Director of Technology & Broadcast Engineering

KOMU 8 is on the lookout for an organized, innovative, technically minded individual to lead our technology and engineering efforts. We are looking for proven leader with strong technical judgment, effective communication skills, possessing an understanding of current and future technology and broadcast infra-structure needs with a passion for innovation.

The Director of Technology and Broadcast Engineering is responsible for leading the Engineering and Information Technology teams, which supports the overall KOMU 8 broadcast and digital technologies in a 24/7/365 environment. The position requires a full knowledge of station operations and technical layout.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Oversee and support daily operations, equipment integration and maintenance for core infrastructure, station and commercial automation, studios, control rooms, facilities, post-production, and live programming transmission.
• Technology Strategy: Develop and implement short- and long-term technology strategies to enhance both on-air and digital workflows. Lead research, development and implementation of future technologies.
• Automation Systems: Manage and optimize automation systems for master control, production control rooms, and news production/playout.
• Project Management: Lead capital planning, project design, installation, and maintenance.
• Facility Management: Manage the maintenance and repair of all station facilities, including HVAC, generators, security systems, tower, antenna, transmission lines/connections, transmitter, satellite antennas, satellite uplink truck, electrical systems, hardware, and physical grounds. Serve as the Building/Grounds Coordinator.
• Documentation: Maintain discrepancy logs and equipment incident reports and regularly audit these documents.
• Vendor Relations: Manage contracts for technology and building maintenance.
• Business Continuity: Develop and maintain Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans.
• Financial Oversight: Manage the Engineering Department's budget, including expense approvals and support agreements.
• Team Development: Supervise and mentor department staff, providing training and performance evaluations.
• Quality Assurance: Monitor and ensure top-notch on-air technical quality.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to all FCC rules and regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be a self-starter, detail-oriented, and a team player with strong internal and external customer service skills. The successful candidate will have experience in the following areas:

• Strong leadership with a focus on team management and a professional demeanor.
• Technical skills, with the ability to diagnose problems and adapt in high-pressure situations.
• In-depth knowledge of broadcast technologies, including newsroom systems, production control room automation, RF transmission, broadcast transmitters, broadcast switchers, router systems, news gathering equipment (including field and commercial production cameras), signal path workflows, master control automation systems, studio technical equipment, video-over-IP, encoders, decoders, distribution, operation of current and next-generation digital television architecture.
• Manage and optimize RF transmission systems, ensuring clear and reliable signal delivery.
• Adept with use of RF spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, waveform monitors, and other electronic test equipment generally and specifically related to broadcast television maintenance and repair.
• Strong IT skills, including security, workflow, storage systems, and management.
• Working knowledge of the latest operating systems software, including server and desktop operating systems.
• Technical collaboration with other media facilities owned by the University of Missouri.

Shift

A typical shift would be Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Willingness to work flexible hours, including overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays required.

Must be able to respond to trouble calls in a 24/7 environment.

Minimum Qualifications (Cannot edit)

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Prefer experience with:
  • Imagine Communications master control automation/playout
  • Ross Overdrive automation
  • BitCentral news production/playout
  • Adobe Premiere editing
  • Rohde & Schwarz liquid-cooled transmitters
  • Encompass central casting services
• Society of Broadcast Engineers Certification is strongly preferred.

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.