Production Associate, Content Operations & Scheduling

PBS • Arlington, VA

31d • $50,000 - $60,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The PBS KIDS Distribution team is seeking a Production Associate to support the Assistant Director, Content Operations & Scheduling, with day-to-day post-production operations. The team manages content operations for PBS KIDS: overseeing series delivery, serving as producers' day-to-day contact throughout post-production, and scheduling content across broadcast channels and digital linear streaming services. This includes linear channels (the National Program Service and the PBS KIDS Channel), video-on-demand and livestreams on the PBS KIDS Video App (web, mobile, and connected TV), and the PBS KIDS YouTube ecosystem (PBS KIDS, PBS KIDS Games, PBS KIDS for Parents, and producer channels). The team also schedules and distributes podcasts (audio and audiograms) via Dovetail/PRX, YouTube, and PBS-owned platforms. The Production Associate will work closely with PBS KIDS Content, Products & Technology, and Marketing & Brand Engagement, as well as PBS groups including Business Intelligence, Program Operations, Standards & Practices, and Content Packaging, plus external partners, to ensure broadcast and digital series deliverables reach every platform accurately and on time.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills – working with multiple projects in numerous stages of development and completion.
• Experience in media, broadcast, streaming, production, or post-production.
• Familiarity with PBS KIDS content, products, and knowledge of the children’s media landscape.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Passion for children’s media and early childhood learning.
• Strong operational skills.
• Ability to identify and evaluate sensitive or problematic material in programs.
• Proficiency with database programming.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – diplomacy is a must.
• Sound judgment, professional maturity, and integrity.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-departmental teams.
• Ability to work under stressful circumstances, meet deadlines, and react to change productively.
• A curious person with a high energy level and strong work ethic.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with PBS or member station operations and procedures desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the Assistant Director, Content Operations & Scheduling, in coordinating daily feed schedules and the broadcast/linear rollout strategy, including series launches, promo priorities, marathons, and the PBS KIDS Family Night block.
• Maintain seasonal episode documents and transfer them to the PBS KIDS Distribution document.
• Ensure accessibility-related programming (e.g., American Sign Language and Spanish-language episodes) meets required episode counts and legal restrictions.
• Serve as the primary liaison between PBS KIDS Distribution and the PBS Packaging team, managing re-deliveries, program formats, MOC rundowns, and related requests.
• Support the Assistant Director with program delivery by monitoring each show's Box folder and working closely with producers throughout post-production to ensure adherence to programming, packaging, and deliverable guidelines.
• Notify internal PBS KIDS teams when producer deliverables arrive, and confirm that assets are labeled correctly, filed in the correct folders, and meet specs.
• Manage the Media Operations Streaming Video Automation List, a spreadsheet that tracks digital video assets from producer delivery through ingestion and editing to final handoff to PBS KIDS Distribution team.
• Liaise between PBS Station Services and Packaging to support station requests for local content screenings.
• Track YouTube uploads to ensure they meet count requirements and rights restrictions.
• Manage ingestion, uploading, and distribution of PBS KIDS podcasts via PRX and Media Manager.
• Assist producers with paperwork for incoming programs, including Packaging Forms, formats, and Underwriting Clearance Certificates (UCCs).
• Act as secondary contact for producer communications on delivery, technical specifications, and other operational questions.
• Serve as secondary department contact for program underwriting, managing SAFs, sponsorship edits, and UCC modifications.
• Check videos for accurate accessibility features, including closed captioning, descriptive audio, Spanish audio, and American Sign Language, when available.
• Re-ingest and re-upload programs with missing or incomplete accessibility features.
• Collect episode descriptions and curriculum information from producers and distribute them to internal systems (Metadata Document, Rightsline).
• Review episodic credits to confirm they adhere to Programming and Standards & Practices guidelines.

Benefits

• eligibility for discretionary bonuses
• various insurance options, including medical, dental, vision, hearing, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
• identity protection program
• employee assistance program
• financial and retirement savings benefits including the PBS Retirement Plan 403(b)
• paid time off (17 days per year)
• paid sick time benefits (12 days per year)
• paid parental leave (60 days / 12 weeks )
• paid holidays (12 days per year)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level