Manages a centralized Digital Asset Management (DAM) system by organizing, tagging, and archiving multimedia assets; ensuring accessibility for stakeholders; implementing metadata standards; and regularly auditing the library content to protect and maintain brand integrity.
- Collaborates with campus departments to support communications with brand-aligned multimedia content, and train student interns or staff in content creation and platform best practices.
- Conduct interviews of students, faculty, and staff for use in videos or traditional marketing pieces.
- Assists with events and special projects as assigned.
- Participates in campus committees as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye’s remote work policy, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.
Working Conditions
Anticipated schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm with occasional weekend and/or evening hours based on events and business need.
Work is performed either in or a combination of an office setting and/or classroom setting using technology. Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Sit, stand, bend, lift and move frequently during working hours. During course of day, interact with students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computers.
Employment Status
Full-time, exempt position with comprehensive or competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition reimbursement; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).
- Salary will be considered with the candidate’s education and experience.
- The salary range for this position begins at $50,735.
Application Procedure
- Complete an online application at hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
- Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
- Please describe the types of projects you have contributed to, highlighting one you are especially proud of and why.
- If applicable, please include links or handles to any professional or personal social media accounts you manage or have created content for.
- Submit/upload a resume.
- Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a current/past supervisor.
- Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
- Priority screening is set to begin Thursday, June 26, 2025. Completed applications, along with the required materials, received after the priority screening date will be considered at the discretion of the college.
Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations/journalism, or related field and one (1) year of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience to total five (5) years.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Audition.
- Demonstrated ability to capture video and audio on various camera equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to organize and maintain video library.
- Demonstrated ability to script, storyboard, plan, shoot, and edit videos.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and present creative ideas.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain brand guidelines.
- Knowledge of social media platforms, how they run, and best practices/procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of student populations, faculty, staff, and the general public.
- Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication.
- Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, Google applications, and video conferencing technology.
- Demonstrated ability to execute organization and department policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to handle confidential/sensitive information with discretion.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in an educational or nonprofit environment.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards for digital content.
- Knowledge of current digital marketing trends and higher education communications.
