Technical Director

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Job Category:
Academic Staff

Employment Type:
Regular

Job Profile:
Production Engineer II

Job Summary:

Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) is looking for an experienced and talented Technical Director. You will put your excellent audio production and communication skills to good use for a variety of WPR projects, including our flagship daily talk programs. From live radio to post-production and from studio sessions to public events, you will be a valuable part of an organization devoted to great audio, innovative storytelling, and public service.

As Technical Director, you'll be part of a team of audio professionals tasked with audio direction for live & recorded broadcasts in studio and remote settings. You'll operate a variety of audio broadcast consoles, radio automation software, and audio production software including ProTools and Adobe Audition.

You will work collaboratively with a variety of award-winning journalists, producers, hosts and engineers across our statewide WPR News and Music networks, covering issues of politics, culture, history, music & entertainment. You will report to WPR's Supervising Technical Director.

Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are crucial in our fast paced, creative, audience-focused production environment. Deadlines are tight and standards are high. Your experience in areas including audio recording, editing & mixing, radio broadcasting, podcasting, and live event production will be crucial in your role as Technical Director.

This is a full-time, ongoing, renewable position that works core business hours, Monday - Friday, between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and may include some nights and weekends.


This position will primarily be on site and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. Some work may be performed remotely for the purposes of editing or other assigned work, at an offsite non-campus work location. The final schedule can be discussed in the offer stage, but fully remote candidates will not be accepted.

Remote work requires an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA). A FWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee. Parking at work location is also not payable/reimbursable.

Occasional travel may be required to record or broadcast a community event or performance.

It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Information about UW-Madison Driver Authorization can be found at


This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds with some assistance occasionally needed.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Sets up, adjusts, connects, operates, and troubleshoots complex audio and/or video equipment and related peripherals in various environments

• Leads system design and installation of broadcast, streaming, and post-production related technology

• Digitally records, edits, and finalizes media in a variety of formats according to station standards and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations

• Schedules logistics and acts as station representative for remote production venues, and ensures required technical specifications will be met during on or off-site productions

• Tests and maintains equipment, and provides recommendations for alternative hardware and software to improve performance

• May serve as engineering team lead for on or off-site productions

• Trains staff on equipment, procedures, and standards

Department:

Wisconsin Public Media, Wisconsin Public Radio, Engineering

Wisconsin Public Radio's team of Technical Directors operate collaboratively as part of our fast paced statewide radio network. You'll work closely with producers, hosts, network engineers and others to serve our audience in every corner of the state and beyond.


PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio are part of Wisconsin Public Media. The person in this position will be required to comply with the Wisconsin Public Media Code of Ethics: in addition to the UW-Madison code of ethics.

#WPR


Compensation:

Expected salary range for this position is $62,000 up to $70,000. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications.


This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see

Required Qualifications:

• Prior experience with audio production and sound mixing in broadcast, live sound reinforcement, music recording, or post-production environments.
• Prior experience operating and programming digital and analog audio consoles.
• Prior experience working with digital audio workstation (DAW) software and hardware (Adobe Audition and ProTools strongly preferred).
• Experience diagnosing technical problems and tracing audio, data signal paths.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical staff.
• Ability to be self-directed, work independently and work in teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced professional experience with ProTools audio production software.
• Professional experience as audio lead for live in-studio and remote broadcasts.
• Experience with media asset management for file delivery, post-production and web archives.
• Experience with Wide Orbit or similar radio automation software.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and change focus quickly while maintaining accuracy, efficiency and attention to detail.

Education:

A Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications or related field, or an Associate's degree in Recording, Media Production or related field is preferred.

How to Apply:

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. Please note, there is only one attachment field. You must upload all of your documents in the attachment field, either as one combined document, or separate documents.

The following must be received for your application to be complete. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position:


1) A cover letter referring to your related work experience.

2) A resume detailing your educational and professional background.

We are eager to learn more about how your experience may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Please keep in mind your cover letter and/or resume should address your experience and how it relates to the position qualifications. The application reviews will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to the first round interviews.


Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (including at least one supervisory reference). Note that references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge.


Contact Information:

Katherine Liu, View email address on click.appcast.io, View phone number on click.appcast.io

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.


The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).


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