Photographer/Videographer - Roster position

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a civil European rescue association founded in 2015 to face the humanitarian tragedy and the lack of adequate state rescue capacity in the Mediterranean on the deadliest maritime migratory route in the world since 2014. Created by a group of European citizens, our maritime and humanitarian organisation has three missions:

1. To rescue people in distress at sea.

2. To protect and assist survivors on board our ship.

3. To bear witness and raise awareness about the tragedy unfolding in the central Mediterranean.

Today, SOS MEDITERRANEE is a network composed of four European entities (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland) sharing the objective to support our rescue operations at sea. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have been carried out since February 2016 in the Central Mediterranean off the Libyan coasts with the chartered ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. To date, over 43.000 people have been rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE.

SOS MEDITERRANEE is looking to hire Photographer/Videographer, in order to strengthen our pool of people who would be available to join our Communication team onboard of the Ocean Viking.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the operational communications coordinator onboard and to the Audiovisual department onshore, the photographer or videographer onboard ensures the visual production of SOS MEDITERRANEE’s mission at sea in accordance with SOS MEDITERRANEE’s guidelines. 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Content Production

• Proactively suggest and define with the Communication coordinator specific audiovisual comms product to develop onboard 

• Responsible for capturing image, audio, and video content in accordance with SOS MED guidelines and standards  

• Edit and upload audio and visual content captured during the rotation, in line with SOS MEDITERRANEE’s SOP and guidelines 

• Assist the Communication coordinator in collecting testimonies of rescue individuals when needed in the respect of SOS MED ethical standards 

• Carry-out daily post-production while maintaining comprehensive branding to align with organizational goals 

Equipment & digitals assests management

• In coordination with the AV department, is responsible to bring onboard all necessary equipment to work onboard. 

• Is responsible for AV equipment. Ensure state of readiness and routine check of the equipment allocated to them and report to the Communication Coordinator any issue. 

• Deliver all selected material for archiving at the end of the mission in HD 

SAR & Post Rescue Activities 

• Participate to lookout team to spot possible distress case  

• Support rescue operations as a team member onboard of the RHIB during rescue operations.  

• Support post –rescue operations, acting a shadow for the medical team during mass Casualty plans.  

• Support post-rescue activities when survivors are onboard 

Reporting 

• Ensure the production of a handover report at the end of their patrol, and transmission of necessary information to the Audiovisual department onshore 

• Flag unresolved issues to ensure continuity between rotations 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS :

• A passport with at least 6 month of validity is necessary to travel in the international water

• This position is on board a ship and candidates must be physically fit and “seaworthy” having spent some time at sea due to rough or unpredictable sea states (be aware that sea sickness can be significant)

• Be prepared for demanding field conditions : Shooting from a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) at variable, including high, speeds 

• Onboard conditions affected by weather, limited space (shared bedroom) and temperature fluctuations. 

• Candidate must have effective coping skills to deal with stress during high intensity rescues.

• Due to the current context and several uncertainties, flexibility is necessary.

• Transit with rescued people on board may last longer than usual waiting for a place of safety.

• Candidates may be asked to participate in recording audio and video messages for the media.

Skills and qualifications required or desirable

• Excellent skills in photography and video shooting 

• Ability to produce audio, photo and video material.   

• Proficiency in image tagging and metadata management (keywords, captions, IPTC standards). 

• Good knowledge in sound recording 

• Good knowledge of the geopolitical context of search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean  

• Good understanding of humanitarian sector, principles and ethics  

• Extensive knowledge of SAR activities is an asset 

• 5 or more years of professional experience as a photographer or/and videographer. 

• Previous experience in humanitarian sector and crisis management is a requirement 

• Previous experience on a rescue ship is an asset

Languages & IT

• Fluent in English written and spoken.   

• Good command of Italian or Arabic is a strong asset  

• Highly computer literate with capability in email, MS Office, including Excel, and related business and communication tools.  

• Experience in photo and video editing (Lightroom/Capture One, Da Vinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, etc) is an asset. 

• MS Teams/SharePoint  

Soft skills 

• Adaptability

• Stress management

• Autonomy

• Team Work

Terms of contract:

• This recruitment is for a roster, the precise date of contract will be defined once recruited

• Short term contract, for 8 weeks rotation onboard (open to discussion)

• Ship-based position

• Europe-wide travel

• Salary : from 2.860 € gross according to the time spent on the OV

• Insurance on-board and off-board