Director - Arts & Culture

WQED Multimedia is seeking a Director of Arts & Culture to lead the expansion of WQED’s identity as southwest Pennsylvania’s “Voice of the Arts,” creating fresh and new experiences that are immersive, inclusive and community based, including leveling up our podcast portfolio for digital reach and engagement, and sustaining beloved programming on Classical QED 89.3 FM.

This is a new and senior role, reporting to WQED’s new President & CEO. The Director of Arts & Culture is expected to bring a vision and playbook to engage emerging talent and local legends, to share purposeful, relatable and highly entertaining stories, music, sounds, performances, education and insights from the SWPA community. You should have experience that encompasses all aspects of sonic storytelling, from in-studio broadcasting to live event experiences.

We’re looking for a leader who can help us grow our brand, products and services beyond a classical radio station to a multi-platform champion of arts and culture across SWPA, with keen attention to stories and performances from under-represented communities. You are the conductor who will harmonize day-to-day audio and simulcast publishing and operations, as well as executing on publishing and growth strategy with third party channels including YouTube.

This is a hybrid role that’s expected to commute to and contribute from WQED’s offices in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh at least three days per week.

ABOUT WQED

WQED Multimedia champions communities by telling stories and creating experiences that educate, entertain and inspire our neighbors and friends in Pittsburgh and across southwestern Pennsylvania. Seventy years ago, we launched the country’s first community-supported television station—a forerunner to PBS. Fifty years ago, our classical radio station went on the air. Looking forward, we aim to become known as more than a broadcaster as we enrich communities through education and storytelling.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The annual compensation band for this full-time position is $60,000 to $80,000 base salary, commensurate with experience. This position is also eligible for performance bonuses as a reward, based on overachievement against goal and/or key milestones. Employer-sponsored benefits include health insurance via UPMC’s Business Advantage plan ($500 deductible, with premiums on a wage-based sliding scale). WQED pays 100% of the premiums for: Delta Dental PPO, long-term disability insurance from The Hartford, and basic life insurance at 1.5X salary. We offer optional vision insurance through Vision Benefits of America. After 12 months, WQED also contributes 5% of employees’ salary to a 403(b) retirement plan managed by TIAA-CREF.

RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to)

• Lead cross-platform content creation: on-air, streaming, on-demand, podcasts, simulcast, programming, content, online, talent, events and partnerships
• Evaluate existing framework to define a new roadmap that expands WQED’s audio content slate through traditional to digital audience migration, evaluation of 3rd party content and audience acquisition strategy including expanded platform distribution and promotion
• Define and execute a creative vision for Arts & Culture at WQED that bolsters our impact, connectivity, and visibility within the community
• Manage day-to-day operations of WQED-FM and WQEJ-FM, ensuring compliance with Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations, company policies, and applicable laws
• Lead the optimization and growth of WQED’s distribution, with strategy tailored by content genre and audience targets
• Identify and create development plan for new content, talent, genres and inclusive representation of the community
• Create growth through experiential activation and events that bring the WQED audio experience to life through events that reach the diversity of our audience
• Cultivation of new and nurturing of existing partnerships with local Arts & Culture partners, serving as a leader and representative for WQED in the community as concerts, events, activations and promotions
• Internal service to Partnership Solutions by identifying opportunities for partnership and ensuring complete and timely fulfillment of sponsorship and investment agreements
• Communicate program updates to all internal and external shareholders, including development of processes
• Drive decision making and collaboration across all leadership include C-suite, Heads of Departments and Directors
• Enable the evolution of improvement across technology, quality control, best practices and compliance with public media regulations
• Guide team with performance management and goal measurement tools such as OKRs, KPIs, 30/60/90 plans or similar

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS (including but not limited to)

• 8-10 years of high level audio experience leading the editorial/programming experience for a leading radio/on-demand/podcast platform or network
• 5+ years experience leading teams as a people manager with multiple direct reports
• Established and proven editorial judgment as a leader within a media company offering a wide range of formats including music, news, talk, entertainment, lifestyle and kids
• Fluent understanding of YouTube best practices and analytics, other audio platforms a plus
• Proven track record of audience engagement and growth across broadcast radio, YouTube and other audio distribution and social media channels - Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and others
• Comfort and familiarity of broadcast radio, podcasting, streaming and on-demand listening
• Basic knowledge of audio and simulcast monetization best practices, including research and analytics
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

WQED Multimedia is a fair and equal employer, providing access and opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, self expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law and as directed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. WQED Multimedia provides equitable consideration for employment for qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements. Qualified applicants with a disability or disabled veterans who are unable or limited in their ability to apply (as a result of their disability) have the right to request reasonable accommodation by emailing careers@WQED.org.