Overview

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for engineering and broadcast excellence? EMF is seeking a dynamic Director of Engineering Field Operations to drive our mission forward! Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations & Engineering, you’ll spearhead our Engineering Field Operations Team, setting strategic goals, providing top-tier training, and ensuring our broadcast facilities exceed EMF, industry, and FCC standards. Join us in delivering exceptional and reliable radio broadcasts that inspire and connect communities nationwide!

This role is 100% on-site at our Franklin, TN facility.

Here’s just some of what you will be doing daily

• Provide functional and strategic leadership for Engineering Field Operations function and Team, ensuring ministry-wide collaboration and communication, facilitating appropriate resolution of issues, and competing priorities. Ensure alignment of Engineering Field Operations initiatives with Ministry objectives.
• Establish and enforce procedures and standards for design, selection, installation, maintenance, operation, and repair of all equipment within Engineering Field Operations’ responsibility, ensuring that all equipment is operating properly, safely, reliably, and legally.
• Ensure work performed is compliant with both applicable FCC rules and good engineering practice, with an eye toward reliability and high quality. Ensure expeditious restoration to proper operation of any facility found to be out of compliance and encourage efforts toward the goal of reducing and eliminating broadcast facility downtime.
• Communicate with, and request work from, team members and engineers (including contract engineers) in other cities and states, both directly and through other leaders, to resolve technical problems.
• In collaboration with others, research, design and develop new technologies and methodologies to improve Engineering Field Operations.
• Prepare, approve, and manage departmental operating, personnel and capital expenditures budgets.
• Monitor the progress of operational projects and work to ensure those activities occur according to schedule and budget.
• Oversee training and development of personnel at all levels within area of oversight.
• Oversee strategic planning and implementation for Engineering Field Operations maintenance and operations projects, focusing on goals, timelines, budgets, communication, results tracking, and celebration.
• Assess Engineering Field Operations performance against both annual goals and plans. Provide strategic recommendations based on operational analysis, research, and projections, cost identification and allocation, and resource analysis. Ensure tools and systems are in place to provide critical operational and project information to the Vice President of Engineering and others, making actionable recommendations on both strategic goals and operational constraints.
• Engage VP of Engineering and Operations and others on issues, trends, and proposals for innovation, strategic initiatives, and delivery.
• Seek out, nurture, and reward innovation and an innovative culture within the team.

We are looking for a very specific skill set and business acumen. Here's some experience we are seeking:

• Bachelor’s degree, or combination of education/training with relevant experience.
• FCC First or General class license highly desirable.
• SBE CBRE, CBTE, CSRE, CSTE, or CPBE certification highly desirable.
• Minimum 10 years of Broadcast Engineering experience. Major market experience a plus.
• Minimum 5-7 years of collaborative leadership experience.
• Deep working knowledge in most of the core areas listed below and knowledgeable across all Engineering and Leadership related disciplines, including:

• FCC rules and regulations (at least 47 C.F.R. Parts 0-2, 11, 17, 73, and 74).
• Radio or Television Broadcasting, specifically Broadcast Engineering.
• RF Engineering, including exciters, transmitters, filters, antennas, microwave, and satellite.
• Radio broadcast facility design and construction, with a particular emphasis on transmitter sites (buildings, towers, power systems, etc.).
• Computer/IT hardware and software principles (IP and/or programming skills a plus).
• Technical team leadership.
• Growth- and encouragement-focused leadership, balancing relationships, results, and health.
• Mathematical skills including probability & statistical inference, fundamentals of geometry & trigonometry, and application of these mathematical concepts to practical situations.
• Reasoning abilities including ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Language skills including the ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, contracts, and government regulations. Ability to write and edit reports, business correspondence, contracts, and procedure manuals.
• Experience with software like Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and Visio, as well as a working understanding of NAV Dynamics or other financial software, project management, and radio propagation software.
• A collaborative and flexible style, with a strong service mentality and ability to work with a diverse group of people. Need to be seen as a team player and build trusting relationships with other team members.
• Must be able to work well under frequently stressful conditions and short deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop sincere business/ministry relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to the social sector with a passion for our mission and values.

What can we offer you?

• Industry leading Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Short/long term disability and life insurance
• Robust 401K with company match
• Parental leave with Baby Bonding pay
• Generous PTO, holiday and sick pay
• Unique company culture that includes exclusive access to concerts, movie premieres, media industry events, and more
• Leadership and Career Development Programs including free access to LinkedIn Learning platform

Why work for Educational Media Foundation, K-LOVE/Air1?

Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is a nonprofit, multi-platform media company on a mission to draw people closer to Christ. Founded in 1982 in Santa Rosa, CA, with a singular radio station, EMF today owns and operates the nation's two largest Christian music radio networks (K-LOVE and Air1) with over 1,000 broadcast signals across all 50 states, streaming audio reaching around the world, and a growing family of media ministries including podcasts, books, films, concerts, and events. EMF employs nearly 500 team members between its offices in Nashville, TN, Rocklin, CA, and field locations around the country. You can view our mission and values here Mission, Beliefs & Values. 

“As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EMF makes employment decisions based on merit and other legitimate reasons. The Company is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment and the promotion of equal employment opportunities regardless of protected class, characteristic or status. However, EMF is also a religious non-profit organization where all team members contribute to the Company’s mission of encouraging our audiences “to have a meaningful relationship with Christ.” Therefore, pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e I(a)), EMF has the right to hire only candidates who agree with the Company’s Statement of Faith. Also, as a religious non-profit organization, the Company is not governed by the CA Fair Employment and Housing Act.”