Website University Corporation at Monterey Bay
KAZU Station Director
University Corporation at Monterey Bay
Salary: $110,000.00 – $130,000.00 Annually
Job Number: 2026-00023
Location: Ryan Ranch Office- Monterey, CA
Department: KAZU
Description
Station Director
KAZU Radio Station
Priority Screening Date July 20, 2026. All positions are open until filled.
Salary
Salary Grade: Management Grade 9
Anticipated Hiring Range: $110,000 – $130,000 annually
Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2026
The University Corporation provides a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contributions
• Voluntary 403(b) savings plan
• Generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• Paid holidays
• Access to campus dining plans
• Eligibility for affordable campus housing (if applicable)
Employees are encouraged to review additional benefit information below for full details.
Department Summary
KAZU is operated under the legal oversight of the University Corporation at Monterey Bay (University Corporation), an auxiliary of California State University Monterey Bay (University) and the California State University system.
KAZU is the flagship National Public Radio (NPR)-member radio station for the Monterey Bay Area, licensed in Pacific Grove, California, United States, by the University Corporation. The programming KAZU provides for this region includes twenty-four hour “over-the-air” broadcasts and digital platforms that provide a vital service to the listening community through local news and current events at both the national and world levels. The station’s key programming includes its website, “//kazu.org” as well as its two mobile applications, KAZU and NPR One. For national and international news, KAZU incorporates programming from NPR, BBC World Service, American Public Media (APM), and other public media partners.
Position Summary
The Station Director serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of KAZU, responsible for advancing the station’s public service mission through audience growth, journalism excellence, community engagement, financial sustainability, and innovation across broadcast, digital, and emerging media platforms. The Station Director’s primary role is to ensure the effective day-to-day operation of the station by leading the development and administration of strategic and operating plans and evaluating programs for alignment with the station’s overall mission.
Examples of Duties
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
• Provides day-to-day management of the station’s facilities, including directly overseeing the station’s news department and broadcasting and production operations to advance the mission, vision, values, strategic goals, and operational requirements of KAZU.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving employees’ hours worked.
• Develops staff through team building, goal setting, mentorship, training opportunities, coaching, evaluation, and recognition.
• Assesses the department’s structure and provides direct support in integrating effective roles, responsibilities, and workflows.
• Identifies operational and process innovations to optimize efforts.
• Maintains proficiency to remain ahead of trends in content creation, technology, and distribution.
• Promotes and maintains an atmosphere of excellent internal and external customer service within KAZU as a public radio station and NPR affiliate.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with business, professional, political, and University leaders in the community.
• Leads and empowers cross-divisional teams for organization-wide projects and promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values leadership, collaboration, learning, relationships, and quality.
• Ensures the development of an academically sound internship program, supports student learning, and provides part-time employment opportunities for qualified students.
• Champions diversity of voices in programming, staffing, and community engagement.
Content & Audience Growth
• Oversees the end-to-end process of original content creation, from ideation and pitching to production, post-production, and distribution. Works closely with content creators, producers, journalists, and talent to ensure the delivery of journalistically sound, high-quality, relevant, and compelling original content.
• Oversees the effective and efficient execution of content and programming.
• Ensures excellent programming that generates listener support, meets community needs, and fulfills the mission of KAZU and the University Corporation, while ensuring compliance with NPR affiliation requirements, University Corporation policies, and all applicable state and federal laws.
• Monitors and evaluates program content staff across defined platforms, identifying and integrating staff skills required to effectively execute content strategies.
• Designs and executes strategies for expanding content offerings across existing and emerging platforms to attract new audiences and deepen engagement with existing audiences.
• Identifies and incorporates recommendations applicable to KAZU’s program design and promotional strategy to ensure optimal delivery while utilizing best practices for scheduling and audience metrics.
• Expands opportunities for public broadcasting beyond traditional areas to broaden the funding base and external support.
• Leads audience growth across broadcast, streaming, podcasting, social media, newsletters, and emerging platforms.
• Develops and implements digital content and engagement strategies.
• Utilizes audience analytics and performance data to inform programming, fundraising, and marketing decisions.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation in content delivery and community engagement.
• Ensures an active social media presence and a functional website for the station.
• May host on-air.
Revenue & Development
• Works with the KAZU membership team to implement and track member drives, underwriting programs, and major donor programs.
• Ensures all fund drives are organized, publicized, staffed, and that donor premiums are distributed in a timely manner.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with local donors, funding organizations, and foundations.
• Serves as the station’s lead ambassador and relationship builder with donors, foundations, community leaders, and strategic partners.
• Acts as the public face of KAZU by fostering meaningful relationships with listeners, donors, community stakeholders, University leadership, and regional partners. Attends and participates in community events and public forums to increase awareness, engagement, and support for the station.
• Partners with development staff to cultivate major gifts, institutional funding, sponsorships, and community investment opportunities that support long-term sustainability.
• Assists staff with fundraising strategies, including the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospective and existing individual, institutional, and business donors, prospects, and underwriters.
• Oversees outreach to the regional audience through strategic marketing, events, and in-person and digital engagement.
Operations & Compliance
• Ensures transmitter functionality and compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Ensures maintenance of the station’s physical space and equipment.
• Ensures that public safety measures are in place for paid and unpaid staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Successfully manages station resources by meeting organizational goals and implementing management programs and procedures that promote operational efficiency.
• Ensures the station operates within its approved budget by establishing policies for reviewing and approving departmental expenditures and exercising appropriate spending authority.
• Leads efforts to develop partnerships and ensures financial stability through ongoing fundraising efforts and cost control.
• Improves gross and net income through quality programming, effective fundraising strategies, sound budget management, and regulatory compliance.
• Manages the strategic direction and oversight of the budget, expenditures, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Provides oversight for compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and other applicable broadcasting requirements.
• Identifies, incorporates, and evaluates key metrics and trends to be shared with KAZU, the University Corporation, and the University.
• Maintains compliance with station rules and regulations applicable to departments within the University Corporation.
• Maintains station relationship data and presents it as needed through dashboards, reports, presentations, and meetings.
• Engages and communicates with the Board regarding station strategy, operations, and governance.
OTHER FUNCTIONS
• Promotes and maintains an atmosphere of excellent internal and external customer service within the radio station.
• Promotes a positive image of the University through participation in community and professional organizations, representation at professional meetings and community committees, and the establishment and maintenance of credible relationships with local and regional news media.
• Keeps current on industry trends through conference attendance, trade publications, social media, and direct contact with colleagues and other broadcast professionals.
• Attends and reports at University Corporation Board meetings upon request.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
WORK LOCATION
• On-Site Position
• Work Location: 8 Upper Ragsdale, Monterey CA 93940
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Successful candidates must be familiar with all aspects of broadcast station operations, including administration, budgeting, fundraising, technology and engineering, FCC regulations, audience and community relations, production, underwriting, and compliance with applicable governmental, foundation, and University policies. Experience with station growth through increased efforts and effectiveness of membership fundraising and business underwriting sales. Experience with on-air and station management responsibilities, including emergency operations and response; on-air pledge drives, and long-term strategic planning, including the establishment of a volunteer station support structure. Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal and problem-solving skills; the ability to work in a changing environment; and familiarity with current technology practices and standards. A proven track record in operational, administrative, fiscal, personnel, and volunteer management; extensive fundraising experience.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution and eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in public media, journalism, broadcasting, nonprofit management, audience engagement, digital media, content production, fundraising, or related fields.
Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for- year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the CSUMB Vision Statement and the core values of mutual respect, collaboration and service orientation, multiculturalism and diversity, community service and institutional excellence.
Special Conditions of Employment
Sensitive Positions – This position has been designated as a sensitive position with:
• authority to commit financial resources of the university through contracts greater than $10,000 access to, or control over, cash, checks, credit cards, and/or credit card account information responsibility or access/possession of building master or sub-master keys for building access; access to controlled or hazardous substances
• access to and responsibility for detailed personally identifiable Level 1 confidential information about students, faculty, staff or alumni that is protected, personal or sensitive as defined in the CSU Information Security Data Classification Standards
• control over campus business processes, either through functional roles or system security access
FERPA:
• This position is required to comply with confidentiality requirements outlined in the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California’s Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
Special License or Certifications and Conditions:
• Must possess and maintain a valid license to drive in the State of California, pass the Defensive Training Class, and be insurable under the University’s liability coverage.
• May require occasional evenings and/or weekend work.
This position is designated as a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with applicable CSU Executive Orders, including Title IX reporting requirements. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act. The University Corporation at Monterey Bay is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. University Corporation employment is separate from CSU Monterey Bay and the State of California. All employees must be eligible to work in the United States. Positions are at-will. CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.
Additional Benefits
The University Corporation is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive program that rewards efforts that are appreciated by your colleagues, students, and the customers we serve. Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources. Our salary schedule is available https://csumb.edu/corporation/personnel/.
The Corporation also offers access to CSUMB’s Faculty & Staff Meal Plans, which offers convenience, value, flexibility, to our all-you-can-to-eat dining commons, showcasing eight brand new dining concepts for an affordable price.
The University Corporation at Monterey Bay also provides access to affordable campus housing: https://csumb.edu/corporation/employee-housing
Although CSUMB is located in a high-cost housing area, Schoonover Park rental homes are affordably priced. Monthly rent rates include cable television, garbage service, and sewer. Convenient floorplans, attractive interior appointments, and numerous community amenities make Schoonover Park Rental Homes an exceptional value. Schoonover Park is near the main campus, yet a tranquil world away. The community lies nestled in the secluded beauty of rolling coastal hills three miles east of campus. Living in one of the most desirable areas of California, you will enjoy the natural splendor and cultural abundance of the Monterey Peninsula. Quality of life begins with your home in Schoonover Park and extends through every aspect of your California coastal lifestyle. https://www.schoonoverparkapartments.com
About the Corporation
The University Corporation at Monterey Bay (“Corporation”): The Corporation is constantly looking for motivated employees with great organization and teamwork skills to join our team. The Corporation is a non-profit institution that is related and affiliated with the California State University, Monterey Bay. The University Corporation at Monterey Bay is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefits corporation that is a recognized auxiliary organization of California State University and was established in July 1994. The University Corporation’s mission is to further the educational purposes of the University.
The University: California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The Community: Monterey, with its moderate Mediterranean climate, is a diverse community on the picturesque central coast of California and rich in agriculture. Miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, groves of redwoods, low-rolling foothills, and scenic valleys are characteristics that contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by over 432,000 residents and millions of visitors. Boasting such world-renowned attractions as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Laguna Seca Raceway, 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the Steinbeck Center, the Monterey Jazz and Blues Festivals and Pebble Beach – possibly the world’s most famous golf course, it’s easy to see why so many choose to live here and an estimated four million visitors a year make the County of Monterey their destination of choice.
AI Disclaimer
University Corporation does not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools to evaluate candidates. All employment decisions are made by human reviewers. Candidates are expected to complete all interviews and assessments independently. The use of AI tools, automated response systems, or other external assistance during interviews or assessments is not permitted and may result in disqualification.
How to Apply
All prospective applicants must apply online. You must complete the entire application for submission. We only accept applications for the open positions listed. Please do not fax or mail in a printed version of the electronic applications or a resume in lieu of an application. If you are having difficulty applying or need assistance, please call (831) 582-3389. All positions are open until filled. The completed online application and resume must be submitted by 5:00 pm PST on the priority screening date. Applications received after this date will be reviewed at the discretion of the Corporation.
To apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/7276294
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