We're hiring a Program Coordinator for our radio station, WMMT!

Who We Are:

Appalshop’s mission is to enlist the power of education, media, theater, music, and other arts to document, disseminate, and revitalize the lasting traditions and contemporary creativity of Appalachia. 

We are telling the stories the commercial cultural industries don’t tell, we are challenging stereotypes with Appalachian voices and visions front and center. We foster a community-centered approach to solving problems in Appalachia, striving to support communities’ efforts to achieve justice and equity and solve their own problems in their own ways.

Appalachia is a diverse, incredibly creative region, and we seek to not only shine a light on that, but to show that Appalachia’s past, present and future are powerfully connected to the creativity and brilliance fostered here. When Appalachians are given the power to decide for themselves what a brilliant Appalachian future looks like, the possibilities are endless.

WMMT strives to be a 24 hour voice of mountain people’s music, culture, and social issues to provide broadcast space for creative expression and community involvement. We aim to be an active participant in discussion of public policy that will benefit coalfield communities and the Appalachian region as a whole. We are a community radio station with a volunteer DJ staff of around 30 community members, operating at 88.7FM on the dial and streaming available at wmmt.org.  

Appalshop’s staff is a collaborative and creative group that’s wholly committed to this mission. We value doing good, impactful work for our community that is a collective effort, with all voices heard and accounted for. As a democratically structured organization, we leave our ego at the door and come together in a respectful partnership with each other, every day.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we value a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and/or veteran status.

Who You Are:

We’re looking for an energetic and driven program coordinator for our community radio station, WMMT. You’d be right for this position if you are well connected to and participate in our local and regional music scene, are familiar with audio production & editing, and are passionate about working to support community-based broadcast and audio-format media in Central Appalachia. 

You’ll want to grow your experience in community radio and the non-profit arts and culture sector and put your skills to use working on everything from overseeing WMMT’s programming to audience building, to managing new music selections for the station. 

You’ll be a detail-oriented planner who enjoys supporting and managing a team, inspiring that team to rally around a central goal, and have an eye for getting people interested in our work. You’ll be passionate about WMMT’s and Appalshop’s work and bringing people together through community-based media.

What You’ll Do at Appalshop:

You’ll oversee the overall operations and financial well-being of WMMT’s programming, including but not limited to overseeing volunteer DJ programming & content; directing live performances, workshops, and festivals; serving as a public face of the station; serving as liaison with community partners to promote wellness and community connectedness through the airwaves. 

Full job responsibilities are:

• Work in a community-facing position to oversee, coordinate, and implement WMMT programming; train community members; and engage small local businesses and organizations. This includes but is not limited to remote live broadcasting, in-studio programming, pre-recorded programming, podcasts, and syndicated programming.
• Explore ways for WMMT to participate in the local, regional and national music scene, strengthen the relationship between them, and help uplift a local music scene and economy. This will primarily be done through new music selections for the station, programming around new music, and via WMMT’s vinyl record music library and tape archives.
• Manage volunteers, including ensuring FCC compliance, supervising the use of our facilities, schedule our volunteer DJs in our 24/7 schedule, coordinating the station’s fundraising efforts in connection to programming, and otherwise mediating and resolving issues.
• Connect the small details to the bigger picture, ensuring that our operations and programming truly upholds our standards, tastes, and contributes to stated goals.
• Build the station’s relationship with our local community and regional audience, including tabling at community events and helping to develop and implement new strategies for audience building.
• Assess and make requests for engineering and equipment repairs with the station’s broadcast engineer and Operations Coordinator.
• Believe in community & hyperlocal media, community radio, and WMMT’s mission as Real People Radio.

What Skills and Experience You Must Have:

• Significant experience in managing volunteers or large groups of people.
• Experience in working across multiple groups of people or organizations to produce central efforts.
• Intermediate knowledge of computer functions.

What Would be Nice to Have (but not required):

• Familiarity with audio production and editing, and/or interest with a willingness to learn quickly.
• Familiarity with Google Suite.
• Audio engineering knowledge
• Management experience
• Community/public radio experience or knowledge

Pay and Benefits:

This role’s starting salary is $46,000-60,000. This is a full-time salaried position with full benefits including 100% employer paid health insurance, generous retirement and life insurance benefits package. Appalshop currently has office spaces in Whitesburg, KY and Jenkins, KY. This role would be primarily based out of our Whitesburg facilities.

How To Apply:

Please submit the following materials to [email protected] with the subject line: WMMT Program Coordinator – Application.

• Resume
• Cover letter addressing at least the following questions:
  • Why do you want to work at WMMT? What does WMMT mean to you?
  • What are 3 ideas you would be excited to explore at WMMT to improve our programming? 
  • What excites you about this role?
  • How did you hear about this role?
• List contacts for three references