Network Producer and Audio Services Assistant

COUNTRY Financial serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States. It offers a full range of financial products and services from auto, home and life insurance to retirement planning services, investment management and annuities.

As Network Producer & Audio Services Assistant within Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), parent company of COUNTRY Financial, you are responsible for taking the lead to produce same-day, long-form radio programs on the RFD Radio Network and for providing administrative assistance for Network & Audio Services Department staff and Director of Issue Management & Multi Media. The qualified person will research radio talk show topics, schedule guests, and brief hosts for daily radio programs. The individual will also assist staff in staging, preparation, and participation in network, division and organization events.

* Produces “RFD Today” and “Town & Country Partners” radio programs. Responsible for researching program topics, scheduling guests, and briefing hosts for daily network radio programs. Establishes weekly guest schedules by noon each Thursday and distributes to affiliates each Friday by noon or sooner. * Participates in daily news meetings with network staff and other N&C Division staff as needed for editorial and programming purposes. Schedules, helps set agenda and leads monthly network meeting. * Provides administrative support for members of the Radio Network & Audio Services Department including communication with network affiliates. Provides clerical support to the department. * Works with all RFDRN staff daily to identify stories and other content that needs to be shared with RFDRN national advertising sales representative. Works with appropriate RFDRN staff members to edit and post RFDRN content to FarmWeekNow.com/RFDRN blind pages and sends links to RFDRN advertising sales staff on a daily or weekly basis. * Assists Director of Network & Audio Services, Network Editor/Anchor, and Network & Audio Business Manager in planning and coordinating affiliate visits and annual radio station-affiliates meeting. * Coordinates media attendance and network participation in State Fair Master Showmanship Contest with Member Services & Public Relations Division. * Assists radio staff in staging, preparation, and participation of network at special events, including but not limited to remotes, the Illinois State Fair, and Farm Progress Show. * Serves with other IFB N&C Division staff members in coordinating Annual Meeting media activities, including news releases, media reservations, press packet development, newsroom setup, managing details for telephones and internet service, food service, and staff hotel and travel arrangements. * Serves with other IFB N&C Division staff members in administrative functions including coordinating conference calls, reserving rooms, copying and other duties as assigned. * Assists with special projects in support of the News and Communications Division. * Provides back-up to other department administrative assistants. * Performs other related work as required or requested.

**Required Qualifications:** * Typically requires high school diploma or GED and at least one year of scheduling experience under tight deadlines. * Demonstrates an interest in agricultural issues and policy, politics and/or radio and podcast programming and production. * Proficient in grammar, punctuation, and usage skills. * Resourceful, attentive to detail with good communication and telephone skills. * Good word processing skills, including typing and formatting documents. **Preferred Qualifications:** * College course work or the equivalent in a related work experience. * At least one year broadcast/podcast producing experience or the equivalent. * Initiative to address or handle recurring tasks. * Good interpersonal communication skills and ability to be persuasive. * Understanding of radio programming production.