Audio and Operations Specialist

About the Position:

The duties of the Audio and Operations Specialist span a wide cross-section of small station life, including operations, programming, audio production, traffic, and community outreach. This position is responsible for recording and producing audio at live events, managing live broadcasts, and capturing field sounds in addition to working in the station’s studios. In addition to production duties, the Audio and Operations Specialist is one of two people responsible for managing traffic and automation logs, troubleshooting off-air problems, and providing audio technical support for staff.

About You:

We seek a sharp, hard-working, team-oriented person who enjoys working behind the scenes to keep technical infrastructure at the station running smoothly and our audio sounding great. You have a great ear for audio and are dedicated to helping others make their audio recordings and productions sound their best. You like to record, produce, and broadcast community voices and sounds. You are an excellent communicator with strong active listening skills. You enjoy collaboration and have experience working with others to support their audio recording and production. You have a high standard of service that you provide to others, and see public radio as an essential community service.

Primary Duties:

• Manage the production of audio for station promos, daily program promos, fundraising spots and testimonials, station imaging campaigns, and legal IDs
• Assist with traffic management by scheduling spots and publishing daily traffic/automation logs
• Assist with operations by managing Zetta automation system and troubleshooting automation and off-air problems
• Voice station promos, IDs, and underwriting spots
• Troubleshoot studio problems, including studio consoles, microphones, audio and automation workstations, IP codecs, and phone devices

• Field recording for special audio projects, including our Sonic ID Initiative
• Record lectures and events held around the valley by Aspen Public Radio and partner organizations, and post-produce event audio for broadcast and website

• Serve as a live sound engineer for Aspen Public Radio events as needed, including interview, panel discussion, and town hall-style events

• Coordinate and engineer live broadcasts, including sound engineering of the live feed using IP codec and support of the live hosting of these events back in the studio
• Record and produce station membership and marketing promos scripted and voiced by non-technical staff
• Other job duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• Experience with audio equipment, including studio consoles, mixers, and microphones 
• Experience with audio production, preferably Adobe Audition 
• Able to work non-standard hours for live events, field recording, and to be on-call for broadcast emergencies
• Ability to stay calm, think clearly, act strategically, and prioritize tasks during live events, when on broadcast deadlines, and during off-air emergencies
• Experience supporting others in audio production or training others in audio production or other broadcast skills
• Must have adequate hearing to make audio quality determinations, adequate vision to read user-access panels on broadcast electronic components, and physical mobility and dexterity to access electronic devices and wiring in studios, server racks, and in sound booths at event sites
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or high school diploma and significant radio technical support and audio production experience

Additional Desired Skills and Attributes:

• Previous public radio experience
• Understanding of public radio programming and the sound of public radio
• Familiarity with radio automation systems and other audio/broadcast software
• Experience with live sound engineering
• Experience scripting and producing public radio station interstitial audio, including promos and imaging spots
• Knowledge of sources and best practices for legally obtaining music for public radio broadcast production
• Experience voicing scripts for audio production

How To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, three references, and examples of audio you have produced to [email protected] with “Audio and Operations Specialist” in the subject line. For the audio samples you submit, please explain in your cover letter what they are and how they illustrate your skills and experience.

Application review begins Wednesday, October 7. The position will remain open until filled. No phone calls, please. This is a full-time salaried position that reports to the Operations Manager and requires availability for day, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Aspen Public Radio is an equal opportunity employer. This employee must be a year-round resident in the Roaring Fork or Colorado River Valleys within the station’s broadcast footprint. Aspen Public Radio offers full-time staff benefits, including 100% employer-paid health insurance, paid vacation, and a 403(b) match. Ski pass financing and rapid transit bus pass financing are available. Salary is $61,000-$67,000, with relocation expenses available.