Director, Production

About the Role

The Director / Technical Director is a key member of our content team, leading the planning and execution of live and pre-recorded newscasts, programs, and segments distributed across broadcast, digital streaming, and social media platforms.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and execute regularly scheduled live newscasts, digital streams, and social media streams.
• Prepare and execute regularly scheduled pre-recorded shows and segments for news, weather, sports, marketing, and sales.
• Prepare and execute live and pre-recorded special projects (including segments and shows) in-studio and on location.
• Execute live breaking and continuous news and severe weather coverage with urgency, accuracy, creativity, and fluidity.
• Originate, ideate, choreograph, program, and execute novel showcasing elements using sets, cameras, lighting, virtual reality elements, graphics, video, and other production tools to enhance presentation and viewer appeal.
• Ensure all content meets company standards for production quality, accuracy, journalistic integrity, and timeliness.
• Prepare, utilize, monitor, troubleshoot, and assist with the maintenance of studio equipment (e.g., cameras, microphones, IFBs, teleprompters, lights) and set elements (e.g., desks, platforms, furniture, props).
• Edit video for newscasts, television programs, digital distribution, and social media posts.
• Communicate clearly and calmly with teammates in studio, at the station, in the field, at regional and bureau locations, and in the national broadcast control hub.
• Debrief and document closed-captioning, accuracy, execution, and technical issues during productions, and communicate findings to relevant team members.
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience as the director/technical director of live newscasts, breaking news, and severe weather coverage (strongly preferred).
• Experience in production, broadcasting, digital content, social media, and/or journalism (preferred).
• Academic degree or technical certification(s) in Production, Digital Media, Social Media, Film, Journalism, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience (preferred).

Skills

• Organized, technical problem-solver.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, and make sound technical and editorial decisions in real-time.
• Work well under pressure, handling breaking news and last-minute changes with aplomb.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Professional savvy and collegial demeanor when interacting with colleagues, clients, and the public.
• Fluency in English.
• Strong self-awareness and willingness to learn, improve, and grow.
• Ease with and ability to learn new technology independently and swiftly.
• Ability to teach others to master and utilize technology (preferred).
• Able to work any shift.

Technical Skills

• Strong working knowledge of television production techniques and tools.
• Hands-on experience with Ross Overdrive (or other automated production systems) and Ross Expression (or other broadcast graphics systems) (strongly preferred).
• Hands-on experience with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) and vMix (strongly preferred).
• Computer coding experience (a plus).
• Superior video editing skills; mastery of Adobe Premiere Pro (preferred).
• Working knowledge of the full Adobe Creative Suite (a plus).
• Ability to tune in and route SNG/ENG live-shots and other sources.
• Working knowledge of media files manipulation, formatting, management, and storage.
• Valid driver’s license required; clean driving record must be maintained.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Must be able to stand, sit, reach, conduct telephone conversations, use email, write letters and memos, and conduct face-to-face discussions with individuals or groups.
• Must make decisions without supervision and impact the results of co-workers.
• Occasional outdoor work in various weather conditions and indoor work in environmentally controlled conditions.
• Must be able to lift, set up, and operate equipment or items weighing up to 25 pounds.