The Assistant Manager for Programming – TV is responsible for acquiring and scheduling television programming Ozark Public Television’s broadcast and cable distribution that supports the University’s mission and attracts, maintains, and increases the viewing audience. The Assistant Manager for Programming - TV is responsible for supervising the program scheduling process, ensuring the establishment of operational guidelines, and hiring and supervising qualified staff. The Assistant Manager for Programming - TV serves as a University representative to appropriate Public Broadcasting organizations and interacts with University administrators, students, faculty, staff, project participants, media professionals, and the general public.

Education: A high school diploma is required; a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Experience: If the educational level is a Bachelor’s degree, at least three years of traffic operations, program acquisition, scheduling, operations, and/or audience services experience at a PBS-affiliated public television station or commercial network affiliate and at least three years of traffic operations experience at a PBS-affiliated public television station or commercial network affiliate are required. If the educational level is less than a Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of ten years of professional experience in PBS station positions are required, which must include at least three years experience in program acquisition and at least three years in traffic operations; the remaining four years of required experience must be in any combination of program acquisition, scheduling, traffic, operations, or audience services. 

Skills: Detailed knowledge of program acquisition sources, methods, costs, scheduling processes, archiving, and compliance with broadcast rights is required.   A demonstrated understanding of television ratings, audience trends, programming terminology, and scheduling strategies is required. Demonstrated proficiency using current traffic management systems is required; experience utilizing software in an automated playback interface environment is preferred.  Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are required.

Other: Must be able to lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to twenty-five pounds. The scope of the job occasionally requires evening and/or weekend activities and requires occasional travel to workshops, seminars, or university and public events. A valid Missouri driver’s license is required.

1. Ensures that Ozarks Public Television (OPT) broadcasts programming that attracts, maintains, and increases its viewing audience by providing leadership to the program acquisition and scheduling efforts of the unit and working with PBS, NETA, APT, and other national and regional distributors to acquire programming appropriate for OPT.

2. Assumes responsibility for the creation of the broadcast and cable program schedules in consultation with appropriate staff by managing program inventory, administering the program acquisition budget, and communicating program schedules to the staff, Viewer’s Guide editor, webmaster, and other media and promotional organizations as needed.

3. Provides day-to-day administration by utilizing programming software to create the daily program log, ensuring that program logs are completed in a timely and accurate manner and that required verifications and billing information are available as needed, and working cooperatively with other station personnel in troubleshooting and resolving traffic and programming problems.

4. Ensures that programming, including promotional and underwriting spots, is available for broadcast and cable distribution as scheduled and that promotional spots, underwriting, and special promotional elements for fund-raising events i.e., pledge drives, auctions, etc., are scheduled in appropriate dayparts at the required frequency.

5. Helps to maximize the impact of programming on generating underwriting support by providing the corporate support unit with advance program information to support underwriting sales activities.

6. Works closely with academic support areas and station personnel to ensure successful scheduling and broadcast of educational courses.

7. Works to ensure the effective scheduling and promotion of locally-produced programming.

8. Assures that OPT is responsive to viewers by responding to viewer inquiries regarding national programming.

9. Supports the academic component of the University by utilizing student interns to the extent feasible.

10. Promotes a positive image of the University by participating in community and professional organizations such as PTPA, representing the University at professional meetings, and serving on community committees.

11. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Manager, Programming and Production - TV.

12. Contributes to the overall success of the University by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

The Assistant Manager for Programming – TV is supervised by the Manager, Programming and Production – TV and supervises support staff and students.