Oberlin College
The Studio Art Department at Oberlin College invites applications for the position of Studio Art 4D Media Manager. This is a full-time (40 hour per week), 12-month, (1 FTE) staff position supervised by and reporting to the chair of the Studio Art Department. The starting contract is for 2 years with the possibility of renewal. The ideal start date is July 1, 2026.
Founded in 1833, Oberlin is a private four-year, selective liberal arts college near Cleveland, Ohio and is also home to an outstanding Conservatory of Music. Together, the two divisions enroll approximately 2900 students. Oberlin College was the first college in the US to make interracial education and co-education central to its mission. The College continues to view a diverse, equitable and inclusive educational environment as valuable to the excellence of its academic program. Among liberal arts colleges, Oberlin is a national leader in successfully placing graduates into advanced study programs.
Oberlin is situated on the outskirts of Cleveland, combining a cozy small-town atmosphere with the cultural amenities of a major city. The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cinematheque, Karamu House, several educational institutions, and scores of restaurants, bars, music venues, and theaters add to the cultural and educational opportunities of the region.
The Oberlin Studio Art department offers a dynamic platform for students seeking intensive studio training combined with the intellectual rigor of a liberal arts curriculum. Oberlin artists are thinking artists, deeply engaged in academic and creative pursuits. Studio Art classes focus on both technical and conceptual development across multiple dimensions: 2D courses concentrate on color, composition, design, and flat media; 3D courses emphasize spatial transformation and object-making; and 4D courses address time-based media, digital tools, and technology-driven practice. By the time students graduate they are prepared to work across media and think critically about the roles of art in the 21st century.
Along with longstanding BA programs across the Practicing Arts, Oberlin College recently launched a five year dual-degree BA+BFA in Integrated Arts. The BFA brings together all of the practicing arts programs at Oberlin―Studio Art, Theater, Dance, Cinema & Media, Creative Writing, and Musical Studies―for an integrated 5th year experience at Oberlin’s new Park campus in Cleveland. This unique BA+BFA program prepares students for interdisciplinary collaboration and professional practice through internships at arts organizations in the area.
The department offers courses in:
- 2D/3D/4D Foundations
- Photography (analog and digital)
- Media arts (sound, video, interactive/networked art)
- Painting, drawing, and color theory
- Reproducible media (screenprint, lithography, intaglio, relief, monotype, Riso, digital)
- Design and illustration
- Sculpture (woodworking, fiber, mold-making and casting, 3D modeling and digital fabrication)
- Installation and performance
- Interdisciplinary Advanced and Capstone major curriculum
Responsibilities
The 4D Media Manager maintains and supports a range of digital and photographic equipment requiring regular oversight that includes approximately 35 Apple computers; software for digital imaging, video, sound, and interactive/networked media; scanners; printers (inkjet, laser, large-format, and 3D printers); digital cameras; lighting; and darkroom technologies. The position also assists with the implementation of specialized tools used in courses, such as virtual reality equipment and physical computing devices.
Working closely with faculty and staff, the 4D Media Manager provides technical support for coursework and maintains teaching labs and equipment. Responsibilities include routine studio maintenance, classroom preparation between semesters, equipment troubleshooting and repair, and assistance with special classroom or departmental projects.
The 4D Media Manager collaborates with faculty and staff across the department’s 2D, 3D, and 4D areas to ensure safe, effective, and well-maintained studio facilities. This includes maintaining Safety Data Sheet (SDS) records, ensuring compliance with institutional and legal safety standards, and communicating infrastructural and equipment needs.
The position requires the ability to work independently with strong organizational and planning skills while also collaborating effectively with faculty, staff, and students across diverse backgrounds and artistic approaches. The 4D Media Manager must be comfortable supporting experimental and interdisciplinary projects that may involve unconventional materials, technologies, or methods.
This role also includes hiring, training, supervising, and scheduling student workers who assist with lab operations and equipment use. The successful candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm for supporting undergraduate learning and a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for students from diverse and underrepresented communities.
Essential Job Functions
- Oversee daily operations, safety, and instructional support for the Media Lab, Photography Lab and other digital technology in the department. Troubleshoot, maintain, and repair equipment to ensure minimal disruption to teaching and studio use.
- Manage and maintain digital and photographic equipment (computers, scanners, cameras, printers, projectors, drawing tablets and related technologies).
- Support faculty and students in the use of specialized tools and technologies, including video, sound, digital imaging, interactive media, and digital fabrication processes by providing demonstrations, holding office hours, and/or working individually with advanced students.
- Manage planning, purchasing, installation, and upgrades of equipment and software.
- Manage 4D Studio operational and capital budgets, including short- and long-term planning, purchasing, and tracking expenditures. This includes collaboration with other departments that share capital budgets with Studio Art.
- Order supplies and equipment using institutional purchasing systems; receive, organize, and distribute materials and equipment.
- Maintain inventories of equipment, supplies, and loanable technology; coordinate checkout systems for cameras, electronics, and related tools.
- Maintain supplies for printers and media production equipment, including inks and printing materials, and oversee billing for student usage.
- Oversee semester transitions, including classroom shutdown, cleaning, restocking, and preparation of teaching spaces and equipment.
- Maintain darkroom and photography facilities in collaboration with photography faculty, including routine inspections and basic maintenance. Ensure OSHA and institutional safety compliance; maintain SDS files, repair records, and safe handling procedures for chemicals and hazardous materials.
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student workers and lab monitors in the safe use of equipment and studio facilities.
- Pick up and return media equipment to the main checkout as needed.
- Maintain clear documentation, organizational systems, and best practices for lab operations and equipment management.
- Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and students and collaborate on departmental initiatives and projects. Participate in departmental meetings and provide regular reports on facilities, equipment, and budgets.
- Teach one four-credit course (or two 2-credit courses) per semester in the introductory 4D curriculum and demonstrate interest and potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
- Work effectively with a diverse range of students, faculty, and staff and support an inclusive learning environment aligned with Oberlin College’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Support occasional evening or after-hours departmental events.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted as required for equipment handling and studio maintenance.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Marginal Job Functions
Required Qualifications
Along with the aforementioned experience required for the job responsibilities and essential tasks, candidates must have a Master of Fine Arts degree in hand.
Oberlin College is committed to creating and sustaining a vibrant, welcoming community where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and where every member has an equal opportunity to learn, work, and contribute based on their talents, skills, and merit. We value a campus environment that draws on a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and ideas to enrich education, scholarship, and daily interactions. The College adheres strictly to all applicable federal and state civil rights laws, including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause, and related regulations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic in employment, admissions, or educational programs. Hiring and advancement decisions are made based on qualifications, experience, and job-related criteria. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds who share our dedication to academic excellence, free inquiry, respectful dialogue, and equal opportunity under the law to apply. The Office for Institutional Equity plays a key role in supporting a fair, compliant, and inclusive workplace and learning environment for the entire Oberlin community.
Desired Qualifications
Compensation
Within the range established for this position, salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a competitive benefits package.
Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, candidates should visit the online application site found at
- By providing three letters of reference, you agree that we may contact your letter writers.
Review of applications will begin on May 29, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Completed applications received by the May 29, 2026 deadline will be guaranteed full consideration.
Questions about the position can be addressed to: Jamie Jacobs Overstreet (Studio Art Program Coordinator) at jjacobs@oberlin.edu / at 440-775-8181, or Pipo Nguyen-duy (Professor of Studio Art), at pipo@oberlin.edu.
