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