Adjunct Faculty - Cinematography at United States International University - USIU Africa

Role Summary

To deliver teaching, practice-led research, student supervision, and academic service in cinematography and visual storytelling. The role emphasizes technical mastery, creative authorship, and integration of emerging technologies to prepare graduates for careers in film, television, streaming, commercials, and immersive media.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in cinematography, camera operation, lighting design, lensing, colour science, and visual storytelling.
• Design project-based modules with studio labs, set-based shoots, and location exercises that replicate professional production pipelines.
• Develop blended and online learning resources including shot breakdowns, lighting diagrams, camera tests, and remote dailies review.
• Define clear learning outcomes and rubrics for technical competence, creative decision-making, and collaborative production.

Practical Production Leadership

• Lead cinematography for student productions, ensuring technical standards and creative mentorship.
• Manage teaching equipment including cinema cameras, lenses, lighting packages, grip, and monitoring systems.
• Establish and enforce safety, rigging, and on-set protocols for studio and location shoots.

Research and Creative Practice

• Conduct practice-led research in cinematography, colour science, virtual production, computational imaging, or related areas.
• Produce creative outputs such as short films, cinematography showreels, technical papers, or industry reports.
• Pursue external funding and industry partnerships for research, equipment, and student opportunities.

Student Supervision and Mentorship

• Supervise final projects, theses, and professional portfolios.
• Mentor students in career development, festival strategy, showreel curation, and industry networking.
• Facilitate internships, placements, and collaborative projects with directors, editors, and post houses.

Curriculum Development and Quality Assurance

• Lead curriculum design and periodic review to align with global best practice and industry standards.
• Integrate emerging technologies such as virtual production, HDR workflows, and computational cinematography.
• Contribute to accreditation, assessment design, and continuous improvement processes.

Academic and Community Service

• Serve on departmental committees and contribute to SCCCA’s strategic planning.
• Deliver masterclasses, public screenings, and community outreach to raise the School’s profile.
• Build partnerships with production companies, rental houses, festivals, and equipment manufacturers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Cinematography, Film Production, Cinematic Arts, Digital Imaging, or related field.
• Minimum three years of university-level teaching experience or equivalent professional training experience.
• Demonstrable creative or scholarly output equivalent to at least 24 publication points (16 in refereed outlets) per CUE standards, or a peer-reviewed professional portfolio of high-quality industry credits, awards, or consultancies.
• Professional registration or membership with relevant bodies where applicable.

Preferred Qualifications (Global Benchmark)

• PhD or practice-based doctorate in Cinematography, Film Studies, or Media Technology.
• Extensive industry credits as Director of Photography, camera operator, or lighting designer on feature films, TV drama, commercials, or streaming productions.
• Experience with virtual production workflows (LED volume, real-time compositing, camera tracking).
• Track record of funded research, international collaborations, or festival-recognised creative work.

Required Competencies and Technical Skills

• Camera Systems and Optics: Knowledge of cinema cameras, sensor characteristics, lens choices, anamorphic/spherical optics, and support systems.
• Lighting and Grip: Mastery of lighting design, fixtures, control systems, colour temperature management, and rigging.
• Colour Science and Post Workflow: Proficiency in RAW workflows, LUTs, colour grading pipelines, ACES, and collaboration with colourists.
• Virtual Production: Familiarity with LED volumes, real-time engines, HDR monitoring, and camera tracking.
• Production Management: Ability to plan shoots, manage budgets, and coordinate cross-disciplinary crews.
• Pedagogy and Assessment: Competence in project-based learning, formative feedback, and inclusive teaching practices.
• Collaboration and Communication: Strong interpersonal skills for directing on-set teams and mentoring students.