Chief Engineer, Central Region

Application Deadline: Monday, Feb 07, 2022

Description

Application instructions for this and all current OPB employment opportunities are available at OPB’s careers page.

About OPB

OPB is a leader in public media, serving diverse communities of the Northwest with fact-based, in-depth news and information about politics, the environment, science, arts, history, and cultures; business, education and more. Powered by the generous support of members, OPB seeks out a variety of voices in our communities and lifts up authentic stories of the people, places, events and issues of the region, providing context and a deeper understanding. OPB’s independent journalism and programs are available at opb.org, on OPB Radio and OPB TV. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

The Opportunity

Do you have RF experience and get excited about the thought of being responsible for the uptime of broadcast technology that spans 40,000 square miles of some of Oregon’s most beautiful spaces? Are you interested in leading a team of engineering staff to keep OPB’s central and eastern Oregon facilities and processes current and in compliance? If so, OPB is hiring a Chief Engineer in Bend, and this job could be a great opportunity for you.

In this position you will support OPB’s mission by keeping our infrastructure running, enabling our content creators to keep our audience informed 24/7. This position oversees three engineering professionals out of Bend, Oregon and maintains OPB’s distribution and broadcast infrastructure at 32 sites on the east side of the Cascades. The territory stretches from the Columbia River down to Lakeview, and from Bend to Payette, ID.  We’re looking for a leader who can prioritize safety in the field, come in with a strong understanding of FCC compliance, and can lead their team around OPB’s equity and inclusion work.

The Bend-based team is in a time of transition with our current Chief Engineer retiring in 2022, two new Maintenance Engineers joining this year, and we will be hiring one more Engineer to complete the team. The plan is to have plenty of time for overlap between this position and our current Chief so knowledge can be shared in order to capture some of the nuances across the 32 sites. We’re excited to add new perspective and experience to help us move our broadcast operation forward. Check out our Oregon Field Guide episode on Tower Engineers to see the team in action.

Position Details

This position provides the leadership and technical ability to keep OPB broadcast operations in the Central and Eastern regions running smoothly.  Works in conjunction with Director of Engineering to ensure smooth coordination between the Central and Eastern regions and other work groups; also works with Chief Technology Officer, Technology Operations Manager, and other Chief Engineers to ensure smooth communication and standardization within the department. Manages three field engineers to form a productive team dedicated to the achievement of OPB’s goals.  Serves as FCC-designated Chief Operator for transmitter sites in the Central and Eastern region.

Supervises

• Supervises three engineering staff and spends about 30% of time in that capacity.
• Plans, assigns, and approves work; responds to grievances; disciplines/rewards; recommends hiring; hires; recommends salary adjustments; and prepares and signs performance reviews.

Responsibilities

40% –  Technical

• Maintains a working knowledge of RF and distribution networks.
• Travels to remote sites for routine or emergency maintenance.
• Develops appropriate routine and preventative maintenance programs.
• Researches new technologies as they may apply to the Engineering Department and their advantages to OPB.
• Recommends, plans, designs and implements technical and equipment changes as appropriate to maintain OPB’s technical leadership.
• Actively participates in hard and soft skill enhancement opportunities for self and team.
• Functions as a resource and liaison between Engineering and other departments.
• Keeps up to date on federal, state, and local regulations and ensures compliance.

30% –  Administration:

• Oversees procurement of equipment.
• Gathers data to be used in reports and for planning ongoing and future technical and human resource needs.
• Project manages technical projects for assigned area including developing and staying on budget, designating resources, establishing and tracking timeline, keeping stakeholders informed and completing in alignment with department goals.
• Develops and manages operational and capital budgets for Central and Eastern region.
• Leads team and projects in alignment with OPB’s equity work and partners with chief peers and supervisor to support continued adoption and incorporation of concepts into regular practice.
• Serves as FCC-designated Chief Operator for transmitter sites in the Central and Eastern region.
• Prioritizes safety in the field keeps all staff up to date and trained on safety protocols.

30% –  Supervision and Leadership:

• Leads team that fosters an environment of belonging where diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas and work styles are valued.
• Supervises, schedules and reviews team to ensure coordinated efforts regarding maintenance activities, personnel, and day-to-day activities, including equipment maintenance.
• Supports the growth and development of team members offering coaching, recognition, and feedback to optimize performance and employee engagement.
• Ensures team understands their work priorities, responsibilities and contributions and how they align with department goals, organizational strategies and mission.

Working Conditions

Working conditions vary widely, ranging from the office environment to arduous travel, and significant activity outdoors at various transmission sites.  The position may be required to work varying shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. May be required to be on-call to respond to technical and production emergencies.

Travel and work at remote sites will require the operation of (and possibly the need to perform, in the field, basic emergency mechanical repairs to) 4-wheel drive vehicles and tracked snow vehicles. Exposure to very high voltages and RF non-ionizing radiation is possible at most sites. The work may require challenging physical activity, including lifting up to 50 pounds and moving up to 75 pounds, working in inclement weather, walking or hiking around 2 miles (possibly in snowshoes), and possible tower climbing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years broadcast experience,
• Two (2) years supervisory experience including leading teams and fostering a sense of belonging within them, guiding teams through high stress situations and supporting the growth and development of employees.
• Experience in high power RF, fiber distribution, and remote site management.
• Possess knowledge of planning, technical design, construction maintenance and operation of a wide variety of RF systems, including transmitters, microwave systems and fiber distribution network
• Experience with IP-based networking, VPN, and Windows OS management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to tailor communication to audience such as explaining highly complex technical projects to non-technical users.
• Project management experience including budget oversight, setting and accomplishing goals while managing dynamic priorities.
• Change management experience, including creating efficiencies, and implementing new and emerging technologies, including new/revised work processes.
• Experience operating 4WD off-road vehicles, including knowledge of safe operation on unimproved, muddy, or snowy roads.
• Knowledge of outdoor safety and best practices when working in challenging remote conditions, including cold weather survival and wilderness first aid.
• Skilled at providing customer service to a wide variety of colleagues, stakeholders, contractors, etc.
• Experience complying with FCC regulations governing broadcasting.
• Ability to foster a strategic mindset amongst the team with the ability to drive both strategic and tactical efforts as necessary.
• Ability to champion collaborative efforts, anticipating the impact of problems and providing options for contingency solutions in relation to business and service needs.
• Enthusiasm for the mission of OPB and commitment to furthering OPB’s equity work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) years combined broadcast experience, education, maintenance and supervisory experience.
• Experience operating tracked vehicles and other heavy equipment.
• Experience complying with regulations enforced by federal, state, and local government agencies such FAA, FEMA, BLM, ODOT, WSP, and others.
• Experience operating tracked vehicles and other heavy equipment.
• Tower climbing experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field such as Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or IT.
• 5 years experience following compliance and regulations enforced by FCC, FAA, FEMA, BLM and other federal, state and local government agencies.

Additional Information

• This position reports to the Sr. Director of Technology and is benefits eligible.
• The probable hiring range for this exempt position is between $100,000 and $110,000 annually, depending on qualifications.
• This position requires a valid driver’s license and requires consent to OPB conducting a driving record check. Employees will not be allowed to use a company or personal vehicle for work purposes without completion and satisfactory results of this check.

How to Apply

For application instructions, please visit OPB’s careers page. You will be asked to create an account, upload your cover letter and resume and answer a few position related questions. Once you click “submit” you cannot make changes to your application.

Your application materials are due by 8:59 PM Pacific Time on February 7, 2022.

OPB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For additional information about this position, please contact: