Job Opening: Community Media Education Specialist

The Community Media Education Specialist provides accessible, welcoming, and practical media education and individualized production support to Open Signal community members. The Specialist facilitates classes, workshops, orientations, certification trainings, and other learning experiences for adult and youth participants with different levels of media-production experience.

Through hands-on instruction and one-on-one guidance, the Specialist helps participants build the skills and confidence to use Open Signal’s equipment, studios, software, and other resources. They adapt instruction to different learning styles, access needs, and creative goals and contribute to the ongoing improvement of Open Signal’s educational programs and resources.

Part-time 30 hours/week guaranteed (non-exempt)
$59,410 - $63,654.00 DOE
NE Portland, OR
Includes health, dental, life insurance, and 401K match

How to Apply

Submit your resume to hiring@opensignalpdx.org with the subject line: “Community Media Education Specialist.” In lieu of a cover letter answer the 3 screening questions listed below:

What do community education and public media mean to you?
Why are you interested in the Community Media Instructor position at Open Signal?
How do you create an inclusive learning environment for participants with different identities, backgrounds, access needs and levels of technical experience?

Interviews start the week of October 6th, with an expected start date of late October or early November.

Read on for the details!

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Class Instruction and Facilitation

Serve as the lead or supporting instructor for classes, certification trainings, and program-based learning experiences for adult and youth participants in studio production, field production, editing, and other media-production subjects.
Prepare and lead the classroom experience, including space and equipment setup, demonstrations, hands-on practice, troubleshooting, and assessment.
Clearly and accessibly communicate technical concepts, production processes, learning objectives, class and equipment-care expectations, safety practices, and applicable Open Signal policies.
Create accessible, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive learning environments by adapting instruction to participants’ experience levels, learning styles, access needs, and group dynamics.
Provide structure, encouragement, and constructive feedback that helps participants build technical skills, creative confidence, and positive relationships.
Assess participants’ knowledge and practical skills and determine whether certification requirements have been met.
Maintain working knowledge of Open Signal’s production equipment, studios, editing systems, software, and participant-facing technology.
Follow participant safety procedures, including youth-program requirements, and recognize and report concerns requiring additional support.
Coordinate and provide direction to classroom assistants, contracted instructors and volunteers when appropriate.

Curriculum and Educational Resources

Use and review Open Signal curricula, lesson plans, learning objectives, instructional standards, and educational materials.
Identify outdated or unclear information, accessibility concerns, learning barriers, and resource gaps based on teaching experience, participant feedback, and learning outcomes.
Collaborate with the Education Team to develop, test, and implement improvements to curricula, educational resources, and shared instructional practices.

Program Coordination and Community Support

Coordinate class schedules, equipment needs, participant support, and program goals with Community Media staff.
Maintain accurate and timely records of classes, appointments, participant support, certifications, attendance, and other assigned activities.
Build welcoming and respectful relationships with community members and support positive interactions in shared facilities and learning spaces.
Help participants understand Open Signal’s educational opportunities, learning pathways, policies, and requirements for accessing resources.
Participate in events, community productions, and outreach activities that connect community members and broaden participation from communities historically excluded from media production.
Identify recurring community interests, barriers, and learning needs and share them with the Education Team.
Respond to routine participant concerns and refer safety or conduct concerns, access issues, and other matters requiring management support to the Community Media Manager.

Other duties

Participate in at least 1 Open Signal staff committee;
Participate in a minimum of 10 hours of equity-focused volunteering per year;

Participate in ongoing educational opportunities as possible;
Open or close building, including alarm system, and parking lot gate as needed;
Attend and participate in ‘All Staff’ meetings and additional staff and equipment training as needed.
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

At least 2 years of experience teaching, training or facilitating in an educational or community setting, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
Hands-on experience with video, audio, television, or digital media production, with the ability to confidently teach at least one media-production subject.
Experience planning and leading classes, workshops, or trainings, including lesson preparation, group facilitation and assessment of learning.
Experience creating supportive learning environments for people with different learning styles, access needs and levels of technical experience.
Ability to explain technical information clearly and patiently through demonstrations, guided practice and other teaching methods.
Experience with or knowledge of trauma-informed teaching practices and navigating conflict in group settings.
Strong communication, organization, attention to detail, deep listening, self-awareness and accountability.
Ability to give and receive constructive feedback, collaborate across differences, and contribute to a shared teaching practice.
Understanding of how social inequities affect access to media, technology and education.
Ability to work a schedule that may include evenings, weekends and local travel.

Preferred or Trainable Qualifications

Experience teaching studio production, field production, editing, podcasting or other media-production subjects.
Experience developing curricula, lesson plans, instructional materials, and learning outcomes.
Experience teaching youth and communicating with parents or guardians.
Familiarity with Google Workspace.
Experience entering and maintaining participant information in a database or customer relationship management system.
Knowledge of anti-oppressive educational practices.

Additional Requirements

As this position works directly with youth, employment is contingent upon successfully completing a background check.
Valid Driver’s License.

Employee Commitment to Equity

At Open Signal, we are deeply committed to fostering a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We recognize that achieving true equity requires ongoing education, reflection, and action. As such, we expect all staff members to actively engage in regular training opportunities, encouraging an environment where individuals continually challenge themselves to expand their understanding of equity issues. This commitment is not just a requirement but a shared responsibility as we strive to create a workplace that reflects and celebrates the richness of diverse perspectives. Through continuous learning and self-reflection, each staff member contributes to our collective journey towards greater equity and inclusivity. Together, we can build an organization that is not only aware of the challenges but actively working to dismantle barriers and create a more just and equitable community.