ESC's Program Director Job Description

Program Director Job Description

ESC recommends that a nonprofit reviews their hiring process and job descriptions with a labor attorney prior to posting. Check out our inclusive resources for suggestions of places to post to recruit diverse and disabled applicants.

Project Directors have a national median wages of $34.46 hourly or $71,680 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018). In Illinois the median wagers are $29.92 hourly or $62,230 annually. In Chicago the median wages are $30.90 hourly or $64,280 annually.

Program Director Job Description Example

Activities Include:

Determine presentation subjects or content.
Manage operations of artistic or entertainment departments or organizations.
Manage content of broadcasts or presentations.
Coordinate reporting or editing activities.
Maintain logs of production activities.
Operate communications, transmissions, or broadcasting equipment.
Maintain recording or broadcasting equipment.
Edit audio or video recordings.
Discuss production content and progress with others.
Develop promotional strategies or plans.
Select staff, team members, or performers.
Report news to the public.
Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Select materials or props.
Verify accuracy of data.
Interview others for news or entertainment purposes.
Direct productions or performances.
Direct fundraising or financing activities.
Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
Establish work schedules and assign work to staff members.
Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
Confer with directors and production staff to discuss issues, such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage.
Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
Evaluate new and existing programming to assess suitability and the need for changes, using information such as audience surveys and feedback.
Develop promotions for current programs and specials.
Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets.
Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.
Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
Develop budgets for programming and broadcasting activities and monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within budgetary limits.
Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
Direct setup of remote facilities and install or cancel programs at remote stations.
Conduct interviews for broadcasts.
Cue announcers, actors, performers, and guests.
Participate in the planning and execution of fundraising activities.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Skills & Knowledge Required

Calendar and scheduling software — Music scheduling software; RCS GSelector
Data base user interface and query software — FileMaker Pro; Microsoft SQL Server ; Scheduling databases
Document management software — Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software — Email software
Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
Instant messaging software — Twitter
Internet browser software — Web browser software
Music or sound editing software — Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
Office suite software — Microsoft Office
Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software — Microsoft SharePoint
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Video creation and editing software — Apple Final Cut Pro; Avid Technology iNEWS
Web page creation and editing software — Content management systems CMS; Facebook
Web platform development software — Hypertext markup language HTML
Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Personnel and Human Resources — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Telecommunications — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Management of Material Resources — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
Time Sharing — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Diverse candidates are highly encouraged to apply. ADA accommodations available to applicants and employees.

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