Broadcast Audio Operations Director

About the role

Rate of pay per CBA: $2,814 weekly / $146,328 annual

The Metropolitan Opera Media Department produces approximately 70 live and pre-recorded broadcasts each season, between September and June, for the Saturday matinee series on the Robert K. Johnson Foundation-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, the Met Opera Radio channel on SiriusXM, and the Live in HD series in cinemas worldwide.

The Audio Operations Director oversees the technical planning and broadcast engineering for the Met’s broadcasts and participates as a member of the broadcast engineering team. The Audio Operations Director must bring a musical background and sensibility to the work. This position is under the creative direction of the Met’s Music Producers and reports to the Senior Radio Producer and the Assistant General Manager, Media.

Primary Responsibilities

Broadcast Engineering

• Technical planning, design, and maintenance of the Met's in-house broadcast facilities, including equipment budgeting and purchases
• Technical set-up (e.g., microphones, wireless systems, cabling, mix console, and VO booth) for all broadcast and recording scenarios, including music mix, live announcer, live interviews, and pre recorded features. Broadcast productions range from stereo to 128+ tracks and include multiple locations and wireless systems within the Met.
• Technical and engineering support for the broadcast Music Producers, including preparation of mixing board and communication of microphone setup to relevant departments before each broadcast rehearsal and broadcast
• Audio technical coordination for Live in HD transmissions
• Transmission operations for a network of over 200 radio stations worldwide and internet streaming partners, including end-to-end connections and quality assurance throughout broadcasts
• Live broadcast mixing and recording and board operation, including live mixing on large frame consoles with multiple microphones and talking heads including host, commentators, and guests, and triggering live playback of prerecorded features
• Recording, editing, mixing, and music underscoring of radio features, interviews, promos, and trailers, including VO, performance excerpts, and music beds

Management and Administration

• Organization and communication of broadcast information and requirements to departments throughout the organization and to the Live in HD team
• Organization of broadcast engineer work assignments and schedule for both on-staff and freelance engineers, and recruitment and training of new hires, in coordination with the Senior Radio Producer
• Management of relationships with key vendors (NPR Content Depot, telecom service, Studer, etc.), including contracts, budget, schedule, maintenance of equipment, and monitoring of services
• Planning, budgeting, and supervision of technical capital projects
• Creation of annual budget for equipment purchases and handling of orders * Overseeing of asset management planning and execution, including long-term storage of assets

Skills and Qualifications

• minimum 15 years professional engineering experience (in broadcast, studio and remote recording)
• experience working in a supervisory position with a team of engineers
• experience with operations planning, design and maintenance
• extensive classical music training and knowledge
• live recording and mixing, including familiarity with large-frame consoles such as the Studer Vista line and digital audio workstations such as Pyramix
• post-production editing and mixing, with advanced ProTools fluency
• live on-air broadcast engineering
• Knowledge of and compliance to broadcast standards
• Experience with broadcast IP codecs
• Experience with intercommunications systems - RTS, Clearcom, or Riedel
• IP networking knowledge for broadcast infrastructure
• technical maintenance engineering
• extensive experience with both analog formats and digital systems
• transmission technology knowledge/experience
• television broadcast experience
• new media technology knowledge/experience
• experience with asset management systems such as Soundminer, Enco, or Amazon Glacier

Physical Demands

• The Broadcast Audio Operations Director carries enormous responsibility and must coordinate and cooperate with people from diverse departments of the Met and beyond. Judgment, discretion, and people skills are of paramount importance.
• The position requires schedule flexibility and the ability to work nights and weekends, with weekly rehearsals and broadcasts.
• The Broadcast Audio Operations Director must be able to work effectively under pressure and on tight deadlines.