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Comprehensive Job Specification: Video Content Technician

💰 $45,000 - $75,000

Media ProductionTechnologyContent ManagementDigital MediaPost-Production

🎯 Role Definition

A Video Content Technician is the technical guardian of an organization's video assets. This role is pivotal in the post-production and distribution pipeline, ensuring that all video content meets stringent technical and quality standards before it reaches its audience. This professional is responsible for the entire lifecycle of digital media, from ingestion and quality control to encoding, metadata management, and final delivery. They are the critical link between creative production and technical distribution, possessing a deep understanding of video formats, codecs, and delivery platforms. Their meticulous work guarantees a seamless, high-quality viewing experience across broadcast, web, and mobile environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Production Assistant
  • Media Logger / Librarian
  • Junior Video Editor
  • Technical Operator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Video Content Technician / Media Operations Lead
  • Media Asset Manager
  • Post-Production Supervisor
  • Video Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • Video Editor
  • Streaming Media Specialist
  • Quality Control Supervisor
  • Digital Asset Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform comprehensive, multi-point Quality Control (QC) checks on all incoming and outgoing video and audio assets to identify and rectify technical issues such as digital artifacts, corruption, incorrect aspect ratios, and audio sync problems.
  • Manage the entire digital asset lifecycle, including the ingestion, processing, archival, and retrieval of media, ensuring all content is correctly logged, tracked, and stored within the Media Asset Management (MAM) or Digital Asset Management (DAM) system.
  • Execute complex video transcoding and encoding workflows using professional software (e.g., Adobe Media Encoder, Telestream Vantage) to create various file formats and bitrates optimized for diverse platforms, including broadcast, VOD, social media, and web.
  • Apply, verify, and meticulously manage metadata, including timecodes, closed captions, subtitles (e.g., SRT, VTT formats), and descriptive tags, to ensure content is discoverable, accessible, and compliant with legal and platform requirements.
  • Normalize and quality-check audio tracks to meet broadcast loudness standards (such as EBU R128 or ATSC A/85), ensuring a consistent and pleasant listening experience for the end-user.
  • Perform basic video editing tasks, such as trimming content, adding slates and bumpers, creating clean versions by removing sensitive content, and inserting on-screen graphics or watermarks as required.
  • Operate and maintain video file transfer systems (e.g., Aspera, Signiant) to ensure the secure and efficient delivery of large media files to internal stakeholders, partners, and distribution platforms.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to video playback, file format incompatibilities, and content delivery, acting as a key technical resource for non-technical teams.
  • Create and deliver technically sound master files and derivatives for international localization, ensuring correct formats, channel mapping, and subtitle inclusion for different regions.
  • Monitor and manage automated workflows for transcoding and QC, intervening manually to resolve exceptions and ensure a high rate of processing success.
  • Prepare and package content for delivery to Video-On-Demand (VOD) platforms, ensuring all associated assets (artwork, metadata, captions) meet the specific delivery specifications for each partner.
  • Maintain a deep, current knowledge of video and audio codecs (e.g., ProRes, DNxHD, H.264, HEVC), container formats (MP4, MOV, MXF), and streaming protocols (HLS, DASH).
  • Document all technical workflows, procedures, and delivery specifications, creating a knowledge base that ensures consistency and aids in training new team members.
  • Conduct regular audits of the media library to ensure asset integrity, correct metadata, and proper archival status, performing data cleanup as necessary.
  • Collaborate closely with post-production, programming, and creative teams to understand their needs and ensure a smooth, efficient handoff of final deliverables that meet all technical specs.

Secondary Functions

  • Provide frontline technical support to internal teams, such as marketing and editorial, by advising on best practices for video handling and troubleshooting common issues.
  • Assist in the evaluation, testing, and implementation of new software, hardware, and video technologies to recommend improvements to existing workflows.
  • Contribute to the organization and ongoing maintenance of the Media Asset Management (MAM) system, helping to refine folder structures, metadata schemas, and user permissions.
  • Generate and prepare low-resolution proxy files for internal review and approval processes, facilitating faster and more efficient creative collaboration.
  • Manage the physical and digital media archive, overseeing the storage, labeling, and retrieval of legacy content from tapes, hard drives, and LTOs.
  • Participate in project planning meetings to provide technical insights and help establish realistic timelines and deliverables for video-related projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Video Editing Software: Proficiency with Non-Linear Editing (NLE) platforms such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Media Composer for essential editing, conforming, and exporting.
  • Encoding/Transcoding Tools: Expertise in professional encoding software like Adobe Media Encoder and Telestream Vantage, as well as familiarity with command-line tools like FFmpeg.
  • Quality Control (QC) Analysis: Experience with manual and automated QC tools (e.g., Baton, Cerify, Interra) to analyze video and audio files for technical errors.
  • Video & Audio Formats: Deep understanding of video/audio codecs, containers, frame rates, aspect ratios, color spaces (Rec. 709, Rec. 2020), and bitrates.
  • Media Asset Management (MAM/DAM): Hands-on experience using and maintaining large-scale MAM or DAM systems (e.g., Dalet, Avid Interplay, Frame.io).
  • Captioning & Subtitling: Familiarity with caption/subtitle formats (SRT, VTT, SCC, TTML) and software for their creation, editing, and synchronization.
  • File Transfer Protocols: Competency with accelerated file transfer technologies like Aspera, Signiant, or Media Shuttle.
  • Audio Standards: Knowledge of broadcast audio loudness standards (EBU R128, ATSC A/85) and tools for audio measurement and correction.
  • Technical Troubleshooting: Ability to systematically diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to digital media files and workflows.
  • Scripting & Automation: Basic knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for automating repetitive tasks is a significant plus.

Soft Skills

  • Attention to Detail: Exceptional meticulousness and a keen eye for spotting subtle technical flaws in video and audio.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to identify the root cause of an issue and implement an effective solution.
  • Time Management: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
  • Communication: The ability to clearly articulate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical colleagues.
  • Adaptability: A flexible and proactive mindset to keep up with evolving technologies, standards, and workflows.
  • Collaboration: A team-oriented approach with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including creative, engineering, and management.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate's Degree or equivalent professional certification in a relevant field. Equivalent hands-on experience may be substituted.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Film & Television Production
  • Media Technology
  • Broadcast Engineering or Communications
  • Digital Media Arts

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of direct experience in a video operations, post-production, or media technician role within a broadcast, streaming, or digital media company.

Preferred:

  • Proven experience managing content within a large-scale Media Asset Management (MAM) system.
  • Demonstrable experience working with automated file-based workflows and QC systems.
  • Experience delivering content to major streaming platforms (e.g., YouTube, Netflix, Hulu) and familiarity with their specific technical requirements.
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