Description

Winner of more than 40 Emmy Awards, ITVS is public media’s leading incubator and presenter of documentary film. We partner with filmmakers who bring untold stories to public media to make a difference in the world. For over 25 years, we’ve been committed to diversity on both sides of the camera, helping filmmakers tell and share vital stories that are reflective of our society.

Summary:

This person in this role exists within the Audience Development department, reports to the Senior Content Manager and works to develop and implement alternative (alt) text to thousands of images on the Independent Lens website. Responsibilities include: Develop well-written and descriptive alt text for images for digital platforms; implement alt text to improve user experience for sign-impaired, listening users, and search engine crawlers; and partner with teams to ensure the type of content and alt-text writing style being implemented matches the target audience.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific Duties

• Create detailed and descriptive alt text that conveys the meaning and context of a visual item in a concise manner.
• Ensure appropriate and accurate entry of alt text for website images.
• Analyze each image in relation to the surrounding text to determine its purpose, the relevant information in the image, appropriate terminology, and the best approach for describing the image to target audiences.
• Implement well-written, descriptive alt text to help reduce ambiguity and improve user experience for improved accessibility and search engine crawlers for the Independent Lens website.
• Identifying issues with existing alt text, rectifying errors, and strengthening weak language.
• Partner with the marketing and publicity unit within the audience development department to ensure and implement the type of content and alt-text writing style that contributes to the target audience.

General Duties

• Fosters and cultivates a culture of care and a high commitment to quality informed by ITVS values.
• Contributes to culture by proactively participating in organization programs and staff events.
• Seeks and integrates constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Works collaboratively with peers and staff; builds relationships through effective and compassionate communication.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Competencies

1. A commitment to ITVS’ mission and an ability to apply sensitivity to a variety of social, economic, and cultural perspectives.
2. Cares about principles associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion; willing and wanting to support the voices and visions of underrepresented communities, and reflect the interests and concerns of a diverse society.
3. Basic understanding of principles associated with alternative text landscape and familiarity with website accessibility principles.
4. Ability to write clean, crisp copy for website and email audiences.
5. Creative with a flexible mindset; open to new ideas and practices.
6. Adaptable to a fast-paced and constantly changing environment.
7. Ability to stay focused, highly organized and pay close attention to details; commitment to quality including adherence to brand standards.
8. Can work on multiple projects quickly and efficiently.
9. Aptitude to understand ideas and views portrayed in visuals.
10. Comfortable collaborating with teams.
11. A natural problem solver with strong attention to detail.
12. Has a strong command over language and is able to deliver complicated ideas in a precise way.
13. Enjoys working as a team member as well as independently.
14. Willing to support leadership’s decision and direction in a positive, professional and cooperative manner. Good sense of humor is helpful too!

Requirements

• Required: Experience with WordPress or similar web content management systems.
• Required: Ability to process twenty (20) alternative text images per hour.
• Preferred: One (1) year of experience writing in the alternative text industry.
• Preferred: Basic HTML knowledge.
• Preferred: Asana experience.
• Preferred: Experience as a professional writer.
• Preferred: Knowledge of web accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and best practices.

Compensation

ITVS is a financial steward of public funds and committed to pay transparency, as well as providing equitable and competitive compensation for staff. For this role the pay is $24.34/hour and all incumbent new hires base pay will begin at $24.34/hour. This is a non-exempt 2-month temporary full-time position, 40 hours/week.

Hybrid Work

Creativity, collaboration and building community are essential to ITVS’ long-term health and sustainability. Our goal is to provide a flexible hybrid model of in-person and remote work that supports individual productivity, teamwork, and an organizational culture fueled in part by being present with one another. To achieve this goal in-office attendance, of at least eight (8) days a month, is a requirement of working at ITVS.

Cover Letters

It's important for you to know we love cover letters, they help us understand why you are interested in working at ITVS and they show us how you express yourself in writing. We will prioritize applicants who provide a cover letter.

ITVS aspires to make the online job application process accessible to any and all users.

If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the application process, and would like to request assistance or accommodation, please contact us at jobs@ITVS.org

We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any bias including race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability or national origin.

Lastly, pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.