Executive Director, TV Programming, Video Production and Distribution

Job Title:
Executive Director, TV Programming, Video Production and Distribution

Position Summary:
The Executive Director, TV Programming, Video Production and Distribution is a strategic leader responsible for the acquisition, curation, scheduling, production, and distribution of KQED's television and digital video content. This role ensures that programming across KQED 9, KQED Plus, and digital platforms such as PBS Passport and KQED.org serves the Bay Area audience with impact, relevance, and reach. The Executive Director builds and maintains strategic partnerships with independent producers, distributors, and national public media organizations, while also overseeing internal production efforts, digital video distribution strategies, and presenting station services.
This position leads cross-functional teams, manages budgets, manages contracts, and collaborates across departments to drive audience growth, enhance membership opportunities, and amplify KQED’s brand across all platforms.

 

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. This will enable us to better serve and reflect the Bay Area through diverse and inclusive storytelling. 

 

We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color,  people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

KQED Code of Ethics  https://www.kqed.org/about/code-ethics

 

The mission that drives us:

KQED provide citizens of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media.   We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

 

This role will work hybrid between working in KQED's newly renovated headquarters and working remotely.

 

Salary Information: $138,000-$166,000 Annually

 Essential Functions:

Programming Strategy & Acquisition

• Develop and oversee program scheduling strategies for KQED 9, KQED Plus, and digital platforms.
• Oversee The Programming Service to acquire, curate, and schedule programming to maximize viewership and audience flow.
• Manage programming acquisition budgets and negotiate contracts with external content providers.
• Oversee collaboration with The Programming Service on national program submissions and approvals.
• Evaluate audience analytics and viewing trends to inform programming decisions.
• Maintain strategic relationships with producers, distributors, and stakeholders in public media.
• Directly manage KQED TV Programming and Traffic Managers

Content Production & Editorial Oversight

• Serve as Senior Producer for Check, Please! Bay Area as well as select KQED TV productions (KQED Live events for TV, etc.)
• Oversee editorial direction, production planning, staffing, budgeting, and post-production for assigned projects.
• Collaborate across departments to align content with audience development, promotion, and community engagement goals.
• Conduct regular production reviews and implement process improvements.
• Directly manage Check, Please! Bay Area series producer and Audience Engagement producer .

KQED Distribution

• Represent KQED’s broadcast and digital content to national public television distributors (PBS, APT, NETA).
• Manage the full lifecycle of presenting services for independent and KQED productions, including contracting, technical delivery, rights management, and scheduling.
• Supervise third-party service providers delivering presenting station services; coordinate with KQED Legal on all presenting-related contracts.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Leadership

• Inspire, lead, and develop teams including TV Programming and Traffic Managers and Check, Please! Bay Area production staff.
• Present programming strategy and schedules at internal meetings and external partner events.
• Partner with Creative Services and Membership to align content offerings with fundraising and branding goals.
• Oversee strategic assessments of programming and production initiatives based on mission alignment, ROI, and audience impact.

Knowledge/Experience Desired

• Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting, Communications or Media.
• Demonstrated experience of five years in television programming, preferably with a television public broadcasting organization.
• Demonstrated experience of five years in television distribution, preferably with a national broadcasting organization. 
• Experience in interpreting and analyzing Nielson ratings and television marketing trends.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and diplomatically when responding to KQED staff, PBS stations, content organizations, viewers, etc.
• Experience in composing effective correspondence, reports and proposals.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, database software, ProTrack and Mediator scheduling systems.
• Ability to travel within assigned geographical areas. 
• Knowledge of PBS and FCC rules and regulations.
• Experience working effectively with TV Operations, Marketing, Legal, TV Production, as well as Development Departments.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work under constant deadline pressures.
• Ability to constantly sit for six to eight hours; ability to occasionally walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, crawl, twist, as well as push and pull for three hours; as well as ability to lift and carry 25 lbs. 

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