Company: American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio
Job Title: Technical Director, East Coast Bureaus
Job #: 186-12
The Technical Director, East Coast Bureaus is a member of the Technology & Operations division, working in primary support of American Public Media’s Marketplace portfolio of programs. The position’s primary focus and responsibility is the technical planning, coordination, and media operations of the ongoing broadcasts, production, recordings, and associated events for Marketplace/APM on the east coast of the US, including the New York and Washington DC bureaus.
The Technical Director provides leadership and direction for the following areas; Engineering, Broadcast Operations, Program Production, Facilities, Media Technology, and APMG Enterprise IT shared services. The Technical Director is responsible for developing and maintaining ongoing training methods and strategies to ensure quality control and excellence in support of Marketplace/APM broadcast and digital content. This position will work within the Marketplace and Technology & Operations divisions and will collaborate with colleagues both within and outside of those departments to maintain technical quality of APM broadcasts and recordings, and bureau operations.
This position additionally provides direct support for Enterprise IT services by analyzing and resolving company desktop hardware and software problems, and providing direct support and training for employees working at APM bureaus. This position provides Enterprise IT coverage for APMG and is involved in purchasing, installing, and maintaining end-user hardware and software.
Position Responsibility:
• Conduct board operations for live on-air broadcast.
• Maintain expert knowledge and operational skill in digital audio production using in-house software-editing platforms (currently utilized systems include DAVID, Dalet, Pro Tools and Adobe Audition).
• Establish and monitor any equipment necessary for live national broadcasts including ISDN, T1/E1, IP Network, signal processing and other systems.
• Collaborate closely with show hosts, directors and editors to accommodate a productive and creative broadcast environment.
• Manage studio operations for control and prevention of situations that are not conducive to the broadcast environment.
• Creates, maintains and disseminates various production and broadcast logs, emails as well as discrepancy and trouble reports to address and improve sound quality, and inform stakeholders of issues in need of resolution.
• Recording and mixing of sound content.
• Perform live mixing; On-Air board operations.
• Troubleshoot; On-Air, In Person, Telephone/Email Support, Control Room operations.
• Guide various staff(s) to effectively provide audio elements needed for live broadcast production and back up assistance during the show rolls.
• Provide first tier support and maintenance of technical facility.
• Stay current on digital news broadcasting, sound mixing, propagation and production techniques.
• Attend and/or arrange all necessary and/or requested meetings.
• Operate digital audio workstations, digital audio recording devices, CDR and DVD-R authoring, and digital distribution systems.
• Responsible for responding in a timely and professional manner to internal customer requests for computer hardware, software, and computer network access support.
• Provide immediate onsite support for APM/Marketplace facilities issues, provide first tier local support. Escalate and manage enhanced facilities issues with APMG shared services team.
• Work some shifts on a general technology help desk answering questions, solving problems remotely, and dispatching tickets to appropriate technology teams. Enterprise IT help desk staff are expected to be able to solve many problems on first contact
• Assist in the evaluation, purchase, repair, inventory, installation, and disposal of computing hardware and software
• Other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
• Bachelor degree or five or more years experience as broadcast or recording engineer.
• Experienced recording in many acoustic environments including studios, control rooms, concert halls, churches, clubs, and outdoor venues.
• Five or more years experience as a broadcast, recording, or sound reinforcement engineer.
• Posses a thorough knowledge and experience of field recording and sound reinforcement and studio recording, post production, and “live” broadcast procedures and protocols.
• Operational experience with satellite uplink/downlink equipment; rf transmission remote control gear.
• Computer literate with experience using PC and Mac platforms.
Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
.
• Extensive production skills.
• Demonstrated skills operating systems including audio consoles, mics, patch bays / routers, signal processing and related equipment.
• Expert fluency in several Digital Audio Workstation varieties.
• Must understand and be able to support and troubleshoot modern personal computer hardware
• Solid background in electronics, audiovisual systems, audio systems signal flow and basic electronics wiring.
• Extensive knowledge of microphones, multi-track and broadcast consoles, audio storage media.
• Knowledgeable of operating signal processing equipment including equalizers, compressors, limiters, de-esser's, AD/DA converters and outboard mic pre-amps.
• Knowledge of digital production systems including audio workstations and automation for 'on-air' program delivery. Protools experience preferred.
• Thorough understanding of Windows XP in a business environment
• Ability to troubleshoot local and remote network, VPN, and Microsoft Remote Access connections from the network client side
• Must have at least a basic understanding of Microsoft Active Directory organization structure
• Good analytical and business-oriented problem solving skills
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships in order to achieve common goals
• Able to perform work independently or in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, both written and orally
• Ability to maintain composure and perform well under pressure.
• Able to follow instructions and operate studio consoles during the overnight shift.
• Ability to provide assistance in remote recording projects.
• Creative problem solver and ability to communicate complex principles in non-technical or layman’s terms.
• Ability to multi-task daily
• Solid working knowledge of broadcast news operations
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent customer service skills.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
• Project management skills desirable.
• Microsoft certification (such as MCSE, MCDST, or MCP)
• A+ or similar certification
• Experience supporting Macintosh OS-X in a business / creative environment
• Experience using and supporting audio editing products such as Digidesign ProTools, Audacity, and Adobe Audition is useful
• Ability to use Windows scripting tools
• Experience in a broadcasting or media environment
Internal and External Applicants:
For a complete job description and to apply online, please follow this link:
http://americanpublicmedia.iapplicants.com/ViewJob-260673.html
American Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage candidates with a diversity of life experiences to apply.