Job Announcement: Content Director

BirdNote seeks a kind, thoughtful, experienced, and organized leader to serve as Content Director. The ideal candidate has extensive experience producing compelling audio content, a love of nature and birds, in particular–and a strong ability to manage teams, projects, budgets, and deadlines. This role oversees BirdNote’s production department and has primary production responsibility and decision making authority for all of BirdNote’s productions. While in-depth bird expertise is not required, a passion for telling stories about birds and inspiring people to take steps to protect them is a must.

BirdNote is an independent nonprofit media organization that produces programs aimed at inspiring people to notice and care about birds. These include our two-minute BirdNote Daily show that airs on public radio stations across the US and popular longform podcasts. Our estimated audience size is 5 million and growing.

Starting salary range: $80,000 - $85,000. Includes benefits package with paid time off, employer matching retirement contributions, and medical, dental, disability, and life insurance. 

Location: Virtual/remote. This is an exempt, 40-hour per week position with flexibility in scheduling, but required availability during portions of the regular M-F work week and very occasional events outside of regular working hours. This position will require some occasional travel.

Reporting Structure and Support: This position reports to BirdNote’s Executive Director and manages BirdNote’s production team of producers, editors, writers, narrators, and sound engineers (a mix of staff roles and independent contractors). This position works closely in partnership with BirdNote’s development and communications departments to ensure that organizational goals are aligned, that we are able to grow as an organization, and that the type of content produced can reach the broadest and most diverse audience possible.

Commitment to Antiracism: The long and ongoing history of racial oppression in the United States and the centering of white people and privileged groups throughout much of the mainstream environmental movement requires us to intentionally practice antiracism in our organizational processes and media production. BirdNote is committed to creating the inclusive environmentalism we want to see in the world. We strongly encourage individuals from communities that have been historically underrepresented in public media and environmental organizations to apply.

Key Functions:

● Oversee BirdNote’s Production Department, managing an experienced and growing team that includes production staff and independent (contract) writers, editors, producers, and narrators
● Working closely with other members of BirdNote's staff leadership team, serve as the primary driver and decision making authority in the development and implementation of BirdNote productions
● Set production goals and targets to align with BirdNote’s strategic goals and budget and measure against results
● Actively pursue collaborations with independent producers for audio stories/content, graphics, special features, and some video production, with an emphasis on increasing representation for historically marginalized groups
● Follow and/or update BirdNote production policies and processes as necessary
● Maintain strong communication with staff and contractors to establish and maintain production plans and timetables
● Manage departmental budget, create and manage contracts including schedule for deliverables, and approve invoices for payment from contractors
● Ensure content is audience focused by developing data-driven analyses of BirdNote productions, from planning/idea generation phase through debrief phase
● Maintain and develop partnerships with organizations dedicated to bird science, conservation, and equity and inclusion in birding.
● Maintain and develop partnerships with radio stations and other audio production/distribution outlets.
● Provide staff leadership to BirdNote’s Science Advisory Council (SAC), a group of volunteer scientists serving as a resource for fact checking and editorial advice. Facilitate quarterly SAC meetings and provide the SAC with opportunities to fact-check BirdNote scripts and provide feedback and recommendations on BirdNote’s recent and upcoming programming.
● Stay up-to-date on latest industry trends and developments in audio production, public media, science communication and nonprofit sector
● Serve on the BirdNote Leadership Team with the Executive Director, Development Director, and Communications Director, helping to set and deliver on cross-departmental goals for the organization and making occasional reports to the Board of Directors
● Ensure that all facets of programming adhere to and advance BirdNote’s mission, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) goals, brand, strategic goals, business strategies, and standards of quality and scientific accuracy
● Represent BirdNote to organizational partners and key stakeholders
● Other duties as assigned

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

● Passion for BirdNote’s mission of connecting people to the joy and wonder of nature by telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face and inspiring people to take steps to protect the natural world
● A proven ability to set vision and strategy in the evolving industries of podcasting and
public media
● 5+ years of experience producing a wide range of high quality audio content and in-depth understanding of all of the components of audio content creation and promotion for public radio and podcast audiences
● Experience leading and managing staff teams and an ability to create inclusive and collaborative work environments
● Outstanding project management skills and the ability to lead teams to meet multiple deadlines over the course of extended projects
● Strong documentation and organization skills, especially in shared digital workspaces
● Understanding of the intersections of social and environmental issues and ability to highlight these intersections in audio storytelling
● Organized, proactive, and collaborative leadership style
● Personal commitment to continuous learning and growth
● Ability to mindfully give and receive direct feedback
● Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) is desired but not required

How to Apply:

Email a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Finalists will be asked to provide three references. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by November 17th, 2022 and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. BirdNote is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an intentional organization-wide value placed on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our policies, practices, procedures, and content. BirdNote does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment opportunities.

Learn more about BirdNote at www.birdnote.org