City : Vancouver

Category : Full time

Industry : Educational Services

Employer : University of British Columbia

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

UBC IT Audio Visual provides end‑to‑end support for the university’s audio‑visual infrastructure, enabling high‑quality teaching, learning, research, collaboration and event activities across campus. The Team delivers a comprehensive range of AV services including AV system design, planning and installation; presentation and conferencing technologies; digital signage; event AV support; and ongoing technical troubleshooting for learning spaces, meeting rooms, classrooms, labs, and auditoriums. The unit supports AV environments of varying size and complexity, from small installations to full campus learning spaces, ensuring systems are reliable, intuitive, and aligned with UBC standards and practices.

The AV Design Team is responsible for planning, design, engineering, documentation, coordination and technical stewardship of AV systems across the university. This includes developing AV requirements, creating CAD and design documentation, specifying equipment, ensuring adherence to UBC AV standards, and collaborating with project managers, integration teams, and external stakeholders throughout construction and renovation cycles. Designers also support specialized AV environments such as active learning labs, research and observation systems, digital signage networks, and hybrid collaboration spaces. With deep knowledge of evolving AV technologies and UBC’s technical environment, the AV Design Team ensures that audio‑visual systems across campus are functional, sustainable, user‑focused, and built to last.

The Audio-Visual Systems Designer II provides consultancy and technical leadership in the development and application of broad university audio-visual design standards, and the design and implementation of audio visual systems to support classroom learning, collaboration, interaction at distance and communication to large audiences, as well as to support University administrative and research objectives. The AV Systems Designer has design authority, oversees and is accountable for the implementation of AV specification as they relate to individual projects and overall standards.

Organizational Status

Interacts directly with other University technology professionals, faculty and staff project stakeholders.

Reports to the Team Lead, AV Design. Work may also be directed and reviewed by Project Managers in context of specific projects. Works in a peer relationship with AV Systems Designer position within Faculty of Medicine.

Work Performed

• Designs complex audio-visual systems based on requirements and develops and compiles the specification documentation for tender packages.

• Develops and maintains wide reaching standards for audio visual design, applicable to a broad cross section of applications that ensure a repeatable level of quality and user experience is met for all audio-visual designs.

• Develops and maintains the AV design practice ensuring processes and tools are in place and kept current. Acts as a point of escalation for solutions to chronic or high impact technical problems and takes action to resolve.

• Oversees and creates processes related to AV system testing/commissioning, and other quality control processes. Acts as the client representative with regards to final acceptance of work delivered.

• Interpret and communicate complex requirements, performance standards and end-solution details to AV designers, project managers, consultants and construction trades.

• Provide technical guidance to technical support staff on use of new facilities, design factors, new and changed equipment standards, methods for troubleshooting, maintenance and support. Partners with operational leaders to define the parameters of performance and use.

• Consults with end-users (faculty, staff, instructors, and students) and leads requirements-gathering and development of use-cases requiring AV technology enablement. Translates needs into technical requirements for inclusion in detailed design documents and conducts feasibility studies, draft proposals for evaluation, and conduct pilots with end-users and stakeholders incorporating modifications into final product. Oversees final testing against client standards.

• Ensures AV services provided by vendors meet design specifications for new facilities, including active participation on commissioning of AV systems upon project completion.

• Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring to AV system design resources.

• Develop and maintain relationships in order to sustain the integrity of the design process from concept to implementation. Will often need to exert influence to effect change and gain buy-in to successfully implement AV standard designs to new and refurbished facilities.

• Has final decision approval on selection and procurement of audio-visual services and products and related hardware, software and network equipment.

• Reviews and approves AV system design related materials, such as shop drawings and as-built documentation.

• Drafts and communicates Contemplated Change Orders (CCOs), responds to Request for Information (RFIs), issues site inspection reports and other project transmittals.

• Researches emerging technologies and AV designs used by other higher education institutions, analyzes options and incorporates lessons learned into design standards.

• Develops and delivers formal training to technical and non-technical groups on AV designs standards, methodology, and end product usage.

• Lead consultation with clients, facilities representatives, project teams and AV design consultants.

• Represents the university in public competitive procurement process including leading site visits, providing technical specifications, and acts as a subject matter expert to advise the evaluation process for AV system proposals ensuring client requirements are appropriately represented in bid responses.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Information Technology plays a key role in enabling the University to achieve its goal of becoming one of the world’s leading universities. The AV Systems Designer II plays a significant role in the planning and design of AV technology and video conference systems. In addition, the AV Systems Designer II is responsible for maintaining the technical standards that all AV system design decisions are based upon. Should these projects not be completed successfully or the results not support the activities of the University, this would compromise the University’s ability to achieve its strategic goals and vision. Inability of systems to support the University s needs could seriously compromise daily business and activities at the University. This position assumes responsibility for project decisions and the setting of standards that could result in significant cost the University.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Team Lead, AV Design. Works with latitude within general policies and an administrative framework. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of overall and long-term project objectives.

Supervision Given

The position is a senior advisory role within the AV Systems Design team. Provides direction and guidance to AV design team to make sure projects are completed as assigned. Monitors and documents the progress of projects as assigned and coordinates activities to ensure that deadlines and quality controls set forth are met.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. In-depth knowledge of applications and the business requirements supporting them. Minimum of five years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• AV system design experience.

• In-depth understanding of audio-visual technologies including:

  • Video routing systems, video standards, conversion and integration techniques.

  • Audio routing systems, audio processing and advanced effects such as echo-cancellation, and voice activation.

  • Automation/control systems, integration with audio and video devices, programming, interface design and troubleshooting.

• In-depth understanding of networking, including routing, private and public IP spaces, firewall configuration concepts, VLAN configurations, multicast and unicast, etc.

• Proficient in the use of software tools such as AutoCAD, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Excel, EASE, and SketchUP to produce AV system designs, floorplans, and schematics and environment models.

• Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft Office software, including Word and Excel to develop complex and detailed specification documents.

• Expert level of practical experience in AV and Video Conference standards and design considerations.

• An understanding of building and facility considerations (HVAC, electrical, construction - conduit, wall structures, acoustics, etc.) and how they relate to AV design and implementation.

• Demonstrated knowledge of industry best practice, and of emerging technologies and their impact on video conference technology.

• An understanding of how pedagogy impacts room design, and ramifications of an evolving pedagogy.

• An understanding of key trends and players in the Audio-Visual industry, particularly with respect to, digital systems, videoconferencing systems and digital media applications.

• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops.

• Ability to conduct needs analyses, plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources.

• Ability to mentor and coach staff.

• Effective leadership, negotiation and team-building skills.

• Ability to effectively facilitate groups to achieve appropriate outcome.

• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships with customers, and potential customers, tradespeople and vendors.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to resolve conflicts at all levels.