Vice President, Technology / CTO (Chief Technology Officer) | Broadcast Operations

THE EMPLOYER:  Nine PBS is one of America's most accomplished public media organizations, a community-licensed institution with more than 70 years of distinguished service to the St. Louis region. Nationally recognized as the number one most-watched PBS station in the country for five of the past six years, Nine PBS has also earned consistent recognition through regional Mid-America Emmy® Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. These distinctions place Nine PBS in rare company within the public media landscape and reflect an organization with the talent, leadership, and operational excellence to compete and win at the highest level of the industry.

Nine PBS connects people through educational programming, meaningful storytelling, and shared experiences that reflect the values and aspirations of the communities it serves. Operating across television, streaming, digital, and community engagement platforms, the organization reaches audiences throughout the bi-state region and beyond, approaching its work as both a media enterprise and a civic institution guided by a commitment to community, trust, equity, and learning.

Led by a mission-driven team and governed by a board of directors committed to long-term sustainability, audience growth, and civic impact, Nine PBS maintains strong relationships with PBS, NPR, and affiliate systems nationally. Executives who join Nine PBS become part of an organization that holds a unique and valued place in the life of St. Louis and takes seriously both its mission and its people.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Vice President, Technology / CTO (Chief Technology Officer) | Broadcast Operations serves as Nine PBS’s senior technology executive, accountable for the strategy, modernization, and operational leadership of all technology functions spanning enterprise systems, broadcast operations, and digital media. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the VP/CTO partners with senior leadership to advance the organization’s mission through reliable, innovative, and forward-looking technology solutions that serve both internal operations and the audiences Nine PBS is committed to reaching.

The VP/CTO holds direct oversight of broadcast engineering and transmission operations, enterprise IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, production technologies, digital distribution, and audience engagement platforms. This breadth of responsibility reflects the dual nature of the role: ensuring the operational integrity of a 24/7 broadcast environment while simultaneously driving the organization’s evolution into a modern, multi-platform public media enterprise.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise across both broadcast and enterprise technology disciplines, combined with the leadership presence to serve as a trusted thought partner to the executive team. They are a collaborative, mission-driven leader with demonstrated experience guiding organizations through technology transformation, strengthening team culture, and translating complex technical challenges into clear strategic direction and measurable outcomes. Experience within public media, broadcasting, or other mission-driven organizations is a meaningful differentiator for this role.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The VP/CTO provides executive leadership across the following functional areas:

Technology Strategy & Leadership - Develops and executes a long-term technology strategy aligned with organizational mission and audience growth initiatives. Serves as a senior leadership team member, advising on emerging technologies, digital transformation, cybersecurity risks, and evolving media landscapes. Leads modernization initiatives and builds strong cross-functional partnerships across the organization.

Broadcast Engineering & Media Operations - Oversees all broadcast engineering and transmission operations, including master control, RF systems, studios, production infrastructure, and signal distribution. Leads next-generation broadcast modernization initiatives including ATSC 3.0 and IP-based workflows, while maintaining FCC, CPB, PBS, and NPR compliance and ensuring 24/7 operational reliability.

Digital Media, Streaming & Audience Technology - Leads technology strategy supporting websites, mobile applications, streaming services, OTT platforms, and on-demand media delivery. Partners with content and audience teams on multi-platform distribution and supports implementation of AI-enabled tools, automation, and digital accessibility standards across all platforms.

Enterprise IT, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure - Oversees enterprise IT operations including networks, cloud infrastructure, telecommunications, and end-user support. Establishes cybersecurity strategies, incident response capabilities, and technology governance standards. Leads disaster recovery and business continuity planning.

Financial, Capital & Operational Management - Develops and manages operating budgets, capital expenditure plans, and long-term technology investment roadmaps. Evaluates technology investments and vendor relationships to balance innovation, reliability, and financial stewardship. Supports grant applications and capital planning initiatives.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development - Leads, mentors, and develops multidisciplinary teams across engineering, IT, digital technology, and technical operations. Establishes clear goals, accountability measures, and professional development plans. Supports recruitment, retention, succession planning, and workforce development initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), Telecommunications, Media Technology, or a related technical field required; advanced degree and/or a professional certification (CPBE, CBTE, CBNE, or CBNT) from the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience across broadcast engineering, media technology, enterprise IT, or digital media environments, including 5+ years in senior technology leadership overseeing multidisciplinary teams and enterprise operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of broadcast systems, transmission infrastructure, IP-based workflows, digital distribution platforms, cloud technologies, enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and business continuity, with a proven track record leading technology modernization and large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
• Proven success managing budgets, capital planning, vendor relationships, and complex technical projects from initiation through implementation.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for executive leadership, boards, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience within public media, broadcasting, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations strongly preferred; familiarity with FCC regulations, ATSC standards, PBS system operations, and cloud-based media infrastructure preferred. Experience in union environments or collective bargaining agreements also preferred.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE: Success in this role is measured not only by what is accomplished, but by how leadership is exercised across the organization and within the broader Nine PBS community. The following competencies define the leadership standard for this position.

• Mission-driven and community-centered, with a strong commitment to public service, accessibility, and education.
• Strategic thinker who balances innovation, operational reliability, and financial stewardship while guiding the organization through technology transformation and evolving media landscapes.
• Collaborative leader who builds trust, alignment, and strong cross-functional relationships across technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
• Calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented under pressure, approaching challenges with sound judgment and a commitment to shared success.
• Develops and empowers high-performing, cohesive teams through delegation, coaching, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule, typically working 2–3 days in the office each week. On-site work is aligned with operational needs and will include a combination of office, studio, production, and technical facility environments. Occasional evening, weekend, and on-call availability is required to support live broadcasts, critical technical operations, and emergency response situations. Occasional travel to transmitter sites, community locations, conferences, or industry events may be required. 

Nine PBS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of employment.  Click here for more EEOE details.

Nine PBS provides a comprehensive benefits package. This position also provides relocation assistance.

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About HRMC : We are a human capital consulting firm that has been retained to manage the search process for our client, Nine PBS. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Thank you. ~ The HRMC Search Team