📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Photographer & Video Producer - Creative Services
🔹 Company: Fermilab
🔹 Location: Batavia, IL
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Creative Services
🔹 Date Posted: May 6, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Producing photography, video, and other media to enhance Fermilab’s reputation and public awareness
- Supporting creative services functions, including photography, video production, editing, graphics, and 2D animation
- Providing audio-visual support for live events, including video streaming, audio monitoring, and Zoom Webinar management
- Managing specific projects, including determining project objectives, priorities, and deadlines
- Interfacing with video and database file servers and maintaining a visual archive of photographs and videos
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, technical proficiency, and strong communication skills to effectively tell Fermilab’s story through visual media.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Supporting a variety of creative services functions, including photography, video production, editing, graphics, and 2D animation
✅ Photographing people, places, and key events to provide a visual record of Fermilab activities and communicate with laboratory stakeholders
✅ Providing audio-visual support for live events, including video streaming, audio monitoring, and Zoom Webinar management
✅ Producing and editing videos to share updates across Fermilab’s various platforms, including Fermilab’s YouTube channel and other social media channels
✅ Identifying and analyzing lab visual communication and determining project objectives and priorities
✅ Determining project deadlines with those requesting support and commit department resources to projects, aligned with lab priorities
✅ Serving as project manager for specific projects as assigned by supervisor
✅ Interfacing with video and database file servers and maintain a visual archive of photographs and videos for use by Fermilab staff, media, and other key stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of adaptability, as responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of the laboratory and the creative services department.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
Experience: 5+ years of experience in professional quality studio and on-location photography of people, places, and events
Experience: 5+ years of experience in video production from concept through delivery, including pre-production, equipment operation, and post-production
Required Skills:
- Expert knowledge of creative software including Blackmagic Resolve, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Audition
- Ability to tell an engaging story in a visual manner
- Experience working with YouTube and other social media platforms
- Ability to interact with outside vendors when necessary for production and specifies requirements for the assigned projects
- Ability to communicate and present to all levels of laboratory management both in writing and orally
- Strong interpersonal skills and outgoing personality
- Ability to abide by and be responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety, and contractual regulations and practices pertinent to this position
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a research laboratory or scientific environment
- Fluency in a second language
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in a similar role or relevant industry will be given preference.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $77,600.00 - $110,267.00 per year
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid time off
- Life insurance
- Short and Long-term disability insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Onsite day care
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Fermilab is a government agency focused on research services, specifically high-energy physics research
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 1967
Company Description:
- Fermilab is America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory
- Collaborates with scientists from around the world to perform pioneering research
- Operates world-leading particle accelerators and experiments
- Develops technologies for science in support of U.S. industry
Company Specialties:
- High Energy Physics Research
Company Website: http://www.fnal.gov
ASSUMPTION: Fermilab’s mission and research focus may require candidates to have a strong interest in or background in physics or a related scientific field.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior-level creative services professional
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Creative Services Manager
Work Arrangement: On-site, with the possibility of occasional remote work for specific projects
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to take on more responsibilities and advance within the creative services department
- Opportunities to work on high-profile projects and collaborate with international researchers
- possibility to learn and develop new skills in emerging technologies and software
ASSUMPTION: Growth opportunities may be limited due to the specific nature of Fermilab’s research focus and the size of the creative services department.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, with access to Fermilab’s campus facilities and resources
Office Location(s): Batavia, IL
Geographic Context:
- Batavia is located in the Chicago metropolitan area, offering a mix of urban and suburban living options
- The area is known for its strong science and technology industry, with numerous research institutions and companies
- Batavia offers a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities
Work Schedule: Full-time, with occasional overtime or weekend work required for specific events or projects
ASSUMPTION: The work schedule may vary depending on the needs of the laboratory and the creative services department.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screening with a member of the human resources team
- In-depth phone or video interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
- On-site or virtual tour of Fermilab’s campus and creative services department
- Final interview with the creative services manager or director
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creativity and storytelling abilities
- Technical proficiency with relevant software and equipment
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and project management skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include a portfolio or links to your work, with an emphasis on videography and photography
- Be prepared to discuss your creative process and how you approach storytelling through visual media
- Research Fermilab’s mission and values to demonstrate your fit with the organization
ATS Keywords: Photographer, Video Producer, Creative Services, Photography, Videography, Editing, Graphics, 2D Animation, Audio-Visual Support, Project Management, Visual Communication, Social Media, Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Creative Software, Storytelling, Vendor Interaction, Environmental Regulations, Health and Safety
ASSUMPTION: Fermilab’s application process may be more competitive due to the unique nature of the role and the organization’s research focus.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Blackmagic Resolve
- Premiere Pro
- After Effects
- Photoshop
- Camera Raw
- Audition
- YouTube
- Social media platforms
- Zoom Webinar
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be comfortable learning and using new tools and technologies as needed for specific projects.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence in research and discovery
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Integrity and accountability
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Safety and environmental stewardship
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible
- Detail-oriented and organized
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach telling a story through visual media, and how does this align with Fermilab’s mission and values?
- How do you balance creativity and technical proficiency in your work, and how do you ensure that your projects meet the needs of your clients or stakeholders?
- How do you handle working on multiple projects with varying deadlines and priorities, and how do you ensure that you meet the needs of your clients or stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: Fermilab’s culture values collaboration, innovation, and a strong work ethic, with a focus on advancing the field of particle physics and accelerator research.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Working on a tight deadline or with limited resources for specific projects
- Balancing multiple projects with varying priorities and deadlines
- Adapting to changes in the laboratory’s needs or priorities
- Working in a research environment with specific safety and security protocols
ASSUMPTION: The unique nature of Fermilab’s research focus and campus environment may present unique challenges for candidates.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique to Fermilab, as it combines creative services and multimedia production with a focus on scientific research and communication
- Similar roles in other organizations may have a broader focus on marketing, advertising, or corporate communications
- Career paths in this field may include advancing to a senior-level role within the creative services department, or transitioning to a related role in a different industry or organization
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should research similar roles in other organizations to understand the unique aspects of this role and how it may differ from other opportunities in the field.
📝 Sample Projects
- Creating a promotional video for a Fermilab research project or experiment
- Photographing and editing images for Fermilab’s website, social media channels, or print publications
- Producing a time-lapse video or photo series showcasing Fermilab’s campus or research facilities
ASSUMPTION: Sample projects should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to work on a variety of projects with varying scopes and requirements.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most challenging aspects of working in a research environment, and how does this role address those challenges?
- How does this role support Fermilab’s mission and research focus, and how do the creative services department’s priorities align with the laboratory’s goals?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the creative services department, and how does the organization support the professional development of its employees?
- How does the creative services department collaborate with other departments and teams within Fermilab, and what opportunities are there for interdisciplinary projects or initiatives?
- What is the work-life balance like for employees in this role, and how does the organization support work-life balance for its employees?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should ask thoughtful and insightful questions to demonstrate their interest in the role and their fit with the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include a portfolio or links to your work, with an emphasis on videography and photography
- Prepare for your interview by researching Fermilab’s mission, values, and culture
- Follow up with the hiring manager or human resources team within one week of your interview to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
