Director of Programming for WABE TV & Digital

WABE is Atlanta’s choice for NPR, PBS, and local news and storytelling. We inform, inspire, reflect, and

empower greater Atlanta to drive community belonging, stoke civic participation, and advance equity.

WABE is a non-profit, public media service broadcasting and streaming via WABE90.1FM, WABE TV,

WABE.org, and numerous podcasts and digital offerings.

Director of Programming for WABE TV & Digital

The Director of Programming for WABE TV & Digital oversees the pipeline of WABE’s video content for TV and

digital distribution. The Director creates and executes the long-range distribution plans for WABE TV and digital

video and its associated revenue, audience growth and engagement.

The Director works with the SVP of WABE Studios with scheduling, acquiring programming, working with

PBS and other content partners (national and local). The role requires demonstrated TV programming

and/or TV operations experience combined with a deep understanding of the rapidly shifting media

industry and digital video strategies.

For television, the position manages the programming for WABE TV including planning, program

acquisition and scheduling of both programs and promos; the supervision of assigned staff, budget

administration; coordination with engineering, works with membership on fundraising and maintains

compliance reports for the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC), the Public Broadcasting

Service (PBS) and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

For digital platforms, the position manages the distribution and presentation of video content on WABE’s

digital platforms including wabe.org, PBS Passport, and WABE’s YouTube channel. They will be

responsible for creating and managing a distribution delivery calendar; sourcing content for long and short

form content, including promos and social content; Uploading and tagging content on WABE’s YouTube

channel (following best practices as well as WABE marketing guidelines) and serving as a liaison

Accountabilities:

• Track, measure, and analyze performance of WABE-TV’s performance (audience, market

share, etc.) via traditional broadcasting and digital video engagement.

• Oversee and direct a programming vision for the station and monitor, maintain, and deliver a

competitive, compelling, and diverse programming schedule and viewer experience.

• Execute a target audience strategy to cultivate and grow new and diverse audiences through

programming that focuses on and addresses the needs of these audiences as well as finding

creators within the target audiences with which to collaborate on programming.

• Develop system of metrics to help understand if programming is achieving its goals and to

inform decisions on renewals or expansion.

• Embrace WABE’s and PBS’ values, vision, and strategic mission, and actively work towards

implementing its goals of inclusion and diversity.

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Development departments regarding special programs,

events, and fundraising activities.

• Work with the SVP of WABE Studios to develop, plan, monitor, maintain and administer the budget.

• Ensure program content complies with all necessary state and Federal laws, regulations, and

requirements.

• Ensure completion of and compliance with necessary public file reports

• Identify, cultivate, and support the channels content development and aquisition efforts.

• Manage relationships or agreements for content acquisition, presentation and distribution

(cable, satellite, OTT, online, other providers or distributors and digital platforms)

• Stay current with technological trends affecting the creation and distribution of content, and

with related business and nonprofit trends.

• Work with Membership on the execution, strategy, and success of TV Pledge and participate

actively in on-air fundraising or other on-air work as needed.

• Drive results by developing and executing the stations’ strategic and operating plans.

• Support on and off-air branding strategies across all platforms as coordinated by the

marketing department.

• Work with and ensure appropriate processes with TV operations/Traffic and station

broadcasting.

• Develop relationships with content creators, both in Atlanta and elsewhere, to find existing

programming and new ideas to bring into WABE Studios.

• Set up pitch processes that ensure a steady and regular flow of new program opportunities

from the community while cataloguing all inquiries, referrals, and pitches.

• Work with the WABE marketing team to efficiently promote programming produced by WABE

Studios through PR, events, and more.

• Represent WABE Studios as a speaker and ambassador for the work it does.

• Work with the Underwriting and Grant departments to generate new resources/revenue for

projects.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Credentials/Education Required:

• Minimum of eight years’ experience in a related content programming role

• Experience in a creative executive capacity for a television-production entity, streaming

service, or similar.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

• Willingness to live and work in Atlanta in order to develop creative relationships here.

Abilities and Traits:

• Experience developing, launching, and producing new programs

• Experience negotiating major contracts

• Creative thinker with a passion for storytelling

• Demonstrated ethical decision-making and judgement in keeping with the reputation of a

public media organization known for its unbiased news coverage

• Deep understanding of the evolving media landscape and what drives creative trends and

audience interests

• Demonstrated willingness to undertake audience-focused reviews and revisions of

programming

• Committed to program for and with underserved communities

• Highly collaborative with ability to champion ideas/projects and influence outcomes at all

levels of the organization

• Ability to take an innovative, big-picture approach to content, motivating your team to

generate programming ideas on an ongoing basis.

• Creative problem-solver

• A strong team orientation and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate at all levels with

clients, agencies, staff, senior management peers and industry colleagues

• Proven track record of meeting financial goals and key business objectives

• Works calmly under pressure, react quickly, and meet tight deadlines

• Able to lead with confidence and decisiveness

• Able and willing to work varied hours as needed

Work Environment & Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment

described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to

successfully perform the essential functions of this job, Reasonable accommodations may

be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Individuals

may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking primarily on a level surface for

periodic periods during the day. Reaching above shoulder height, below the waist or lifting

as required (up to 10 lbs.), filing documents or store materials throughout the workday.

Proper lifting techniques required. Ambient room temperatures, lighting and traditional

office equipment as found in a typical office environment. Candidates must be willing to

work in a hybrid environment but provide their own transportation to the station. Occasional

evening and weekend work may be required to support departmental events or during

high-volume periods (membership campaigns).

For consideration, submit cover letter, resume, and samples of work to:

WABE

Attention: Human Resources

740 Bismark Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Email: jobs@wabe.org

Apply online at: www.wabe.org

Fax: 678-553-3026