Production Manager
NPR
Chicago, ILThis is a Full Time Job
OVERVIEW
Intro to Position
This is a 3-year limited term position.
This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.
Responsibilities
• Leads production systems and workflows to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across all NPR Studios projects.
• Establishes technical workflows for acquisition, storage, editing, color, and delivery.
• Develops best practices and documentation for cinematography, audio, and post-production.
• Oversees archival organization, media asset management, and platform readiness.
• Supports internal productions and provides guidance to outside collaborators and filmmakers.
• Design and manage end-to-end production workflows across development, production, post-production, and delivery.
• Establish technical standards for incoming footage from external filmmakers (formats, codecs, audio specs, archival footage, etc…).
• Oversee delivery specifications for multiple platforms (NPR.org, YouTube, broadcast, festivals, social).
• Work closely with acquisitions and development to onboard external projects into NPR’s production pipeline.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and production logistics across multiple concurrent projects.
• Coordinate with legal, standards & practices, and business affairs on deliverables and compliance.
Other Responsibilities:
• Provide production support and guidance across projects, troubleshooting technical and workflow challenges as needed.
• Produce, shoot and edit video for visual platforms, clearly communicating the vision, project goals, narrative scope and timeline for each production.
• Demonstrated consistent expertise in video coordination, production, recording, and editing, as well as with photography assignments.
• Write and edit scripts and storyboards.
• Proficiency at editing and producing complex pieces.
• Perform post-production work including: adding text and graphics, sound design, and color correction.
• Additional duties as assigned by your manager.
The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.
Education Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with a specialization in film, video, media production, photography or journalism preferred.
Work Location & Requirements
• SAG-AFTRA Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the [Washington, D.C. / Culver City / New York City / Chicago] location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in [Washington, D.C. / Maryland / Virginia / Culver City / New York City / Chicago].
Required Skills / Competencies
• At least 3-5 years of video storytelling experience, preferably with a studio, streaming platform, major network or newsroom, or film festival
• Experience designing and implementing production workflows and asset management systems.
• Experience managing post-production pipelines across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Familiarity with cloud-based collaboration tools, media asset management systems, and remote production workflows.
• Experience delivering content to multiple platforms (broadcast, digital, social, festivals)
• Proven track record managing multiple productions from pre-production through delivery.
• Experience working across a range of budgets from lean, single crew shoots to more complex multiple-location productions.
• Prior experience closing out productions and managing final delivery.
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud programs used in video production (Premiere, After Effects, PhotoShop, Audition, Media Encoder)
• Strong understanding of copyright, fair use, licensing and ethical journalism practices
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Ability to consistently work well with others.
Job Type
• This is a temporary position (3-year) full-time position
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Salary/Benefits
$49.28 /hour USD
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
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401(k)
Perks
• Access to health and wellness
• Financial well-being
Additional Information
NPR is a thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization that produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility, which are also core principles for our employees. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, including journalism, digital media, IT, and development, and our work touches the lives of millions worldwide. Across the organization, we are building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is key to our success. We are committed to integrity and adherence to ethical standards in our journalism and every role at NPR, ensuring compliance with legal obligations as fundamental responsibilities for all employees. The Visuals team at NPR works across all of our content areas.