Working Title: UCC Media Student Assistant - IE

State Role Title: Institutional Employment/Federal Work Study

Position Type: Institutional Employment

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Student Life and Involvement

Department: 100358 - University Career Center

Pay Rate: Hourly

Specify Range or Amount: $12.77

Is this a JMU only position? N/A

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? N/A

Beginning Review Date: 03/02/2026

About JMU:

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The University Career Center’s mission is to Empower students. Cultivate opportunities. Forge partnerships. Launch careers.

We are seeking a motivated and creative Media Student Assistant for the 2026-2027 academic year to support the Career Center’s media and communications efforts.

Benefits of being a Media Student Assistant

As a Media Student Assistant,

You will gain hands-on experience creating and managing content across various media platforms, strengthening your technical skills in video, audio, photography, and social media.

This role provides opportunities to develop creativity, storytelling, and digital communication skills while collaborating with a professional team.

You’ll also learn how to manage projects, meet deadlines, and adapt to real-world media challenges, building transferable skills that are highly valued in any career path.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist in creating, editing, and producing multimedia content for the University Career Center, including videos, photos, graphics, and social media posts

Manage and update digital platforms, ensuring content is accurate, timely, and engaging while applying professional standards in communication and branding.

Collaborate with UCC staff on media projects and campaigns, contributing ideas, meeting deadlines, and learning project management skills in a real-world setting.

Coordinate and manage weekly headshot sessions, including scheduling, setup, and assisting students

Document Career Center events by photographing, recording interviews, and capturing high-quality video and audio content

Attend weekly staff meetings to collaborate on media projects, receive feedback, and apply guidance to improve content quality and professional skills.

Reflect on media practices and outcomes, incorporating feedback to improve content quality and professional competencies.

Qualifications:

Required:

Graphic design experience (ideally, using Canva or Adobe programs).

Ability to write clearly and concisely.

Be available to work 10 hours a week during our business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm

Be detail-oriented, organized, positive, and reliable.

Be able to work independently

Be willing to learn new skills required to complete job responsibilities.

Preferred:

Publicity experience for a group, club, or organization

Experience with Teams or other workflow management systems

Experience maintaining social media communities (using Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite, etc.) for clubs, groups, departments or brands.

Additional Posting Information:

*Please email a link to your portfolio to Carlos Yanez- yanezrc@jmu.edu

As a result of working as a Media Student Assistant, a student will gain experience in the following NACE competencies

By the end of this role, students will be able to:

Create clear, compelling, and professional marketing materials across digital and print platforms (Communication).

Use social media, graphic design, and digital communication tools effectively to promote career center services (Technology, Communication).

Collect and analyze engagement data to evaluate campaign effectiveness and adjust strategies accordingly (Critical Thinking, Technology).

Manage deadlines, incorporate feedback, and maintain brand consistency in all deliverables (Professionalism).

Lead or coordinate select marketing campaigns and demonstrate initiative in creative projects (Leadership).

Reflect on their growth in communication, technology, and project management, and showcase their work in a professional portfolio (Career & Self-Development).

Conditions of Employment:  

Students must be degree-seeking students, enrolled on at least a half-time basis (6 credits for undergraduate and 5 credits for graduate).

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a student with a disability and need assistance please contact the Office of Disability Services at (540) 568-6705 or disability-svcs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the Office of Disability Services, located in the Student Success Center, Suite 1202 and they will be happy to assist you.