Music Director, WQXR

This is a Full Time Job

MUSIC DIRECTOR, WQXR
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2010

New York Public Radio seeks a Music Director to oversee WQXR’s classical music scheduling. The Music Director is an integral part of the station’s music programming team, creating top-quality, NYC-focused radio and web content that preserves the legacy of WQXR while expanding the reach of classical music locally and globally. The Music Director will be passionate and knowledgeable about classical music, using those qualities to curate playlists that emphasize the gold-standard classical repertoire, and performances that appeal to the casual as well as the serious listener.

In addition to scheduling daily music logs and providing support for WQXR's on-air personalities, this position communicates across internal departments as well as among members of the cultural community and the music industry at large. The Music Director also plays a significant role in creating music content online and integrating that content with on-air programming.

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Curate daily playlists that feature a high quality mix of classical music with broad appeal to casual and serious listeners
• Contribute ideas to help define WQXR’s music programming focus, integration strategy, thematic programming, etc. across multiple platforms
• Oversee station’s music database and guarantee that it exceeds all industry standards for accuracy, currency
• Work closely within programming department and across promotion and marketing departments to build audience for the station’s content
• Support pledge drive on-air and online through excellent music programming
• Supervise use of scheduling software, ensuring optimal efficiency and complete data accuracy
• Function as internal liaison to various departments (PR, promotions, community affairs, etc.) to provide information and knowledge about music programming, and as external liaison with record labels, content providers (e.g. NPR) and cultural community (festivals, venues, record industry, artists, programmers, etc.)
• Ensure that logs for each air shift are ready for air in a timely manner
• Understand, reinforce station/show brands
• Positively represent NYPR at music industry and press events
• Comply with NYPR policies and guidelines
• This position requires use of a computer, telephone and other office and/or broadcast equipment; ability to communicate effectively through a variety of methods
• Ability to work extended hours as needed, including some evenings and weekends
• Other duties as assigned


Qualifications:

• Prior major market radio broadcast experience desirable
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in music and/or broadcasting or related field required
• At least 5 years of related radio experience required
• Prior experience using scheduling software to program classical music preferred. Experience with Music Master preferred.
• Prior experience with radio automation systems (NexGen, DAVID, Dalet, etc.) strongly preferred
• Familiarity with, enthusiasm for New York City’s music and culture scene, as well as familiarity with major national and international music presenters, orchestras and festivals required
• Expertise in classical music repertoire, recordings, history and industry required
• Demonstrated proficiency with technical and broadcast equipment at a high level preferred; demonstrated ability to learn new systems and procedures quickly
• Demonstrated ability to navigate the web environment self-sufficiently; ability to support online projects required
• Requires the intellectual and emotional depth, maturity, self-confidence and interpersonal skills to work effectively and/or interact with the other WQXR staff, executives at NYPR, board trustees, colleagues, industry representatives and cultural partners (as needed)
• Excellent communication skills—both oral and written—with an impressive reputation for building and maintaining relationships with people at all levels of an organization, across a diverse range of cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational and social backgrounds
• Effective managerial and organizational skills – required
• Ability to serve as self-sufficient, deadline-oriented project manager – required
• Strong written and oral communication skills – required
• Ability to think creatively and to proactively solve problems – required
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external contacts, establishing and maintaining effective relationships and an atmosphere of trust and respect – required
• Knowledge of software and systems – preferred
• Familiarity with web content creation and management

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.