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Video & Animation Producer, Strategic Communications - Hybrid Chicago Loop

JOB SUMMARY:

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a creative, collaborative, and strategically minded Video & Animation Producer to help bring our stories to life across digital, social, and event-based channels. This role combines strong production and motion design skills with an understanding of how video and animation support communication goals and engage target audiences. The ideal candidate is both a skilled creator and a thoughtful partner who can contribute to concept development, visual storytelling, and content planning.

This position is well suited for someone at the beginning of their professional career who is eager to grow their skills in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and learn from experienced creative and communications professionals. Candidates should be curious about emerging trends, including the use of artificial intelligence and new technologies, and excited to explore innovative ways to conceptualize, produce, and optimize content for platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

This is a hands-on role that rewards initiative, curiosity, and a sharp eye. You’ll have real ownership over work that matters, and the opportunity to grow alongside a team that values both creativity and precision.

Please note: This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 6 days per month in the office.

DEPARTMENT: Strategic Communications

Strategic Communications supports the entire NORC organization with expertise in corporate communications and creative services, external affairs, internal communications, and project-level communications.

We help promote NORC to the public: we work with members of the press to publicize our research projects and our expertise; we support external events where NORC experts present or speak; we lead and support staff communications and engagement; we maintain the external NORC website, www.norc.org; and we manage NORC’s social media presence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Creative & Production

Demonstrate strong proficiency in video and animation production, with a commitment to continuously developing creative and technical skills.
Conceptualize and storyboard original ideas, and effectively execute projects based on direction or storyboards provided by the Creative and Communications teams.
Serve as a creative partner by contributing ideas that enhance project vision while collaborating closely with the Sr. Design Manager and Strategic Communications team.
Animate vector-based graphics to create engaging visuals, including typography, data visualizations, character animation, and motion graphics.
Produce innovative and compelling video and animation content for events, web, mobile, and social media, tailoring content to platform-specific formats and audience behaviors.
Assist on video shoots and support production logistics as needed.

Technology & Innovation

Use emerging tools—including AI-assisted workflows—to support ideation, concept development, editing, and motion design while maintaining high creative and ethical standards.
Stay current with production technologies, visual trends, and evolving storytelling formats to improve creative impact and efficiency.
Maintain a high level of technical proficiency in shooting, editing, and post-production, including video and audio recording equipment, lighting, graphics manipulation, file compression, and related tools.
Support the management, maintenance, repair, and procurement of department production and audio equipment.

Collaboration & Communication

Translate communication objectives and audience insights into effective video and animation concepts that support campaign and organizational goals.
Work collaboratively with Strategic Communications staff and other stakeholders to ensure content aligns with messaging, brand standards, and audience needs.
Provide recommendations and creative input to the Sr. Design Manager during project planning and execution.
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills and a strong client-service orientation.
Receive and apply constructive feedback to strengthen creative and technical skills.

Project & Content Management

Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
Support projects from concept to completion, including participation in client meetings, creative execution, and tracking time and costs, with guidance from senior team members.
Use performance insights and feedback to refine and improve future video and animation projects.
Ensure content aligns with accessibility best practices, storytelling, and organizational brand guidelines.
Contribute ideas for new formats, storytelling approaches, and long-term video and motion initiatives.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in a relevant field.
3+ years demonstrated experience in video and animation production through internships, academic projects, freelance work, or early professional roles, supported by a strong portfolio or reel.
Editing and post-production skills, with proficiency in software such as Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Illustrator.
High level of creativity, attention to detail, and visual composition.
Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Graphic design experience and familiarity with design software such as Adobe InDesign.
Experience creating short-form or social-first video content.
Familiarity with video performance metrics, analytics, and content optimization.
Experience working with freelancers, agencies, or external production partners.
Familiarity with social science or policy research and translating complex scientific concepts to broader audiences

Career Growth

This position offers opportunities to expand skills in motion design, storytelling, content strategy, artificial intelligence–supported creative workflows, and emerging technologies while building a strong portfolio in a collaborative team environment.

Application Requirements

In addition to a resume and cover letter, candidates must submit a video reel or portfolio of creative work to be considered for this position.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The pay range for this position is $77,000 - $90,000.

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
Dental and vision insurance
A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.

WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT:

NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.

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