Audio Engineering Manager

Job Description

OVERVIEW

NPR seeks an Audio Engineering Manager to oversee day-to-day operations at our broadcast facilities in Culver City, California (NPR West). This includes managing a team of audio engineers and allocating resources to support NPR's content creation. This position is responsible for a wide range of technical and logistical duties, which include maintaining disaster recovery readiness and responding to 24x7x365 production and scheduling requests.

The successful candidate will be a proactive, collaborative individual with a strong background in audio engineering and broadcast, the ability and desire to learn new skills and technologies, and a belief in the mission of NPR. A history of empathetic leadership, interdisciplinary cooperation, and developing staff are key components of this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversee all technical aspects of content creation and broadcast operations at NPR West
• Collaborate on development and enforcement of production workflows within the Audio Engineering team at NPR West, as well as between multiple departments and locations
• Provide 24x7 immediate response to technology outages and/or staffing emergencies
• Maintain current service levels and high-quality standards for audio production
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships across the organization, including regular engagement with content creators, support groups, and management to identify and anticipate needs and allocate resources accordingly
• Manage, support, train, and develop a team of audio engineers whose work encompasses broadcast and digital content creation
• Mentor and advises teams on the use of NPR technologies, including LAWO and LAWO VSM broadcast systems, LineScheduler automation software, Pro Tools and MTE digital audio workstations, iZotope RX, Waves plugins, and ISDN/AOIP codecs from manufacturers such as Telos, Comrex, TieLine, and GatesAir
• Ensures compliance with the NABET collective bargaining agreement
• Contributes to writing and maintenance of documentation for critical broadcast and production systems
• Sees to regular testing and maintenance of disaster recovery systems and recommends updates and modifications as required
• Provides backup operational management and technical support to NPR's Washington and New York Audio Engineering teams
• Leads hiring searches for Audio Engineering positions at NPR West, participates in hiring process for positions in other NPR locations and departments as required
• Supervises at least 8 direct reports, including preparing their regular performance reviews, and making effective recommendations regarding any hiring, promotion, and discipline for these positions
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
• 7+ years of professional production, audio, and/or broadcast experience
• 4+ years of supervisory experience or team leadership

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in broadcast engineering, content production, communications, or management.

WORK LOCATION: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be onsite at our Culver City, CA office at least 3 days per week. The employee must also reside in an NPR supported location based on the number of onsite days they choose.

REQUIRED SKILLS
• Effective on-site and remote team leadership, development, and delegation
• Ability to cultivate a welcoming, inclusive workplace environment, where people from diverse backgrounds feel valued and able to do their best work
• Knowledge of broadcast automation, audio/video router configuration, audio transport, and production workflows
• Thorough understanding of audio engineering concepts and principles
• Ability to work independently, multitask, prioritize, and thrive under remote supervision
• Excellent communication skills (written, oral, documentation creation, etc.)
• Adept at identifying and solving complex problems with tact and discretion
• Customer service focused mentality
• Understanding of emerging broadcast and audio technologies
• Ability to effectively translate highly technical topics and concepts to editorial staff and management
• Ability and desire to identify and learn new systems, tools, and technologies

PREFERRED SKILLS
• Knowledge of current AOIP transmission protocols and hardware, such as Ravenna, AES67, Opus, Tieline, Comrex etc.
• Familiarity with IT networking
• Familiarity with digital audio workstations and production workflow, especially incorporating AVID Pro Tools
• Familiarity with media asset management systems
• Experience working in broadcast and/or master control facilities
• Experience with digital audio routing, both analog and digital consoles, and matrix routing
• Experience with automation, control, and monitoring applications
• Management experience within a union environment
• Familiarity with NPR's content and the public media ecosystem

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-r7m2zq-3-144-113-197-42 in your application.