Vice President, Programming & Operations

Job Description

Vice President, Programming & Operations

Team: GA Programming

Status: Full-time/Regular/Exempt

Reporting to the Chief Programming Executive and GM, General Audience Programming (GAP), the VP, Programming & Operations will oversee aspects of editorial and operations functions to advance the division's goals and objectives.

The VP, Programming & Operations joins PBS as General Audience Programming is focused on an evolving content strategy developed to maintain and extend reach, optimize content investments across multiple platforms, and enable member stations and programming to compete in an increasingly crowded media environment. This role is critical to serve PBS member stations to expand their reach and impact in local communities and deliver on a mission to develop and distribute content reflective of audiences from diverse backgrounds.

The VP, Programming & Operations works with department leadership to drive strategy and vision while guiding the editorial team across news/journalism, documentaries, history, science, natural history, arts and digital content. The VP, Programming & Operations will also oversee responsibilities related to organizing various functions across General Audience teams and improving workflow.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

Strategy and Execution:
• Operationalizes the vision for the GAP division – advancing the editorial vision and direction in partnership with the GAP leadership team and other PBS departments; ensure a well-planned content pipeline of original commissions, co-productions and acquisitions to sustain an effective, cost effective program portfolio for linear broadcast and cross-platform.

• Continuously recommends ways to manifest the PBS content vision and mission through ''signature'' program content and by identifying sources of diverse talent to implement the vision (talent both in front of and behind the camera).

• Encourages creativity, diversity, and innovation among staff and producers.

• Serves as a public media and industry ambassador to program suppliers, public media stations, other distribution outlets, at conferences, and to the public.

• Has the ability to develop and maintain relationships with public media leaders nationwide.

• Work closely with other departments to define policies, standards and procedures.

• Act as a liaison between Programming and other departments (e.g. PBS Foundation Communications, Marketing, Digital) on content initiatives and station-related matters.

Management:
• Regularly facilitates critical discussions about programs with GAP editorial executive producers, PBS producing partners and the member stations.

• Leads vision planning to achieve audience growth and meet service goals.

• Adheres to and maintains accountability for all aspects of PBS GAP editorial, budgetary and production standards, as well as contractual and deliverables requirements for PBS GAP programming.

• Reviews, edits, and approves preliminary and final treatments, outlines shooting scripts, production schedules, budgets, graphics, music, rough cuts, final cuts, final narration and final versions of all programs.

• Embraces inclusion in the composition of the PBS staff and producing partners across all platforms.

• Manages daily work, career growth, training and development of staff.

• Proposes and achieves measurable internal success criteria.

• Has a track record of meeting audience goals and key business objectives.

Leading teams:
• Partners with GAP leadership to oversee all aspects of editorial management of the GAP pipeline and program portfolio, working in coordination with PBS internal departments to ensure timely, effective and on-budget development, production and delivery of programs.

• Clearly communicates PBS GAP editorial requirements and quality standards to outside production companies, producing partners and internal producing teams.

• Fosters a creative and productive work environment. Has a proven ability to develop and maintain a positive, diverse, creative, high performance culture. Attract and retain creative talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; be widely viewed as a strong developer of others.

• Fosters collaboration and trust across PBS departments and with producing partners to facilitate support for content.

Requirements for success:
• 15+ years of creative affairs and production experience in a major media environment with background in news/journalism, or a related public service content preferred.

• Extensive relationships with top-level producers, content providers, and distributors.

• Strong development and program creation track record of success.

• Strong leadership and motivational skills, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships of trust and collaboration.

• Outstanding strategic business, interpersonal, project management and leadership skills.

• Detail oriented with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects in varying stages.

• Has instincts to know when to escalate issues to the Chief Programming Executive versus managing directly.

• Co-production experience and familiarity with film financing and/or fundraising a plus.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution required.

• Master's Degree level course work preferred.

• Must have the legal right to work in the United States.

• Extensive background, knowledge and experience in digital platforms.

• Has a demonstrated track record of leadership in building audiences, managing multiple priorities, and bringing new concepts to fruition.

• Brings both an Executive Producer and Production Executive mentality to the role in a manner that inspires and empowers producing partners.

• Leads with a strong attention to detail.

PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the EEOC and the Commonwealth of Virginia

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g6bpkn-18-220-59-69-42 in your application.