Audio Producer

Middle East Broadcasting Networks•Arlington, VA, VA

About The Position

About MBN Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is the pre mier Arabic-first media organization that connects the Middle East and the United States. The company is in the midst of an exciting digital transformation and looking for energetic and talented people who care about journalism and the Middle East to join us on this journey. We provide original and indispensable reporting, perspectives and commentary on the Middle East and how America’s engagement impacts the region. MBN delivers content in both Arabic and English across multiple platforms, in formats including written articles, short-form video, newsletters, podcasts, data trackers and social media. Our target audience is decision-makers, influencers, and residents of key capitals across the Middle East, as well as the next generation of globally engaged, digitally connected youth. About the Role The Audio Producer is responsible for managing and producing high-quality audio content for MBN’s growing portfolio of podcasts, documentary audio, audio essays, and emerging digital formats. This is a full-time mostly technical role that supports MBN’s broader audio production needs, including editing, sound design, scoring, mixing, mastering, narrator/voice-over production, and final delivery across multiple platforms. The immediate flagship project for this position will be a multi-part audio essay series marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, with each 10- to 15-minute episode narrated by a voice actor and shaped through script editing, recording, music, archival audio, sound design, and final mastering. Beyond this project, the Audio Producer will serve as a dedicated audio production resource supporting MBN’s ongoing content strategy and digital transformation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in audio production, journalism, media production, communications, digital media, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in podcast production, documentary audio, broadcast audio, or digital audio production.
Expertise with Adobe Audition and a working knowledge of Premiere. Knowledge of Pro Tools is a plus.
Should be passionate about audio storytelling.
Demonstrated experience editing, mixing, mastering, and delivering professional audio content. Fully understands compression, EQ, noise reduction and all other technical aspects of audio production.
Experience scoring and sound designing podcasts or narrative audio using music and sound effects libraries.
Experience producing or supporting host, narrator, voice-over, or actor recording sessions.
Strong working knowledge of Digital Audio Workstations and professional audio production workflows.
Ability to manage multiple episodes, shows, or projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
Strong editorial judgment and understanding of audio as a storytelling medium.
Familiarity with delivery standards for podcast and digital audio platforms.
Ability to use music, silence, archival sound, narration, and sound effects to strengthen narrative clarity and emotional impact.
Working knowledge of AI-assisted audio production tools, including voice cleanup, noise reduction, stem separation, automated leveling, and AI-supported music or sound workflows.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to incorporate feedback from multiple editors.
Professional communication skills and ability to collaborate with editorial, production, and technical teams.

Nice To Haves

Interest in American history, global storytelling, underrepresented historical narratives, and international audiences is preferred.
Familiarity with bilingual or cross-cultural storytelling environments is preferred.
Experience with audio essay or narrative documentary formats is preferred.

Responsibilities

Record raw high-quality audio in studio and the field.
Create, edit, design, and master audio products.
Assemble and manage hardware and software kits.
Optimize audiovisual products for distribution platforms, emphasizing YouTube, and how it processes audio.
Own the end-to-end audio production workflow for MBN podcast and audio products, including editing, episode assembly, sound design, mixing, mastering, and final delivery.
Edit audio essay scripts and recorded narration for clarity, pacing, recording flow, and listener engagement.
Produce remote narrator, host, and voice-over recording sessions, including session preparation, direction, take selection, and post-session organization.
Select best takes and assemble raw recordings within a Digital Audio Workstation.
Score and sound design episodes using licensed music, sound effects, archival clips, and other approved audio assets.
Apply editorial judgment to story pacing, tone, transitions, music placement, pauses, and overall narrative structure.
Maintain consistent audio quality standards across MBN audio products, including loudness, formatting, and platform specifications for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Deezer, and other distribution platforms.
Build and maintain MBN’s audio asset library, including music beds, sound design elements, archival clips, show templates, and sonic branding materials.
Support audio production projects, including narrator tracking, episode scoring, sound design, mixing, mastering, and delivery.
Support the development of new audio formats, documentary audio projects, bilingual storytelling approaches, and cross-platform audio content.
Use AI-assisted audio tools where appropriate, including noise reduction, stem separation, automated leveling, voice cleanup, transcription, and related production workflows.
Stay current on audio production trends, podcast standards, AI-assisted production tools, and emerging digital audio practices.
Collaborate with newsroom, digital, and production teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven media environment.
Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.