Join Our Team as the Director of Engineering and Operations!

Are you ready to lead the charge in engineering excellence and operational success within a dynamic broadcasting environment? KPBS is seeking a dedicated and visionary professional to join our team as the Director of Engineering and Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Supervision: Oversee the Engineering and Production Departments, ensuring effective leadership and management of KPBS’s technical infrastructure for broadcasting and audio/video production.
• Technical Infrastructure Management: Maintain and enhance the stability and security of the television and radio over-the-air processing chain, ensuring compliance with FCC standards, and managing studio and field equipment, signal routers, and IT infrastructure.
• Vendor Management: Oversee various vendor-supplied technologies, including Internet access and signal paths, ensuring seamless integration and performance in content creation and distribution.
• Strategic Planning & Implementation: Collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer to stay abreast of best practices in technology and media management, setting departmental priorities and developing policies and procedures.
• Budget & Capital Planning: Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer on annual departmental budget development and capital expense planning, participating in regular Capital Expense Committee meetings.
• Staff Management: Partner with KPBS and University Human Resources to facilitate the onboarding and offboarding of staff, including managing building access and workspace arrangements.

Join us in shaping the future of broadcasting and operations at KPBS. Apply today to be a part of our commitment to engineering excellence and innovation in media production!

Position Information

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.

Department Summary

KPBS serves the greater San Diego community with informative, cultural, entertaining and educational television and radio programming. KPBS(TV) and KPBS‐FM are the public television and radio stations for San Diego. Licensed to San Diego State University, KPBS supports and furthers the university's educational and community service mission by informing, enlightening and empowering its audience. It does so not only by presenting national and locally produced programming of value to its San Diego audience, but also by producing programming about San Diego and its people for distribution nationwide.

The Engineering Department at KPBS is responsible for the planning, construction, procurement, installation and maintenance of the technical facilities of the station used in electronic media production, recording and transmission. KPBS Engineering also lends technical support to departments including the KPBS Information Technology and Digital, Production and Conference Center departments as well as University departments, including Facilities Services, Information Technology and the College of Extended Studies.

For more information regarding KPBS, click here.

Education and Experience

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible broadcast engineering experience, including all phases of operation and maintenance of Television and Radio facilities.
• The equivalent to graduation from a four‐year college or university with a degree in electrical engineering or related field is required.  Additional specialized experience successfully applying the knowledge and abilities specified may be substituted for the prerequisite education on a year‐for‐year basis.

Key Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills are required as well as technical knowledge.
• General working knowledge of FCC rules and regulations.
• Ability to leverage in-depth technical knowledge to guide the engineering and production departments in achieving operational goals.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the methods, practices and trends in Digital Television, Radio broadcast and production engineering, including RF propagation, video and audio signal processing and recording, digital encoding and networking, control and power systems, solid‐ state circuitry and studio/ENG camera technology.
• Demonstrated skills in maintaining MS Windows, UNIX, Apple computer operating systems and TCP/IP, FTP, and SNMP network protocol routing.
• SBE or other telecommunications industry certification is highly desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that’s just the beginning! Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $125,000 to $134,316 annually.

Diversity and Community at SDSU

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. SDSU, a Hispanic-Serving and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution residing on Kumeyaay land, is known for its long-standing efforts advancing diversity and inclusion. 

We commit to the equitable diversification of both students and employees and to providing and enhancing the ability of our students to contribute to community-minded diversity initiatives. Through our commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement.  For more information, click here.

We are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

Principles of Community

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on October 23, 2024. To receive full consideration, apply by October 22, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

SDSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers all qualified candidates for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Rachael Stalmann at rstalmann@sdsu.edu.