NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Media Technical Directors/Managers

SOC 27-2012.05Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers technical direction and production management in television and radio broadcast environments, spanning live studio operations, remote productions, equipment oversight, regulatory compliance, and organizational leadership.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Video switcher controls and basic transition types — identify and operate under direct supervision during a live studio production.
  2. Camera monitors and picture quality indicators — observe and report shading or composition issues to a senior director in a multi-camera environment.
  3. Broadcast equipment including cameras, microphones, and lighting — test for proper operation using established checklists before a scheduled program.
  4. Station policies and broadcast regulations — review and apply under supervisor guidance to ensure a single program segment meets compliance standards.
  5. Technical terminology and department roles — recognize and use accurately when relaying messages between engineering and production staff.
  6. Video creation and editing software — perform basic tasks such as importing footage and applying transitions under the guidance of an experienced technical director.
  7. Remote production equipment setup — assist in configuring switchers and monitors at a field location under the direction of a lead technician.
  8. Audio and video signal flow — trace and describe within a studio control room environment to support troubleshooting activities led by senior staff.
  9. Equipment training materials and operating manuals — read and comprehend in preparation for operating broadcast tools in a supervised studio setting.
  10. Shift logs and technical reports — complete accurately using standard templates to document equipment status and program events during a broadcast shift.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Multi-source video switching — execute smooth transitions between cameras, slide projectors, and effects generators during a live studio production with minimal oversight.
  2. Camera framing and shading — monitor through control-room displays and provide timely direction to camera operators to maintain visual consistency across a broadcast.
  3. Pre-broadcast equipment tests — conduct independently and resolve common faults on switchers, monitors, and audio boards before a program goes to air.
  4. Broadcast compliance requirements — apply regulatory and station standards to routine program segments and flag potential violations to production management.
  5. Technical crew scheduling — assist in assigning duties to operators and technicians for a standard television or radio program production.
  6. Video editing and graphics software — use with proficiency to prepare lower-thirds, stills, and short clips that support a live or recorded broadcast.
  7. Remote broadcast setup — configure and operate production equipment at off-site locations, managing signal routing and communication links back to the studio.
  8. Interdepartmental coordination — serve as a reliable point of contact between engineering and production teams to resolve technical issues during a production day.
  9. New equipment orientation — conduct structured walkthroughs for crew members learning to use switchers, cameras, or lighting systems in a studio environment.
  10. Time-sensitive production decisions — apply critical thinking to select appropriate video sources and manage rundowns when a broadcast deviates from the planned schedule.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex live switcher operations — direct and execute multi-layer effects, virtual sets, and keying sequences autonomously during high-pressure network broadcasts.
  2. Full crew visual direction — oversee camera operators and shader technicians simultaneously, making real-time composition and exposure corrections across a multi-camera remote production.
  3. Comprehensive equipment performance evaluation — design and execute test protocols for new and existing broadcast systems, interpreting results to certify readiness for air.
  4. Regulatory compliance management — audit program content against FCC or network standards across an entire production day, making independent rulings on borderline cases.
  5. Technical staff supervision — assign, prioritize, and evaluate the work of a full team of operators and production technicians across multiple concurrent programs.
  6. Remote and studio production integration — operate as the lead technical director on large-scale live events, balancing signal feeds from multiple venues within a single broadcast.
  7. Broadcast technology stack — apply proficiency across video creation software, CAD-based control-room design tools, and operating systems to optimize production workflows.
  8. Non-routine fault resolution — diagnose and correct unexpected equipment failures under live broadcast conditions using deductive reasoning and deep systems knowledge.
  9. Cross-functional liaison role — translate technical constraints and capabilities for producers and executives, enabling informed creative and operational decisions on complex productions.
  10. Crew skill development — design individualized training plans for operators advancing in camera, audio, or switching roles within a broadcast department.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Department-wide technical strategy — define equipment acquisition, upgrade, and retirement roadmaps that align broadcast technology investments with multi-year organizational goals.
  2. Organizational compliance framework — establish and enforce station- or network-level broadcast standards and regulatory policies, serving as the final authority on technical governance.
  3. Leadership pipeline development — mentor senior technical directors and develop succession plans that build sustained technical leadership capacity across a broadcast organization.
  4. Large-scale remote production architecture — oversee the design and execution of technical infrastructure for major live events, coordinating multi-site signal chains and vendor partnerships.
  5. Cross-department integration leadership — bridge engineering, IT, and creative production divisions at the executive level to deliver seamless broadcast operations across all platforms.
  6. Technology innovation adoption — evaluate and champion emerging broadcast technologies — IP-based production, cloud workflows, and AI-driven automation — for strategic deployment across the organization.
  7. Budget and resource governance — develop and manage capital and operational budgets for the technical production division, aligning expenditures with corporate broadcast priorities.
  8. Industry standards influence — represent the organization in professional and regulatory forums, contributing to the development of broadcast engineering and media production standards.
  9. Crisis and continuity leadership — lead organization-wide responses to major technical failures or regulatory emergencies, restoring broadcast operations while protecting brand integrity.
  10. Performance metrics and quality culture — define key performance indicators for technical operations and instill a culture of quality control analysis and continuous improvement across the entire broadcast workforce.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors61 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Broadcast Director · News Director · News Technical Director · Newscast Director · Operations Director · Operations Manager · Production Director · Production Manager · Production Superintendent · Production Supervisor · Radio Station Manager · Radio Television Technical Director
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
CoordinationActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionWritingOperations MonitoringLearning StrategiesQuality Control AnalysisSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationInstructingOperation and Control
Knowledge domains
Communications and MediaComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsEngineering and TechnologyAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal Service
Abilities
Deductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionNear VisionSpeech ClarityFar VisionSpeech RecognitionInductive ReasoningWritten Expression
Work styles
DependabilityLeadership OrientationAttention to DetailStress ToleranceCooperationAdaptability
Technology
Video creation and editing softwareMusic or sound editing softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareProject management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareDevelopment environment softwareObject or component oriented development softwareOperating system softwareElectronic mail software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
  2. Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
  3. Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
  4. Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
  5. Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
  6. Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
  7. Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
  8. Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
CIP education codes
09.070150.050150.050750.050950.051250.059950.060150.060250.060750.1004

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.