Job Description

WBAI is listener-supported radio. As such, many of the positions at WBAI are filled by volunteers and interns . However, from time-to-time, positions in management, administration and technical areas become available.

Check this page regularly to see what positions may be available both here at WBAI and at its parent, The Pacifica Foundation.

The Pacifica Foundation is currently accepting applications for the following full-time, on-site leadership position:

• General Manager WBAI (Brooklyn, NY)

Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Exemption Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: December 31, 2025

The Pacifica Foundation was founded in 1946 and is a non-profit organization providing educational services through listener-supported community FM radio. There are five listener-supported FM radio stations in the Pacifica network: KPFA Berkeley, KPFK Los Angeles, KPFT Houston, WBAI New York, and WPFW Washington, DC.

Pacifica is dedicated to education, free speech, peace, social justice, and cross-cultural understanding. Pacificas national and local boards include elected delegates of listener and staff members.

Pacificas General Managers will demonstrate the capacity to build the station's audience, financial support, and vital role in public discourse, working with paid and volunteer staff, other volunteers, trainees, and democratic governance, to develop effective community engagement using terrestrial broadcasting along with a significant web presence, social media, podcasting, and multimedia production.

Reports To: Pacifica Foundation Executive Director

Job Specifications Duties, Tasks, and Responsibilities

The GM is hired and supervised by the Executive Director (ED) of the Pacifica Foundation. This is an on-site, full-time exempt management position. The GM works with their stations Local Station Board (LSB) and Pacifica's ED in implementing the Pacifica mission and is subject to an annual evaluation by the LSB.

The General Manager is responsible and accountable for overall management and all station operations including programming; finance; budgeting; compliance with all necessary local, state, and Federal laws and regulations, especially FCC compliance; technical operations; facilities management; long-term planning; fund-raising; web and social media presence; public relations; and personnel, supervising the staff of FTE employees and volunteer staff members. Working with the paid and volunteer staff and a management team, the Local Station Board, and the community, the General Manager is responsible for monitoring and guiding the station.

Financial Accountability and Responsibilities

• Maintain the fiscal integrity of the station through improving gross and net income, listenership and membership, other fundraising activities, prudent budget management, timely reporting, and compliance with Pacifica National Board and Pacifica National Office policies and practices.
• Supervise preparation of a strategic annual balanced budget for the station, in collaboration with the LSB Finance Committee, Business Manager, Pacifica's National Business Manager and ED; obtain LSB budget approval, then National Finance Committee (NFC) and Pacifica National Board (PNB) approval. This includes working to rebuild financial reserves over time. The budgeting process includes proposing appropriate levels of staffing and the amount and schedule of time spent fund-raising on-air.
• Administer the budget throughout the year, facilitating and responding to quarterly LSB review, assuring that there are complete, timely, accurate records for the annual audit.
• Provide regular monthly reports on revenue and expenditures for oversight by the local Finance Committee, LSB, and the National Office.

General Operations / Physical Plant

• Oversee optimal transmitter function and compliance with all necessary local, state and Federal laws and regulations; oversee maintenance of all of the stations re-transmission and booster equipment throughout the region.
• Supervise physical plant maintenance in conjunction with the Chief Engineer and/or Operations Manager in compliance with all necessary local, state and Federal laws and regulations.

Programming

• Select a Program Director from a pool of candidates presented by the LSB.
• Ensure that program content complies with all State and Federal laws and regulations as well as Pacifica programming policies and requirements, and that, by meeting community needs, it enhances audience, impact, and reputation.
• Establish, maintain, and review programming goals and services in line with the Pacifica Mission; oversee a regular process of evaluation and improvement.
• Oversee technical broadcast operations, program content, delivery, format, production values, and schedule.
• Supervise the PD and communicate programming goals and initiatives to the staff, LSB and listeners.
• Supervise all station staff, both paid and volunteer; maintain accurate records of all staff and their current contact information.
• Attend trade union contract negotiations, handle grievance process, and manage union employees.
• Follow all Pacifica procedures and state and Federal laws, regarding employment processing, recruitment, and selection, hiring, termination, and other personnel actions; ensure compliance with the Pacifica Foundation employment handbook and union contracts.
• Ensure that public safety measures are in place at the station for paid and volunteer staff, members of the public, and visitors.
• Report to the PNB quarterly or upon request on the status of diversity of station staffing, programming, and audience (data permitting) within the radio station areas.
• Ensure complete and timely compliance with all necessary public file reports, annual CPB Station Activity Surveys, FCC license renewal applications, EEO mandates, charity registration with the CA Attorney General, OSHA regulations, and/or other necessary local, State and Federal filings.

Community Relations

• Broadcast monthly reports to the listeners with at least half the scheduled time allotted for listener call-ins; schedule a similar report from governance, as required by Pacifica policy.
• Represent the station and Pacifica at public forums, handle media relations for the station.
• Engage in broad community outreach and audience development.
• Maintain publication of appropriate station and network information, including those required by law (e.g., EEO) or by policy.

Development

• Lead collaborative process to develop effective strategic plans for fund-raising on- and off-air and supervise their implementation.
• Meet with donors.
• Collaborate with national fund-raising efforts.

Internet

• Oversee development and maintenance of the stations web services and social media engagement.

Training

• Oversee training of paid and volunteer staff regarding policies, operations, program quality, vocal quality, fund-raising, community engagement, and audience development.

Governance

• Serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Local Station Board, actively participate in all LSB meetings; report to the LSB in person and in writing at all monthly LSB meetings and as necessary.
• Work with the Local Elections Supervisor (LES) to implement all Pacifica governance election procedures and policies, including outreach to and education of listener-sponsors; maintain accurate, up-to-date records of the station's two classes of members (listener-sponsors and staff) as required by the CA Corporations Code; and provide adequate station resources to help ensure the election meets quorum.
• Attend Pacifica National Board meetings upon request.

Other duties as assigned. Job descriptions are subject to change without notice based on the needs of the station and foundation.

Successful Candidates Must Demonstrate

• Understanding of and commitment to the Pacifica Mission.
• Bachelor's Degree or commensurate experience in related field.
• Five years of management experience in radio or related media required; non-commercial radio preferred.
• Excellent management skills and a proven ability to work collaboratively with paid and volunteer staff and governance, to prioritize and to delegate responsibilities appropriately and effectively.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to lead and motivate staff and volunteers.
• Commitment to creating a diverse workplace and serving the needs of a diverse audience. Fund-raising experience required.

Mental Abilities: Ability to think clearly and manage multiple changing priorities and remain pleasant and positive. Requires critical thinking and ability to support people with difficult challenges. Requires good judgment.

Requirements: Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the U.S., 21 years of age or older, verification of degree/credentials, satisfactory Background Check, agreeing to uphold all of the Pacifica Foundation Policies and Procedures, Confidentiality Agreement, Policy on Outside Employment, Policy on Prohibiting/Preventing Workplace Violence, Policy to Prohibit Harassment in the Workplace, Policy on Ethics, adhering to Drug-Free Workplace Policy, compliance with Workplace Injury and Illness Prevention Policies, and compliance with HIPAA Rules and Regulations, (by signature).

Compensation:]]> <

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