Job Opening: Lead Production Specialist

Open Signal is seeking an experienced and collaborative production professional to join our Production Services team as our Lead Production Specialist. This position serves as the lead field producer for Open Signal's productions, overseeing production crews while ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality live broadcasts, municipal meetings, and client productions throughout the Portland region.

Job Title: Lead Production Specialist
Pay: $29.48/hour
Benefits: Includes health, dental, life insurance, and 401K match
Status: Part-Time (non-exempt), 20-30 hours per week

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Lead Production Specialist combines advanced production expertise with day-to-day leadership of production crews. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving technical challenges, mentoring fellow crew members, and delivering exceptional client service in fast-paced production environments.

Instructions for Applicants

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to hr@opensignalpdx.org by 11:59 PM on 8/1/2026. Please use the subject line: "Application_Lead Production Specialist_Your Name"

Applicants should submit:

Resume highlighting relevant professional experience and including three professional references.
Cover Letter describing your interest in the position, your leadership experience, and how your background has prepared you to lead complex live productions and production crews.

Written Responses (250–500 words each) to the following questions:

Describe a time when you intentionally helped create an inclusive, respectful, or equitable environment while working with a production crew, team, client, or community partner. What actions did you take, what challenges did you encounter, and what did you learn from the experience?
Describe the most complex production, event, or technical project you have coordinated. How did you organize people, equipment, timelines, and communication to ensure success? What obstacles arose, and how did you adapt while keeping the production on track?

Open Signal is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain talented people from diverse communities because we know our work is stronger when our team reflects the community we serve. If you do not meet every qualification but believe you would be a strong addition to our team, we encourage you to apply and tell us why.

Primary Purpose

The Lead Production Specialist serves as the senior field production lead for Open Signal's Production Services department, overseeing the successful execution of broadcasts, municipal meetings, live events, studio productions, and other fee-for-service productions.

Acting as the lead onsite representative, this position coordinates production crews, manages technical operations, maintains production quality, and ensures an exceptional client experience while serving as the operational bridge between production staff and department leadership.

Working closely with the Production Manager, Client Services Manager, and Video Engineer, the Lead Production Specialist helps ensure productions are executed safely, efficiently, and consistently while allowing department leadership to focus on client relationships, scheduling, business development, and strategic planning.

This position provides day-to-day work direction and mentorship to Production Specialists but does not have formal supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Production Leadership

Lead productions including municipal meetings, live events, studio productions, and field productions.
Serve as the primary onsite representative for Open Signal when department leadership is not present.
Direct Production Specialists and production crews throughout setup, live production, and strike.
Coordinate production workflow and resolve operational or technical issues in real time.
Ensure productions meet Open Signal's technical standards, safety expectations, and customer service standards.
Make informed operational decisions during productions while communicating significant issues to department leadership.

Production Operations

Operate professional broadcast equipment including cameras, audio systems, video switchers, graphics systems, streaming platforms, replay systems, recording equipment, and lighting systems.
Conduct site assessments for new production locations.
Assist with production planning by identifying staffing, equipment, and logistical requirements.
Complete production reports, equipment documentation, and incident reports.
Ensure equipment is safely transported, tested, maintained, and returned following department procedures.
Verify all production assets are properly recorded, transferred, and archived according to departmental workflows.

Staff Support and Training

Mentor and provide day-to-day guidance to Production Specialists during live productions.
Assist in onboarding and training new crew members.
Promote safe production practices and professional client interactions.
Identify opportunities to improve production workflows and recommend process improvements to department leadership.

Collaboration and Communication

Collaborate with the Production Manager, Client Services Manager, and Video Engineer to ensure productions are properly planned, staffed, and technically prepared.
Communicate production issues, equipment concerns, and client feedback following each production.
Provide operational coverage during staff absences and periods of increased production demand.
Represent Open Signal professionally with municipal partners, clients, vendors, and community organizations.

Other duties

Work flexible hours including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as production schedules require.
Participate in at least one Open Signal staff committee.
Participate in a minimum of ten hours of equity-related volunteering or professional development annually.
Participate in ongoing educational and professional development opportunities.
Open and close the facility, including the alarm system and parking gate, as needed.
Attend All Staff meetings and organizational trainings.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a television studio, broadcast operations, control room, or live production environment.
Experience operating professional broadcast systems; experience with Ross Dashboard, Blackmagic Design, Yamaha, and similar broadcast video and audio systems is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to operate quickly, independently, and make sound decisions in live production environments.
Basic understanding of video editing, live audio production, IP-based audio/video systems, signal flow, and streaming workflows.
Familiarity with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, and Gmail).
Valid driver's license and ability to safely operate production vehicles.
Creative, resourceful, and flexible approach to troubleshooting technical and operational challenges.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, deadline-driven production environment while maintaining professionalism.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends based on production needs.
Demonstrated willingness and ability to learn new broadcast technologies, production systems, and workflows.
Ability to safely lift, carry, transport, and set up production equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

Five or more years of professional broadcast, live event, or multimedia production experience.
Experience directing or leading municipal meeting coverage or government broadcasts.
Experience configuring and troubleshooting IP-based production systems.
Experience mentoring or training technical staff and freelance production crews.
Knowledge of Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) media operations.
Current First Aid and CPR certification.
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Production, Media Arts, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
Additional industry related Certification (Dante, Adobe, DaVinci Resolve).

Working Conditions

This position is performed primarily on location at production sites, government facilities, event venues, and Open Signal studios.
Work schedules vary based on production demands and routinely include mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
The position requires transporting, lifting, assembling, operating, and disassembling professional broadcast equipment while working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Employee Commitment to Equity

At Open Signal, we are deeply committed to fostering a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We recognize that achieving true equity requires ongoing education, reflection, and action. As such, we expect all staff members to actively engage in regular training opportunities, encouraging an environment where individuals continually challenge themselves to expand their understanding of equity issues. This commitment is not just a requirement but a shared responsibility as we strive to create a workplace that reflects and celebrates the richness of diverse perspectives. Through continuous learning and self-reflection, each staff member contributes to our collective journey towards greater equity and inclusivity. Together, we can build an organization that is not only aware of the challenges but actively working to dismantle barriers and create a more just and equitable community.