PEP, Technical Director

Versant; Englewood Cliffs (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Versant is seeking a Technical Director to join CNBC's Englewood Cliffs, NJ operations on a PEP/freelance basis. This on-site role requires handling live broadcasts, operating production switchers, routing video/audio, and ensuring precise control room execution.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with Sony MVS, Grass Valley, ROSS systems, VizRT, and Overdrive automation, plus a proven ability to troubleshoot under pressure and multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience using production switchers, including Sony MVS switcher series, Grass Valley and ROSS Video systems such as ROSS switchers and Overdrive automation.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in a live news and/or sports production control room environment.
• Experience with VizRT systems, switcher peripherals, and live television production workflows.
• Knowledge of live news TV production processes and the ability to keep pace with fast-moving shows.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, client service, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to perform under pressure in an on-air environment.
• Advanced PC computer skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Switch live, fast-paced news programming according to the Director’s instructions, ensuring clean execution of video sources, effects, and transitions for air.
• Prepare, build, and route video and audio paths, feeds, switcher effects, and transitions to support live studio and control room production needs.
• Operate production switchers and related systems, including Sony MVS switcher series, Grass Valley and ROSS Video switchers, ROSS automation systems such as Overdrive, VizRT systems, and other switcher peripherals.
• Troubleshoot and help resolve studio, control room, and technical operations issues in partnership with Operations Management, Engineering, and production teams.
• Test and prepare technical operations systems and equipment for use, helping ensure equipment is ready and performing to production standards.
• Serve as a crew chief when applicable and support compliance with applicable company policies, procedures, and operational expectations.

Skills

Live television production

Production switchers

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Tools

Sony MVS switcher

Grass Valley

ROSS Video systems

Overdrive automation

VizRT

Job description

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Job Description

CNBC has an opportunity for a Technical Director to join its production operations team in a PEP/Freelance capacity, supporting live, fast-paced news programming from our Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey facility. This on-site role is responsible for preparing effects and transitions, operating production switchers, routing video and audio sources, and supporting the technical execution of live programming for air.

Why This Role Matters: The Technical Director plays a critical role in delivering accurate, seamless, and visually polished live broadcasts. By partnering closely with directors, operations teams, engineering, and production crews, this role helps ensure CNBC programming is executed with precision, speed, and reliability in a high-pressure live control room environment.

This position is required to work on site in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Candidates must be available for all shifts, including weekends and holidays, and must be able to work additional hours beyond the scheduled shift with little or no notice.

What You’ll Do

• Switch live, fast-paced news programming according to the Director’s instructions, ensuring clean execution of video sources, effects, and transitions for air.
• Prepare, build, and route video and audio paths, feeds, switcher effects, and transitions to support live studio and control room production needs.
• Operate production switchers and related systems, including Sony MVS switcher series, Grass Valley and ROSS Video switchers, ROSS automation systems such as Overdrive, VizRT systems, and other switcher peripherals.
• Troubleshoot and help resolve studio, control room, and technical operations issues in partnership with Operations Management, Engineering, and production teams.
• Test and prepare technical operations systems and equipment for use, helping ensure equipment is ready and performing to production standards.
• Serve as a crew chief when applicable and support compliance with applicable company policies, procedures, and operational expectations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience using production switchers, including Sony MVS switcher series, Grass Valley and ROSS Video systems such as ROSS switchers and Overdrive automation.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in a live news and/or sports production control room environment.
• Experience with VizRT systems, switcher peripherals, and live television production workflows.
• Knowledge of live news TV production processes and the ability to keep pace with fast-moving shows.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, client service, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to perform under pressure in an on-air environment.
• Advanced PC computer skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

You will also bring Versant’s "How We Do It" behaviors to the work: Trust through reliable execution and sound judgment in live production environments; Teamwork by partnering closely with directors, engineering, operations, and production teams; Transparency through clear, timely communication during high-pressure broadcasts; Agility by adapting quickly to schedule changes, technical needs, and live-show demands; and Entrepreneurial Spirit by proactively identifying solutions that improve studio and control room execution.

Bonus points for experience with iNews newsroom systems and prior experience supporting both live news and sports production environments.

Why You’ll Love It Here

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to live CNBC programming and be part of a production environment where technical precision, collaboration, and speed matter every day. You’ll work with experienced production, operations, and engineering teams who are focused on delivering trusted business news and information to audiences.

This is a PEP/Freelance opportunity based on site in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [emailprotected] .

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.

By clicking the link above or any third-party link within this posting, you are leaving this site and going to a third-party website where the third-party website's terms and privacy policy apply

Job Location