Program Director

American University•Washington, DC

39d•$110,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has been amplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoods and communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The Program Director is responsible for the strategic design, performance optimization, and operational integrity of WAMU’s live broadcast schedule. Reporting to the Chief Content Officer, this role ensures that every hour of WAMU’s broadcast reflects WAMU’s Up Next content strategy, audience growth priorities, and brand standards. Serving as the architect of WAMU’s live listening experience, the Program Director shapes format flow, break structure, promotional cadence, and schedule cohesion across dayparts. This position ensures that WAMU’s editorial vision and strategic priorities are consistently and clearly reflected in on-air and audio delivery. Working closely with leadership across WAMU News, 1A, Broadcast Operations, Engineering, Membership, Marketing, and Digital, the Program Director translates content strategy into a cohesive, audience-centered broadcast product. The role operates through collaboration and influence, aligning multiple departments to strengthen WAMU’s performance, sound, and audience impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
8 - 10 years of relevant experience.
Progressive experience in radio programming, broadcast operations, audience research, format strategy, or related fields.
Strong knowledge of FCC rules and regulations required.
Demonstrated experience interpreting audience data and applying insights to programming decisions.
Experience working collaboratively across departments in a live news environment required.
Excellent writing and editing skills for broadcast and digital platforms.
High attention to detail and operational rigor.
Strong understanding of trends in public and commercial audio.
Ability to lead in a fast-paced live news environment.
Demonstrated commitment to WAMU’s mission and American University’s values.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of relevant experience.
Public radio experience strongly preferred.
Experience aligning broadcast strategy with multiplatform content initiatives.
Experience presenting audience insights to executive leadership or boards.
Experience supporting listener-supported fundraising strategies.

Responsibilities

Oversee the strategic design and execution of WAMU’s daily broadcast schedule to ensure clarity, cohesion, and audience impact.
Ensure WAMU’s Up Next content strategy is reflected in broadcast execution, including daypart rhythm, franchise visibility, promotional priorities, and overall audio presentation.
Evaluate and optimize break structure, segment length, promotional cadence, and format flow across dayparts to strengthen listener retention and engagement.
Partner with daypart leaders (WAMU Mornings, Midday/Weekends including The Politics Hour, and WAMU Afternoons) to align programming execution with strategic goals.
Maintain the integrity and consistency of WAMU’s full-day broadcast sound.
Ensure the daily station log accurately reflects programming priorities and strategic decisions.
Collaborate with Traffic, Operations, and Engineering teams to support accurate scheduling and reconciliation of programming elements, including promotional announcements, legal IDs, Emergency Alert System requirements, and special coverage.
Maintain automation templates and support custom templates for pledge drives, special programming, and live news events.
Ensure programming metadata (RDS / PAD) is accurate and aligned with broadcast content.
Serve as WAMU’s subject-matter expert on audience performance metrics, including Nielsen Audio ratings, streaming data, and related research tools.
Lead the analysis and interpretation of audience data to identify trends, retention opportunities, growth potential, and daypart performance insights.
Translate complex audience data into clear, actionable insights for leadership across WAMU News, 1A, Operations, Advancement, Marketing, and Digital teams.
Establish shared understanding across departments of how WAMU measures success, including key performance indicators for broadcast and live listening.
Partner with the Chief Content Officer to align programming strategy with measurable audience goals and long-term growth priorities.
Present audience performance findings in internal and board-level settings as needed.
Integrate terrestrial and digital listening data to provide a comprehensive, station-wide view of audience behavior.
Collaborate with Editorial and Advancement teams to develop and strategically place on-air promotions supporting coverage, franchise content, and membership campaigns.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of WAMU’s Sound + Style standards to ensure consistent tone, pacing, and writing across dayparts.
Partner with Membership to thoughtfully integrate fundraising messaging into the broadcast flow, balancing audience experience and revenue goals.
Manage relationships with NPR and external programming partners.
Evaluate programming opportunities based on audience growth potential, strategic fit, and schedule cohesion.
Advise the Chief Content Officer on special programming decisions and schedule evolution.
Maintain awareness of national public media programming trends and performance benchmarks.
Lead regular coordination with News, 1A, Operations, Engineering, Membership, Marketing, and Digital teams to ensure alignment in broadcast execution.
Identify workflow improvements that strengthen broadcast execution and reduce friction between departments.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Content Officer on live listening performance, broadcast evolution, and long-term audience growth.
Participate in cross-departmental efforts to ensure WAMU’s broadcast operations comply with FCC regulations and public radio standards.
Collaborate with Operations and relevant leadership to ensure programming decisions align with regulatory requirements.
Contribute to maintaining clear documentation and consistent application of broadcast policies and procedures.