Director, Media Systems and Operations

WTTW (Chicago PBS) and WFMT (classical music radio station) are seeking a full-time Director, Media Systems & Operations. This position is responsible for leading the overall strategic, long-term vision for the architecture, structure, and workflows of the operations of WTTW and WFMT’s media assets and systems. This role develops, manages, and executes the processes and workflows for physical and file-based content, including cataloging, search and retrieval, distribution, licensing, user interfaces, and use of content across departments and external entities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, implement, and standardize media asset systems and workflows, including department and vendor integrations, software requirements, library asset management processes, metadata frameworks, and organizational folder structures/toolsets.
• Collaborate with external and internal partners on process and coordination of systems and content exchange.
• Work with media managers and producers on file structure, storage system organization, and retrieval workflows.
• Lead cross-departmental collaboration to create a unified facility vision for content management, organization, cataloging, storage, usage, and registration.
• Manage and lead efforts in digitizing and cataloging in collaboration with various stakeholders.
• Establish and align standardized processes for naming conventions, metadata determination, and search capabilities, including the creation of documented guidelines for archival and metadata entry.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend software technologies for scalable search, storage, and retrieval processes, collaborating with stakeholders for implementation and use cases.
• Build and maintain a structured database of media assets (audio, video, etc.) using standardized file naming and media library conventions, ensuring all content is searchable, easily retrievable, and supported by clean, consistent metadata.
• Identify and deliver media assets to internal and external clients, and support producers and editors in organizing and integrating media for production.
• Collaborate with media, production and marketing teams to develop and support an asset management system and associated processes.
• Lead and manage various direct/indirect support positions assigned to projects and workflows.
• Objectively assess current processes and content workflows and make recommendations to improve current capabilities.
• Lead and establish relationships with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement a system and workflow for archival assets to enable their use and long-term stewardship.
• Coordinate and determine considerations for licensing archival assets and other rights management issues.
• Create and manage new and existing media databases in collaboration with other stakeholders.
• Work with cross-functional senior leadership to set priorities for media processes and operations.
• Develop systems in collaboration with IT to enable enterprise-wide storage and retrieval of content.
• Drive folder structure design and metadata entry and capture approach for content attributes
• Develop proactive plan to digitize physical media assets and execute on the plan.
• Work with and lead engineers and production staff to move and process media to meet production timelines.
• Other tasks as assigned.

SKILLS:

• Demonstrated ability to develop media management systems, tools and workflows
• Ability to lead teams to attain goals
• Ability to manage and develop media processes and best practices
• Understanding of media workflows and processes
• Ability to work effectively, cooperatively, and collaboratively with vendors, stakeholders, individuals, and groups across the organization
• Ability to manage and develop direct report and cross-functional teams
• Familiarity with relevant software applications
• Ability to work with data sets and metadata
• Data-oriented organizational thought process and ability to organize in an iterative manner

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in library science and/or media management
• Supervisory experience required
• Archival and/or library science background and experience preferred
• Media company process and workflow experience required
• Knowledge of copyright and privacy issues related to archival materials
• Demonstrated knowledge of EIDR system

EDUCATION & TRAINING:

• Degree from an accredited 4-year university
• Digital archives specialist or similar coursework or training is preferred

ESTIMATED SALARY RANGE: starting at $87,000 - $110,000/annual

WTTW and WFMT are committed to providing comprehensive and affordable benefits. These benefits are available to eligible employees.

Window to the World Communications, Inc., the parent organization of WTTW and WFMT, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.