Network Operations Manager
About The Position
The Network Operations Manager oversees the 24/7 operation of South Dakota Public Broadcasting's statewide television and radio broadcast network. This position ensures continuous, reliable delivery of broadcast and streaming services across nine digital television stations, twelve FM radio stations, multiple translators, and over 1,500 miles of microwave interconnection. The manager leads the Network Operations Center (NOC) staff responsible for monitoring signal integrity, transmitter control, tower lighting compliance, and remote site security. This role serves as the operational bridge between the engineering, IT, and production divisions to maintain system performance, compliance with FCC/FAA regulations, and public safety readiness through EAS/IPAWS alerting systems.
Requirements
- a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Engineering, Electronics, IT/Telecommunications, Content Production or related field; or equivalent professional experience is preferred
- a minimum 5 years' experience in broadcast operations, transmission, or network management, including at least 2 years in a supervisory role is also preferred.
- Working knowledge of: ATSC 1.0/3.0 and FM/HD Radio transmission systems
- RF signal path and STL/microwave systems
- IP networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLAN, multicast, SNMP monitoring, VPN)
- MS Administrator skills or Cisco CCNA skills
- EAS/IPAWS systems and FEMA CAP compliance
- experience with remote control and automation platforms (Snell TV Automation, Audio Vault, Burk, Alcatel TSM)
- ability to read and interpret FCC, FAA rules and regulations, and technical manuals
- strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills under pressure
- excellent organizational and documentation abilities with attention to regulatory compliance
Responsibilities
- Manage daily operations of the statewide Network Operations Center, ensuring 24/7/365 coverage and response readiness.
- Supervise and schedule NOC technicians; provide technical direction, coaching, and performance feedback.
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain continuity of television, radio, and digital signal paths across broadcast and IP transport systems.
- Oversee tower lighting monitoring, transmitter control, and automated alarm systems to maintain FCC and FAA compliance.
- Coordinate incident response to equipment outages, power failures, or microwave path issues; initiate escalation procedures when required.
- Manage EAS and IPAWS system monitoring, activation, and logging in compliance with state and federal requirements.
- Collaborate with field engineering and IT staff to implement upgrades, repairs, and new integrations across RF and IP-based systems.
- Maintain operational documentation, maintenance records, and technical compliance reports.
- Oversee vendor service agreements, preventive maintenance schedules, and annual budget planning for NOC operations.
- Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and change-management practices.
- Lead technical readiness during severe weather, emergency alerts, and statewide broadcast events.
Benefits
- $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits.
- This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Industry
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
