Producer III

Summary

Join NPR's Enterprise Storytelling Unit as a Producer III and contribute to the award-winning podcast, Embedded. You will play a key role in shaping the sound and direction of Embedded series, collaborating with producers, editors, and hosts. Responsibilities include brainstorming season and episode visions, providing editorial guidance, leading production, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring content aligns with NPR's standards. This is a temporary, full-time, remote-permitted position based in Washington, DC, with a competitive hourly rate and comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

• At least 5-7 years experience working closely with hosts and reporters. Includes demonstrated ability and experience working with a wide range of personalities under the pressure of deadlines and editorial review
• At least 3-5 years experience producing longform, narrative storytelling
• At least 3-5 years experience producing on Protools, Adobe Audition, or similar professional digital audio workstations. Protools proficiency preferred
• At least 5 years' experience in podcasting or broadcasting
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently under deadline pressure
• Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes
• Understanding of journalistic ethics. Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness
• Strong oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• Remote Permitted: This is a remote permitted role. This role is based out of our Washington, DC office but the employee may choose to work on a remote basis from a location that NPR approves
• This is a temporary (6-month) full time position

Responsibilities

• Help Supervising Senior Editor or other senior staff brainstorm season, episode, and feed visions (in meetings to help develop season/episode guiding questions, story structure, reporting strategy, and sonic vision)
• Brought in at Crucial Moments to help make the episode work (offering editorial guidance to help shape/edit stories to support editorial integrity and quality). This may include co-writing, sitting in on an interview, listening to raw tape and suggesting cuts to pull, production work
• Sometimes lead producing a series and/or stepping up to oversee the production timeline and help with lead up to series launch
• Mentoring and training of ESU producers on Embedded
• Participate in editorial planning of the assigned series including episode topic selection, story arch, and selection/booking of guests
• With the team, create sound and structure of assigned series
• Direct host(s) during recordings, providing direction and constructive feedback
• Contribute to day-to-day production of the assigned series, including designing, updating, and managing production calendars and workflows
• Write scripts under deadline
• Work on major, long-term projects, as well as short deadline pieces, sometimes simultaneously
• Craft engaging copy for podcast, radio show, and web
• Help score and sound design assigned series
• Work closely and collegially with hosts, editor, producers, interns, plus freelancers, contractors, and Member Station/newsroom partners
• Assist in production training (and possibly mentoring) for new staff members and other content collaborators, both internal and external
• Ensure that all content complies with NPR’s standards for accuracy and fairness
• Assume other duties as assigned, including supporting other special projects in the Enterprise Storytelling Unit
• Manages listener engagement channels, including social media, listener mail, and audience call-outs
• Demonstrates consistent expertise in field production, where applicable

Preferred Qualifications

• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Building Stakeholder Relationships
• Resilience
• Managing Complexity
• Emotional Intelligence
• Creative Brainstorming
• Multitasking
• Project Planning

Benefits

• Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $54.09 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