Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is seeking a Director of Video, Multimedia to work in its New York City office. This is a hands-on position for experienced professionals. We’re looking for proven visual storyteller who can oversee the visual direction of all videos produced by the organization, generate impactful and resonant story ideas, and manage a small team of video editors, freelance producers, animators, and shoot crews. This candidate needs to be a collaborative team player who can flexibly support video content with just visual direction, supporting the Editorial team who will lead story development for most videos.
This visual leader must be able to produce strong video content utilizing a range of techniques and visual styles. Knowledge of NRDC’s core missions is required and the successful candidate must have a broad knowledge and curiosity about environmental issues.
The successful candidate must have the necessary skills to produce, edit, and shoot video content. They can tailor videos for success on social media and can also develop powerful, emotionally-resonant narrative arcs for medium-length videos. This position isn’t limited to video production, though, and the successful candidate could be involved in art directing animations and producing still photography shoots. This individual should have experience developing budgets, in addition to hiring freelance production crews, directors of photography, and video editors.
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented creative and a highly collaborative team-player. An innovative spirit, passion for digital media, and the ability to solve problems independently in a fast-paced environment is a must. Strong communication skills are essential.
This position reports directly to the Multimedia Director.
- Produce short-form and medium length video content from on-location productions to text-on-video social cuts.
- Manage freelance and staff video editors. This includes setting daily duties and expectations, giving direction, providing feedback, documenting and rating performance, nurturing top performers, and coaching for improvement.
- Identify original and intelligent storytelling opportunities. Assemble narrative arc of some videos, but most often provide visual direction to already established narrative arcs provided by the Editorial team.
- Refine and develop presentation of NRDC content on YouTube, Facebook (including Facebook Watch), Instagram, and NRDC’s website.
- Coordinate and produce video shoots: set and refine visual direction for videos, assemble talent and crew, provide project estimates, oversee budgets.
- Manage and execute the technical aspects of video production including audio mixing, color correction, format conversion, and file management, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
- Research, source, and license video and photo content to be used as b-roll from stock agencies, wire services, and private individuals for videos when needed.
- Hire a range of freelancers for projects as needed: video editors, producers, animators, stylists, directors of photography, etc. Negotiate rates and initiate contracts.
- Provide Multimedia Director, Editorial Director, and Senior Director, Content with information around evolving best practices for videos within the digital space.
- A minimum of 5-7 years of experience as a video editor or producer at an agency, news website or non-profit, with 1 or more of those years in a leadership position.
- A portfolio that demonstrates a wide variety of engaging video storytelling techniques.
- Proven track record of working cross-departmentally throughout a complex organization.
- Expert in Adobe Premiere, Adobe Creative Suite, and Cinema Cameras.
- Experience with animation/motion graphics a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple daily and long-term projects.
- Organized self-starter but able to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Responsive and quick thinking in rapid paced environments.
- Understand and use social media platforms and tools including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Connections within the creative industry including production houses, editors, videographers, photographers, and stylists.