Documentary Producer
Req #: 247165
Department: KUOW / PSPR
Job Location: Remote/Hybrid, Seattle - Other, Seattle Campus
Job Location Detail: U District; open to hybrid work schedule (combination in-office + remote)
Posting Date: 06/20/2025
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $7,018 - $8,420 per month
Other Compensation: This position is overtime eligible.
Union Position: Yes
Shift: First Shift
Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization producing award-winning journalism, podcasts and events in service to the 3.9 million people in our coverage area. As a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, our mission is to create and serve a more informed public with a vision to broaden conversations and deepen understanding. We are committed to fostering a workplace of belonging, dismantling racial inequities, and amplifying underrepresented voices in our community.
We have an outstanding opportunity for a Documentary Producer (Producer 4 – Drivetime) to join their team to develop and produce documentary features and series for air on critical broadcast dayparts— Soundside (KUOW’s flagship broadcast show), KUOW’s Morning Edition, and KUOW’s All Things Considered-- and for podcast. Working under the supervision of the Director of New Content, incumbent serves a variety of roles within individual projects as needed, including project manager, series/show runner, and reporter / host. The Documentary Producer will identify and execute innovative, new narrative projects that broaden conversations and deepen understanding of critical news stories. This role is expected to Produce a regular short-form documentaries for air and podcast, plus a minimum of two longform narrative series per year including all scripting and post-production.
JOB SUCCESS SUMMARY
A successful documentary producer will thrive in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. They will have outstanding communication and project management skills; and the ability to balance overlapping deadlines. A successful producer in this role will lead the overall direction and execution of complex, multistakeholder editorial projects and podcasts, from pre-production through post-production. They will also have a keen eye for stories that can translate into distinctive documentary series and align with our overall content vision. This position is team oriented: maintaining positive relationships internally, and supporting fellow producers, editor, and host with production needs is essential.
A successful documentary producer will also model the values of KUOW: earning the trust of our audience through transparency and public service. Valuing diversity by seeking a multitude of perspectives and striving to be inclusive and equitable. Continuing to grow as a journalist by acting in service of the public.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Produce, Report and Host Documentary Series (45%)
• Conduct original reporting, research, investigation and fact-checking.
• Identify, research and develop story ideas using in-depth investigation to support long-form or documentary-style storytelling.
• Cultivate and maintain a wide variety of sources.
• Identify unique and underrepresented voices and perspectives to add context and depth to reporting
• Write and edit scripts, developing multi-episode storylines.
• Adapt stories, scripts, and mixes to conform to the needs of both broadcast and podcast shows.
• May serve as host or lead reporter, as needed, conducting interviews with experts, officials, and other relevant individuals, and narrating scripts.
• Execute sound-rich, multi-track mixes software and production equipment, to mix audio and create narrative stories.
Plan Documentary Projects (35%)
• Partner with newsroom leadership to strategically plan podcast series.
• Create and execute production plans for complex, multi-stakeholder projects including coordination with Senior Editors, Director of New Content and News Director to address release schedules, staffing needs, and backfill. • Pro-actively communicate and manage interlocking deadlines, ensuring successful completion of projects.
Lead Pilot Projects (15%)
• Serve as primary project lead and show runner for developing new narrative documentary projects for podcast and broadcast.
• Edit and rewrite scripts and help shape the audio storytelling of contributing investigative journalists.
• Monitor diverse news and information sources to identify strong topics and story ideas and pitch them through established green-light processes.
• Assess submissions from KUOW news personnel and from external sources.
Other duties as assigned (5%)
• Assist or step in for producers; or contribute to team production efforts, when necessary.
• Provide production support for on-air fundraising drives.
• Support internal station initiatives, including fundraising for new narrative documentary team.
SUPERVISION
• Position reports to the Director of New Content and Innovation.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and Ability
RACIAL EQUITY
Actively contribute to a workplace culture of anti-racism, belonging, and inclusion that is supportive and welcoming to all. This includes pitching stories and suggesting guests that demonstrate a range of perspectives and experiences.
SUCCESS PROFILE
Knowledge of:
• Journalism best practices, including journalistic ethics, research, and source development, including anti-racist practices.
• Strong writing, editing, and production for seasonal, narrative podcast.
• The mission of public radio journalism and a deep commitment to it.
Ability to:
• Work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Communicate proactively and effectively with both in-person and remote individuals; engage in courageous conversations, maintain trust and respect in challenging situations.
• Execute complex, ambitious podcast and broadcast projects, including serving in multiple roles and capacities.
• Prioritize effectively and make real time decisions in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment.
• Maintain exemplary attention to detail, time management, and organization.
• Work independently under deadline pressure.
• Innovate, think critically, be creative, earn trust, and center racial equity in everyday work.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or similar field and four years of professional journalism experience of increasing responsibility, preferably with background in writing for talk programming and radio production or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Requires knowledge of professional broadcast and journalistic standards and practices.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
WORKING CONDITIONS
• Duties may occasionally require evening and weekend work when necessary to meet critical deadlines.
• Cubicle/Open workspace environment which may result in additional or higher levels of noise and visual distractions.
• Position is suitable/eligible for Hybrid/Occasional Telework.
KUOW Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
At KUOW, we believe that attracting and retaining diverse staff is crucial to serving the communities where we work and live. We understand that diversity in lived experiences, perspectives, knowledge and ideas, strengthens journalism and our organization. We are dedicated to building a diverse and pluralistic staff committed to working in an anti-racist, multicultural environment that promotes racial equity and inclusivity. Women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), veterans and individuals with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
KUOW staff are employees of the University of Washington. The University of Washington and KUOW are committed to full and positive compliance with all applicable federal, state, and University of Washington laws and policies regarding discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.