Career & application guide

Media Technical Directors/Managers

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What do media technical directors/managers do?

Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Broadcast Director
  • News Technical Director
  • Newscast Director
  • Operations Director
  • Production Director
  • Production Manager
  • Studio Director
  • Technical Director

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
  • Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
  • Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
  • Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
  • Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
  • Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
  • Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
  • Collaborate with promotions directors to produce on-air station promotions.
  • Confer with operations directors to formulate and maintain fair and attainable technical policies for programs.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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