WYPR Content Director

Your Public Radio is the public radio service for Baltimore, Central Maryland and the Eastern Shore. We are WYPR (the NPR News service for our region) and WTMD (the AAA music service for our region). We are also engaged in an exciting three-year joint operating agreement with the Banner, Baltimore’s new Non-profit online news organization.

The Opportunity

Your Public Radio is at an exciting nexus as we continue to integrate the WTMD operation, and move decisively into our partnership with The Banner. The Content Director will be at the strategic center of our comprehensive public service to the people of our region.

Reaching diverse new audiences and deepening the loyalty of existing listeners and users are the keys to expanding the reach and impact of our public service mission. Likewise, a growing audience supports every dimension of our business, building the resources we need to sustain our services.

The Content Director is the strategic leader of WYPR’s audience efforts across all our platforms. Advises and envisions, plans, directs and develops programming activities of Baltimore’s NPR News station WYPR and AAA station WTMD. Ensures high quality on-air presentation of programming in support of audience development goals and the station’s public service mission to the surrounding community. Determines the program content of WYPR by planning and scheduling compelling content through on-air and digital channels. Determines what programs, news broadcasts, and other program material are offered to the public on WYPR. Supervises WTMD Program Director and ensures integration and strategic connection between the two services. Is a lead in driving the Joint Operating Agreement with the Banner.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Drives strategy to maximize, integrate and synergize all platforms, including WYPR, WTMD, online and podcast portfolio, and maximizing the partnership with the Banner. Serves as Program Director for WYPR and supervises the Program Director for WTMD. Is a peer to the Executive Director of News.

Sets expectations, assigns duties, schedules staff, delegates responsibilities, evaluates activities, delegates work, sets clear direction, prioritizes and manages workflow, prepares performance appraisals & professional development plans. Provides coaching, mentoring and teaching.

Promotes audience growth. Provides quality programming expertise, strategic decision-making, understanding and application of analytical data to increase weekly listenership, ranking and time spent listening. Provides audience analysis and reporting. Collects and interprets data, provides customized analysis for stakeholders and maintains effective working relationships with data vendors. Responds to listener input including complaints, suggestions and compliments.

Contributes greatly to growth in membership by implementing effective and creative fundraising messaging that makes the case for listener support of WYPR and NPR programming.

Core Competencies: 

• Change/Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapts to change that benefits Your Public, is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities, handles pressure, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.

• Communication: Communicates well both verbally and in writing, promptly shares information and ideas with others throughout the organization as appropriate, has active listening skills, can negotiate and persuade as needed.

• Results Focus/Initiative: Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, accepts accountability, sets high standards and takes responsibility, provides leadership/motivation.

• Collaboration: Working collaboratively with others to solve problems, achieve common goals and positive results. Listens to others and values opinions. Is open with other team members and expresses disagreement constructively. Seeks opportunities to work on teams as a means to develop experience and knowledge.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in words and deeds and act as an advocate for WYPR’s content and staff to represent and celebrate the diversity of the communities served by WYPR.
• Knowledge of the evolving media landscape including research on listening habits and smart devices and willingness to investigate what is new and unknown.
• Understanding of and commitment to Community Engagement. Knowledge of the interplay between terrestrial, digital and in-person channels to enhance community engagement.
• Ability to influence and motivate others. Consultative skills related to process improvement and policy/guideline development and implementation. Demonstrated success in cross-departmental collaboration and execution. Must have a positive disposition. Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, prioritize and manage workflow. Strong mentoring and coaching skills. Ability to train staff and develop subordinate's skills. Ability to foster teamwork among staff members.
• Ability to promote audience growth through quality programming expertise, strategic decision-making, understanding and application of analytical data to increase weekly listenership, ranking and time spent listening. Ability to provide audience analysis and reporting. Collects and interprets data, provides customized analysis for stakeholders and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills, with demonstrated ability to negotiate and persuade others.
• Ability to manage multiple projects along multiple timelines to successful conclusion. Ability to prepare fiscal year budgets and oversee expenditures.
• Professionalism: Observes work rules and practices covered during the orientation process and practices appropriate conduct as outlined in the employee handbook.