Post Production Lead

Kqed Inc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

KQED’s San Francisco facility seeks a TV post production lead engineer with broad expertise in post production systems administration, media management, and operations. The role requires joining NABET Local 51 and coordinating with editorial and engineering teams to ensure high-quality production outputs.

The successful candidate will oversee system administration, manage workflows, and mentor staff while maintaining production standards and adopting new technologies as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in post production systems, media management, and archive workflows.
• 5+ years as a video editor with Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Strong IT skills and experience with high‑pressure production environments.
• Familiarity with NRCS (iNews) and MOS workflows.
• Ability to train others and document workflows.

Responsibilities

• Serve as system administrator and primary support engineer for post production tools (Avid, Adobe, Telestream Vantage, Diva, Interplay).
• Manage and optimize existing workflows and develop new ones to meet evolving needs.
• Document, communicate, and teach workflows to editors, producers and engineers.
• Oversee installation and rollout of NLE plugins.
• Collaborate with editorial content teams and technical engineering teams to ensure smooth operations.
• Ensure production values and technical standards are maintained and improved.

Skills

Post production systems administration

IT skills

Video editing

Communication

Team collaboration

Tools

Avid Media Composer

Adobe Premiere Pro

Telestream Vantage

Diva

Interplay

NRCS iNews

Job description

Title: Post Production Lead
Schedule Format - Location: San Francisco, On Site
Pay Information: $81.25/hr

Position Summary

KQED is seeking a highly skilled TV post production lead engineer with broad experience in post production systems administration and operations to fulfill a key role within the Technical Operations division. The successful candidate will be required to join NABET Local 51.

Overview

This position is ideally suited for an experienced editor who also possesses exceptional technical skills and knowledge of post production systems and media management. IT skills are essential, and experience in technical directing, videography and other production areas is a significant plus.

KQED’s San Francisco facility includes multiple public event spaces and the Commons, a state‑of‑the‑art theatre and live‑event space with six PTZ cameras and a control room for live production and streaming. The TV studio features a virtual environment powered by Vizrt Virtual Studio, utilizing a fully robotic and motion‑tracked camera system.

The core of the TV Post Production team runs Avid MediaCentral/Interplay, Media Composer, FastServe ingest and playout, controlled by Command and iNews. Workflows are orchestrated using Telestream Vantage, and the LTO tape archive is managed by Telestream Diva integrated with Interplay.

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. We value the contributions of marginalized people in society, including Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people, and strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

Essential Functions

The TV Post Production Lead will be a System Administrator and Lead Support Engineer, Media Manager and Editor. Depending on experience and skillset, opportunities to work on KQED studio productions are also available.

Successful Candidate Will:

• Enjoy performing as an integral part of the production team and help lead the realization of ideas through the entire production process.
• Serve as the system administrator and primary support engineer for post production systems, including Avid, Adobe, Telestream Vantage, Diva, and the LTO tape library.
• Manage existing workflows and create new ones, adjusting to evolving needs and requirements, and realize creative and efficient solutions.
• Document, communicate, and teach workflows and best practices to editors, producers and engineers.
• Manage installation and rollout of NLE plugins.
• Work well with editorial content teams as well as technical engineering teams.
• Facilitate the utilization of NRCS MOS workflows from start to finish, training coworkers along the way.
• Assume responsibility for production values and technical standards of the output, taking relevant measures to improve the product and solve problems.

Knowledge / Experience Required

• 5+ years related experience with post production systems, media management and archive management.
• 5+ years as a video editor
• Avid Media Composer
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Extensive knowledge of server ingest and playout systems and associated peripheral production equipment.
• Familiarity with NRCS (iNews) and MOS workflows.
• Expertise to conceptualize workflows, configure equipment, and train others.
• Knowledge of and experience with Telestream Vantage.
• Experience in proper use of audio and visual effects and a vision for creatively enhancing production value tastefully.
• Knowledge of broadcast standards - ability to QC video and audio levels, audio tracks, closed captions, etc.
• Familiarity with closed captioning post production workflows.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a high‑pressure production environment.
• Sense of ownership and tenacity to see details through to completion.
• Enthusiasm for learning new, complex workflows quickly and proven ability to adapt on the fly.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems proactively.
• Expertise to provide creative solutions for production needs.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to perform as a team player and maintain a professional manner when navigating various personality types.
• Ability to perform other duties as determined by Technical Operations, including filling other technical production positions.
• Knowledge of video and audio formats, codecs and file types.

The role will be located onsite at KQED's newly renovated headquarters in San Francisco. The successful candidate will be required to join National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) Local 51.

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