Teaching Assistant -Applied Media (Digital Media)

Role Overview

Teaching Assistant – Applied Media (Digital Media) at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), supporting the Computer Information Science program.

Role Purpose

Support faculty and students within the Computer Information Science program by maintaining college laboratories and workshops, including installation, demonstration, maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment and facilities. This hands-on role involves up to 10 hours per week of instructional duties.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations & Maintenance

• Provide timely lab support to faculty, staff and students.
• Maintain a schedule of preventative maintenance for all equipment.
• Keep adequate manuals and maintenance logs for equipment and parts.
• Observe and reinforce safety and housekeeping procedures and protocol within the lab.
• Maintain systems and procedures to track borrowed equipment and tools.
• Control the distribution of consumable materials and ensure adequate inventory levels for supplies within the lab.

Equipment Management

• Receive, install, maintain and assist with ordering of lab equipment and supplies.
• Assemble new or modified equipment such as servers, workstations, routers, switches and systems.
• Interact regularly with suppliers regarding the purchases of new equipment.
• Demonstrate the use of equipment within the lab.
• Recommend solutions to continuously improve lab operations.

Teaching & Instructional Support

• Provide teaching assistance to CIS Faculty during laboratory sessions.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of teaching materials.
• Support faculty and students in the design, planning and execution of student projects as required.
• Perform teaching duties as required.

Institutional Engagement

• Contribute to the development of HCT by observing and implementing College and system-wide policies and procedures.
• Participate in extra-curricular activities and community events.
• Develop an awareness of and respect for the customs and cultures of HCT students and employees.
• Travel to other HCT colleges to attend meetings and workshops.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering or other relevant discipline is required.
• Master's Degree in a relevant discipline is desirable.
• At least 3 years of progressive hands-on experience in hardware and software support is preferred.
• Current advanced industry certifications such as Microsoft, Cisco, Security/Networking, Server and/or Hardware are preferred.
• Membership to a relevant internationally recognized professional association is highly desirable.
• Previous teaching assistant experience is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Practical experience with PC and OS support troubleshooting and implementation.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in a complex networking environment with CISCO equipment is preferred.
• High degree of computer literacy and demonstrated ability to integrate technology in the workplace.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated competency to interact with people at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to understand the queries of customers and direct them to the appropriate resource.
• Good customer service and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to cope with pressure in a positive manner while working to deadlines within a busy and demanding environment.
• Demonstrated willingness to engage in professional development activities to improve current skills, acquire new skills and adapt to evolving organizational needs.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
• Knowledge of Arabic is desirable but not a requirement.