Assistant Manager, Sound Office

Join The New School 

At The New School, we redefine the boundaries of education, creativity, and innovation. Founded in 1919 and located in the heart of New York City, we are home to over 9,000 students from over 100 countries, offering more than 135 degree and diploma programs across our renowned colleges, including Parsons School of Design, The New School for Social Research, Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, Parsons Paris, and the College of Performing Arts. Our progressive, interdisciplinary approach has earned us recognition as one of the most forward-thinking institutions in the world.

POSITION/ROLE OVERVIEW

Parsons School for Design, a division of The New School, seeks an Assistant Manager of the Sound Office for the Making Center. The Making Center is a collection of more than 70,000 sq.ft. of labs, shops, studios, and open workspaces that provide curricular support for making across a broad range of mediums and disciplines, and support experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Assistant Manager should be a personable, proactive, detail-oriented individual who will become integral to the daily workings of the facilities within the Making Center, with the ability to learn new skills and technologies as needed. This is a fast-paced, dynamic environment that runs year-round. The Assistant Manager will interface with students, faculty, and staff to support multiple processes and equipment resources for all users in a range of making practices including sound recording studios, equipment resources, and media production studios. This is an exempt administrative position that reports to the Assistant Director of Sound & Filmmaking Operations.
 

CORE CAPABILITIES, PRIMARY DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a clean and safe working environment and uphold a respectful shop culture for students, faculty, and staff.

• Oversee daily workings of the Sound Office, a major resource open to New School students supporting sound, video, and related equipment available for on- and off-campus check-out. 

• Management of full-time technicians and student workers, including interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, tracking accountability, task assignment, scheduling/attending team and one-on-one meetings, and coordination and/or providing emergency coverage for unexpected absences. 

• Manage a fixed budget, including tracking, planning, and prioritization of expenses related to inventories, schedules, projects, and repairs.

• Assist supervisor and Making Center Leadership with the following:

  • Facility improvement projects, shows and installations, and special initiatives as needed.

  • Hardware/software purchase recommendations as they pertain to the curriculum.

  • Maintaining policies and systems for checkout, satellite store, scheduling, record keeping, and inventories, in addition to generating macro and micro levels of usage data and statistics - evaluating and updating these as needed.

  • Organize calendars and communications for facilities, including creation of website updates, shop signage, safety orientations, technical/instructional documentation for labs/equipment, workshops, class demos, deliveries, special events, and modified holiday hours.

  • Work across systems in the Making Center, connecting separate areas in order to streamline efficiency and communication.

  • Facilitate equipment repair and maintenance, including in-house repairs and coordination with external vendors to manage repair processes. 

• Adapt to changes in the work environment; adjust approach and prioritize competing demands as necessary.

• Provide a high level of customer service, maintaining a positive and professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with students, faculty, and staff. 

• Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment with productive and positive workplace relationships. 

• Stay current with relevant technology and developments within the field.

• Attend regularly scheduled Making Center staff meetings and perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s Degree and 3-5 years of relevant or professional experience within the industry.

• Flexible schedule - ability to work non-traditional schedules that may include nights and weekends, in addition to scheduling shifts with semester changes.

• Completion of university required staff trainings and necessary COF's for all Making Center Facilities within the first 6 months of employment.

• Advanced knowledge of a variety of sound practices; be familiar with equipment and software related to current sound design practices - including: studio-based and experimental processes, digital input/output, and industry-standard software applications. 

• Experience maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting equipment/tools.

• Full technical knowledge of sound-based analog and digital technologies, including but not limited to monitors, microphones, control panels, preamps, mixers, media players, Mac mini(s), tablets, and other smart devices.

• Understanding of working in a cross-platform (Windows and macOS) environment, with a working knowledge of large-scale hardware and software deployment, network systems, and color calibration/profiling.

• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, Pro Tools, Avid, and Google Docs.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, close attention to detail, and strong organizational and time management abilities.

• Proven track record of working well with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a strong ability to support students working in an interdisciplinary manner from concept to fabrication.

• A desire to learn new skills and processes related to Parsons Making Center initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Webcheckout or comparable equipment management systems a plus. 

• Knowledge of large-scale hardware and software deployments; Webcheckout or comparable equipment management systems a plus. 

WORK MODE

This position is primarily in-person and is based on campus to support effective in-person collaboration and engagement.

Hybrid work arrangements may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the role and operational needs. Any such arrangement must be discussed and approved in advance by the appropriate division lead or their designee.#LI-ONSITE

SALARY RANGE

$64,350 - $69,000 per annum

WHY JOIN US?

This is an extraordinary opportunity to work closely with a visionary leader and contribute meaningfully to a forward-thinking institution that’s reshaping the future of higher education. You’ll be at the nexus of strategy, operations, and innovation in a role that grows with your impact.

BENEFITS AT THE NEW SCHOOL

The New School is committed to supporting the well-being and success of our faculty and staff. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their eligible dependents. Highlights include:

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Financial Wellness 

• Retirement plan administered by TIAA

• Qualified Transportation Expense Plan

Work-Life Balance

• Paid vacation and sick leave, with accruals starting on your first day

• Paid holidays and floating holidays

• Workmode & Telework Policy (if applicable)

Professional Growth

• Career advancement and professional development opportunities

• Access to university programs, lectures, and events featuring world-renowned speakers and organizations

• Tuition waiver benefit for eligible employees and dependents

Additional Perks

• Employee discounts with local vendors and service providers

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. The New School recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.