Chief Engineer/Broadcast IT Operations Manager

Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Unified Management: Manage all operational aspects of the Engineering and Broadcast IT Departments.
• Team Leadership: Lead, schedule, and mentor a combined team of IT professionals and broadcast engineers, ensuring adequate coverage for 24/7 operations.
• HR Functions: Make authoritative decisions regarding hiring, evaluations, promotions, and terminations.
• Staff Development: Identify developmental needs, set performance standards, and coach staff to improve their knowledge of both traditional RF and modern IP technologies.
• Workflow Supervision: Assign projects, manage schedules, and track milestones to guarantee deadlines are met.
• Broadcast IT & Cloud Operations: Manage and maintain all broadcast IT systems, including playout, media asset management (MAM), video servers, routers, storage systems, and IP-based infrastructure.
• Cloud & Newsroom Tech: Oversee cloud-based newsroom and content systems, ensuring optimized studio, control room, and production workflows.
• Business Continuity: Develop, maintain, and test redundancy systems and business continuity plans to prevent downtime.
• Tech Migration: Plan and execute software upgrades, technology migrations (e.g., baseband to IP), and facility improvements.
• Traditional Broadcast & Infrastructure Equipment Maintenance: Direct the maintenance, troubleshooting, and servicing of all station broadcast technology and hardware.
• A/V & Production: Oversee fiber connectivity, production setups, A/V routing and patching, audio equipment, graphics systems, and editing platforms.
• Transmission Systems: Maintain and troubleshoot digital transmitters, microwave equipment, and other specialized broadcast RF gear.
• Communication Systems: Maintain and troubleshoot analog and digital phone and intercom systems.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree or Technical degree in Digital Electronics, Broadcasting, Information Technology, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum of 5 years of experience in broadcast, IT, and/or television production environments. Minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role leading technical teams.
• Certifications: Cisco CCNA, SBE (Society of Broadcast Engineers), and/or SMPTE certifications are a strong plus.
• Technical & Functional Skills: Networking Expertise: Solid grasp of networking concepts, including TCP/IP, UDP, Spanning Tree, and network performance optimization. Cloud Computing: Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). IP & Streaming: Strong knowledge of IP video, video encoding/decoding, streaming protocols (HLS, DASH, RTMP), and automation/cloud-based playout systems. Should have strong working knowledge of Dante digital audio, certification preferred. Traditional Broadcast: Extensive experience evaluating, installing, and servicing traditional broadcasting equipment, digital transmitters, and A/V routing.
• Core Competencies & Other Requirements: Crisis Management: Exceptional ability to remain calm under pressure and logically solve complex technical issues during live broadcasts. Communication: Excellent leadership, project management, and communication skills (written and oral) in English. Flexibility: Ability to work varied hours, including rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays, to accommodate live news broadcasts, special events, and remote productions. Licensing: Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Pay

Compensation Range: $60,000 - $80,000 annually, commensurate with experience.