About Maine College of Art & Design
At Maine College of Art & Design, we foster a creative and inclusive community
where art transforms lives and enriches the world. Located in the heart of
Portland’s vibrant Arts District, MECA&D offers a dynamic, supportive environment for students, artists, and educators. Our Salt Institute for Documentary Studies is nationally recognized for its excellence in nonfiction storytelling, blending rigorous curriculum with real-world experience.
Position Overview
The Salt Teaching Assistant (TA) provides vital instructional and administrative
support to Salt programs focused on radio, podcasting, short film, or documentary workshops. Reporting to the Director of Salt or an assigned instructor, the TA supports faculty and students in the classroom, facilitates technical skill-building, and contributes to a vibrant storytelling culture. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career documentarian or storyteller to engage in higher education while further developing their own professional practice.
Key Responsibilities
Instructional & Technical Support
- Assist in-class instruction and support students with storytelling techniques and ethical documentary practices.
- Provide one-on-one or small group mentoring on editing tools such as
ProTools or Adobe Premiere. - Monitor student progress and share feedback with faculty on technical skills and learning outcomes.
- Offer academic and technical support aligned with curriculum goals and
learning objectives.
Program & Administrative Support
- Manage course logistics such as file-sharing, uploading content to Canvas, and photocopying.
- Support guest lecturers via Zoom, including managing technical details like captions and recordings.
- Participate in key Salt events (e.g., Storytelling Night, Final Show, Graduation) and support event coordination.
- Assist with maintaining Salt’s equipment lending library and provide input on equipment or software needs.
- Attend faculty meetings as needed to share student observations and
feedback.
Community Engagement & Promotion
- Manage Salt’s social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook,
LinkedIn), promoting student work and events. - Help foster a supportive and collaborative learning environment for all Salt
students.
What We’re Looking For
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking, Journalism, Media Studies,
Communications, or a related field preferred. - Equivalent professional experience in storytelling, podcasting, or short film
may be considered in place of a degree.
Experience
- 1–2 years of hands-on experience in documentary audio or video production.
- Proficiency with editing software such as ProTools or Adobe Premiere.
- Prior mentoring, tutoring, or instructional support experience is highly
desirable. - Familiarity with higher education or student-centered learning environments is a plus.
Skills & Attributes
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple responsibilities.
- Technically proficient and eager to help others learn production tools.
- Enthusiastic about documentary storytelling and building community in a
creative learning environment. - Committed to equity, inclusion, and accessible educational practices.
What We Offer
Join a nationally recognized documentary program that prepares emerging
storytellers for meaningful careers.
This part-time offers 10 to 15 hours per week during the following period:
- Fall Program - September 25 through December 12, 2025.
Compensation for the position is $23.00/hr.
Maine College of Art & Design is committed to fully including all qualified
individuals. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job
application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@meca.edu.
Ready to Apply?
To apply, please submit the following materials as a single PDF to
employment@meca.edu:
- A cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience;
- A current résumé or CV;
- A list of three professional references, including at least one former
supervisor.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Maine College of Art & Design is committed to fostering a welcoming and
respectful environment where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed
based on their talents, qualifications, and achievements. We uphold the principles of fairness, merit, and equal opportunity in our academic and professional community.
MECA&D complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding
non-discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry, religion, genetic information, familial status, receipt of a protection order, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.