Producer I, Short Wave - Temporary

Overview

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Short Wave is NPR’s science podcast. Four times a week, we give listeners a better understanding of the science around them in under 15 minutes. We might do it through an engaging conversation, a sound-rich story or a fun explainer off the news. We also aspire to reach new and underrepresented groups, by making science accessible and relevant.

We’re looking for a skilled producer to join the Short Wave team to join the team from August 12, 2024 to January 10, 2025. An ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, creative, curious, open to learning, and ready to jump right in. The work includes researching, booking, scripting, and fully producing podcast episodes with pace, accuracy and delight. A science background (and a sense of humor) is a plus.

This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.

Responsibilities

• Independently plans, edits, reports, and produces episodes with minimal supervision
• Demonstrates critical thinking and sound editorial judgment in pitching and producing episodes
• Highly skilled and efficient at scoring and mixing, often producing two episodes per week.
• Writes scripts, episode descriptions and digital pages with minimal supervision
• Fully manages all technical aspects of production
• Collaborates effectively with NPR Science and Climate Desk reporters
• Assists showrunner with editorial calendars
• Reassesses and changes team workflow as needed, with minimal supervision
• Assists showrunner in planning and coordinating team meetings -- such as agendas, show processes or workflow management
• Subject matter expertise
• Actively contributes to all team meetings and
• Actively participates in ensuring that all materials aired meet NPR program standards and practices, including standards of fairness, objectivity and balance
• Performs other duties as assigned
  
  

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 5 years audio editing and production experience
• At least 5 years experience researching and writing for audio: broadcast and/or podcast
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, under stringent deadlines and changing conditions; ability to prioritize, anticipate and communicate effectively
• Excellent research and written/verbal communication skills
• A passion for science
• Ability to effectively collaborate with others, demonstrating, at all times, respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and beyond
• Ability to work independently and also work well as part of a team
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• Highly supportive of cultivating and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience in audio production
• Knowledge or background in science
  
  

WORK LOCATION

• Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role include duties that are better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be onsite at an NPR workspace at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in an NPR supported location based on the number of onsite days they choose.
  
  

JOB TYPE

This is a temporary (5-month) full time position.

Compensation

Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $46.88 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Pay Range

$46.88—$46.88 USD

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