Principal Technician Job at SABC in Johannesburg

JOB TITLE: PRINCIPAL TECHNICIAN
REPORT LINE: TECHNOLOGY MANAGER: NEWS FACILITIES
SCALE CODE: 401


News Principal Technician - responsible for the News Technology Facilities.

Main purpose of the position/s
The position/s requires support of the SABC News Facilities in order to ensure facilities and equipment are in peak condition and thereby ensuring high on air quality and operational broadcasts 24 hours a day. This entails corrective, preventative maintenance, designing, installation, trouble shooting, repair of equipment and systems and operational support.

Key Accountabilities/ Tasks
•    Perform, plan and control the efficient preventative and corrective maintenance and repair of technical equipment to provide optimal functionality, whilst ensuring adherence to manufacturing specifications.
•    Electronic repair of faulty equipment to component/board level, ensuring smallest possible turnaround time and minimal disruption for broadcast.
•    Provide efficient and effective assistance and support for production operations during productions and broadcasts.
•    Configure servers/ computers, networks & broadcast equipment.
•    Supporting broadcast networks and automation, Hardware and software.
•    Perform mechanical repairs and modifications.
•    Involvement and managing of projects on a technical level.
•    Close working relationship with clients, in order to ensure optimal delivery on production and client needs.
•    Design and install technical facilities/ equipment/ integration, ensuring adherence to technical specifications and optimal delivery on client’s needs and requirements.
•    Maintain close working relationships with internal and external service providers and vendors, in order to ensure optimal delivery on needs and requirements.
•    Develop, monitor and assess the external environment, new equipment, technologies and technology trends, in order to enhance the efficiencies and effectiveness of technology operations and consultations.
•    Sound administration, ensuring accurate registering of changes, faults, time, costs and solutions.
•    Update technical documentation and plans for future reference.
•    Feedback, advice, reports and communication with management as well
•    Ad hoc management services and assistance.
•    Mentoring and on-the-job, formal and informal training of team members and junior staff, in order to ensure a competent staff compliment and knowledge sharing of expertise.
•    Plan contingencies, back –up strategies and develop their implementations, within the News Environment to ensure quick recovery and reduced on-air failures.
•    Prompt response to fault call - out, assessment of the situation and alternatives, in order to provide a solution that will ensure 24 hour broadcast ability.
•    Must be shift competent within 4 months, i.e. understanding and being shift competent within the news facilities and agree to 24/7 standby.
•    Adherence to safety and health regulations.

Technical Competencies
•    Advanced knowledge, experience and skills pertaining to the TV Broadcast environment, involving Broadcast Media Servers, TV Studios, Non-linear Craft Editing, Video Tape Machines and On-Air Graphics.
•    Good knowledgebase of broadcast equipment, IT and the necessary experience to use the tools thereby ensuring adherence to technical specifications and optimal delivery on client’s needs and requirements.
•    A comprehensive understanding of analogue and digital television standards, file formats and acquisition formats. 
•    Interpret and use the digital and analogue test instruments.
•    Electronic equipment and project design, construction, modifications and repairs to component level.
•    Mechanical repairs and modifications of equipment  or accessories (e.g. video tape machines, pedestals, tripods etc).
•    Knowledge & understanding of circuit diagrams and broadcast system diagrams.
•    Ability to guide and mentor team members and junior staff and share knowledge.
•    Ability to develop and facilitate training materials, procedures and train technical team and users in the proper use of hardware or software.
•    Ability to perform, plan, control and implement maintenance, modifications and installations of new and existing systems and technical equipment; hardware and software.
•    Ability to repair, configuring/ set-up, test and operate broadcast equipment.
•    Ability to plan contingencies, back –up strategies and develop their implementations, within the News environment to ensure quick recovery and reduced on-air failures.
•    Ability to translate technical terms, workflows and provide support, advice and consultation to clients, in order to provide technological and operational solutions.
•    Ability to maintain close working relationships with internal and external service providers and vendors, in order to ensure optimal delivery on News Facilities needs and requirements.
•    Develop, monitor and assess the external environment, new equipment, technologies and technology trends, in order to enhance the efficiencies and effectiveness of technology operations and consultations.
•    Ability to plan and implement projects.
•    Ability to write Technical/ Operational reports, e.g. report writing, shift reports, fault reports, transmission reports etc.

Minimum Requirements / Experience
•    Physical attributes: Excellent hearing and eyesight (no colour blindness). Physically able.
•    S4 Electrical Engineering (Light Current), National diploma in Light current engineering or equivalent engineering qualification.
•    IT Network knowledge Essential. Computer literate (A+), Network knowledge (N+).
•    7 Years’ experience in technical maintenance & fault finding of broadcasting equipment within a Broadcast Environment.
•    Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team and lead the team if required.
•    Good understanding of the workings of a TV studio and/or TV Facility.
•    Knowledge of Broadcast Media/ Video server environment.
•    Software development, VB, .Net and MSSQL / MS Access is a requirement for at least one of the positions.
•    Ability to work under pressure in particular - live television studio environment.
•    Ability and willingness to work irregular hours, shifts and adapt to circumstances.
•    The ability to work independently, in a team and be self motivated is essential.
•    Proficient in MS Office, i.e. Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point.

Interested candidates must apply with a concise CV to technologyhenleyjobs@sabc.co.za

Closing Date:  08 November 2013