All WOSU positions must be applied for through Ohio State University unless otherwise directed in the position description below. Please do not email the stations directly.
Part-time student positions can be found at wosu.org/about/student-work/.
Current Openings
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
WOSU Public Media seeks a Senior Director of Marketing and Communications responsible for developing and implementing the marketing vision and strategy for growing audience, advancing financial support, and building a positive image and awareness of WOSU Public Media.
Job Description
Activities include external marketing to increase awareness and support for WOSU distribution channels, events and activities; implementing effective public relations and promotional strategies; developing and executing special events; collaborating internally to build a strategic marketing/communications plan; developing and implementing a digital marketing strategy; develop and implement a facility rental strategy; and serving as WOSU’s brand manager.
Among the specific duties:
- Optimize awareness and audience of WOSU programming and services provided by 89.7 NPR News, Classical 101, WOSU-PBS television, WOSU Passport, WOSU Classroom, podcasts, web streams, mobile app, and other digital properties.
- Develop and implement institutional messaging to elevate WOSU’s community status
- Develop and implement messaging to build membership, corporate, foundation, major giving and other support
- Oversees all facility events and rental both internal and external.
- Develop and implement an institutional digital marketing strategy
- Design and implement effective public relations and promotional strategies
- Oversee messaging for consistency in content and branding on-air, in print, and through digital and social media distribution
- Build local collaborations for joint marketing and special project initiatives
- Identify and track appropriate criteria to measure success
- Supervise a professional staff, students, volunteers and associated vendors involved with the division’s activities; select, hire, train, coach, and assure positive performance and morale
- Maintain the highest integrity in all divisional efforts consistent with industry standards and those outlined in the WOSU Code of Editorial Integrity
- Develop and manage an annual budget appropriate to the annual goals of the division
- Serve as the organization’s spokesperson as needed; serve as a member of the WOSU Public Media executive leadership team
- Perform other duties as assigned
WOSU went on the air in 1920 with an experimental license as one of the first radio stations in the country. Today, it is a multimedia producer of quality noncommercial programming and a curator of PBS and NPR national programming. WOSU has a budget of over $14 million with 72 full-time staff. The largest source of funding for the organization is from individual members. It has won numerous Emmy Awards for local television programming and has been honored to be named the best radio news station and best radio news website in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.
WOSU Public Media is licensed to The Ohio State University and is served by the community-based Friends of WOSU advisory board. For more information, review the WOSU Public Media Community Report and other information on the Reports to the Public webpage.
Minimum Education Required
- Bachelor’s Level Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience with a Major in marketing or communication
Required Qualifications
- Requires the successful completion of a background check.
- Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, business or other discipline related to the marketing field of practice.
- At least seven years of professional experience in the field including supervisory experience.
- Progressively responsible management experience in marketing, communications, nonprofit management, and/or fundraising.
- Must have experience creating and implementing integrated marketing communications plans; a thorough understanding of digital marketing; excellent project management and presentation skills; and a passion for the mission and goals of public media.
- Advanced degree or training in marketing, communications, or related area.
- The successful candidate will show an ability to be creative and nimble in an ever changing marketing environment, able to work productively in a highly collaborative workplace, be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and be deadline driven.
- Demonstrated skill in managing and motivating creative professionals, building an effective team and a positive work environment.
- Experience in public media or other non-profit management a plus.
Chief Engineer
The Chief Engineer of WOSU Public Media is primarily responsible for the proper installation, operation, and support of the technical aspects of the radio stations including all broadcast equipment located in WOSU facilities at 1800 Pearl and multiple transmission plants throughout the state in accordance with appropriate Federal, State, local and university rules and regulations. The Chief Engineer will report to the Director of Engineering. The Chief Engineer must have a thorough understanding of analog, digital, and IP-based systems and be able to integrate new technology and upgrades into the existing infrastructure as technology advances.
Key Responsibilities:
- Install, operate, and maintain transmitter RF systems for proper operation within FCC, FAA, Federal, State, local, and university compliance with minimum broadcast interruptions or downtime of WOSU’s broadcast transmitter facilities.
- Monitor radio engineering budget and advise station and university personnel on technical options available in order to solve problems or to facilitate new projects.
- Supports technical and engineering needs in radio and TV engineering as needed.
Planning and Administration
- Research, develop, and make recommendations for the design, repair, construction, modification, and installation of radio transmitters, interconnections, and studio equipment.
- Assist in the development and monitoring of annual operating budget for radio engineering.
- Assist in the development and monitoring of capital project budgets.
- Act as Chief Operator as required by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
- Responsible for station logs, EAS logs, license renewals, public file technical requirements, etc.
- Represent Radio Engineering at internal and external meetings as needed.
- May supervise part-time maintenance engineers and student employees.
Oversee Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Broadcast Equipment
- Install, maintain, modify, operate and support complex broadcast systems and equipment at a variety of transmission sites and studios.
- Preventative maintenance of all radio production and broadcast equipment, as well as FM transmitters and associated transmission system equipment.
- Conduct calibration, testing and verification of broadcast communications systems and equipment in order to ensure compliance with station license and departmental quality standards and as is necessary to ensure operation within FCC specifications and guidelines, including, but not limited to, digital audio consoles, IP-based network audio routing systems, broadcast automation systems, portable audio equipment, microphones, digital audio editing software, satellite systems, STL and T1 systems, audio processing equipment, digital production and transmission systems, solid state and tube-type FM transmitters, HD Radio systems, remote control systems, broadcast antennas, computer hardware, audio servers, computer operating systems and applications, basic understanding of TCP/IP networking and LAN/WAN environments. Building systems and utilities, including electrical, HVAC, generators and UPS power systems.
- Assist with the installation and maintenance of IT equipment and systems.
- Aid the IT staff in supporting broadcast computing and networking systems.
- Provide technical support and functional guidance of administrative/professional employees, including radio operations, on-air, production and news staff and/or direct supervision of support staff, contract engineers, tower clients, and outside vendors on an ongoing basis.
- Procure equipment and parts.
- Maintain engineering parts inventory and ensure adherence to accepted engineering practices and standards.
Minimum Education Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum Required Qualifications:
- Three years of experience maintaining digital and analog radio broadcast equipment and related IP-based equipment.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot highly complicated broadcast systems and equipment, including the ability to troubleshoot to component level when appropriate.
- Experience researching, recommending, and purchasing radio broadcast equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to work constructively with colleagues and engineering staff in a creative, collaborative, innovative, respectful, multi-unit, multiple-project environment, delivering results with high standards.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to work well with diverse personalities and varying levels of engineering and technological knowledge/experience.
- Interest and willingness to keep abreast of industry trends and engage in practical learning in related areas.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and must be able to climb ladders and crawl on floors in order to access broadcast equipment and systems.
- Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record for regular travel to remote broadcast transmission sites within Ohio in all types of weather conditions.
- Ability to be on call 24/7/365
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience maintaining radio and/or television equipment and facilities.
- Familiarity with audio over IP systems and consoles, and broadcast automation systems.
- Experience working at a public media organization.
- SBE Certification.