Temporary Producer II, Planet Money Summer School 2026

OVERVIEW

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Intro to Position

Help us make Planet Money Summer School 2025! This is Planet Money’s annual 8 episode summer series where we adapt excerpts from classic episodes and pair them with updates, and in-depth conversations about the more academic side of economics, all in a lighthearted frame. If you’re unfamiliar, please listen to previous seasons here and note the web, interactive and live event components. This is a fixed-term job.

We’re looking for an experienced audio producer who can take ownership of a project, think in multiple-episode story arcs, export a clean mix in Pro Tools and nerd out on economic concepts. It’s also a chance to work with our highly collaborative team and see how we make episodes. You’ll drive the production process for Summer School to craft something meant to be heard right now, but that also lives on indefinitely for educators, on multiple platforms, in multiple media from audio to an interactive digital quiz. It takes strategic thinking and sharp editorial chops. Last year, the summer school producer helped us produce videos and a live event as part of the series, and we may do so again this year. 

This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.

Application Instructions

• Application Deadline: Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 10am ET
• Materials to Submit: Please submit a cover letter explaining your last experience producing a multi-episode project/series and your approach.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the production process of Summer School, including coordinating schedules, bookings, workflow and more to keep the project on deadline 
• Assist in scripting as needed
• Conceive and execute creative sonic branding, scoring and segment continuity
• Help make complicated economics simple and entertaining
• Book guests as needed
• Cut interviews down to time
• Collaborate with host to identify just the right set of episodes to feature in the series
• Propose questions and interview outlines for host tape-gathering
• Cut, edit and mix episodes of the show with guidance from editors, producers and reporters
• Participate in group edits, offering ideas and suggestions for improving drafts
• Gather field tape and “found sound” from online and other sources
• Assist with live events, if applicable
• Conduct research on show topics
• Produce content for digital media, video clips from interviews, writing and scheduling social media posts, writing web copy and newsletters and interactive web elements
• Contribute to the overall journalism of the team
• Assist in coordinating workflow scheduling and communication with other units of NPR, as needed, to execute the show

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience (not including internships) in podcasting and/or radio broadcasting
• 2+ years of professional experience in editing audio decisively and on deadline, including complex projects using Pro Tools or comparable software
• Prior professional experience working on seasonal or multi-episode audio or podcasting series
• Prior experience in a news environment or working experience in the field of economics
• Experience and demonstrated commitment to fact-checking
• Demonstrated ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure
• Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating, at all times, respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system
• Cultivate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
• Ability to handle more than one assignment at a time and prioritize, anticipate and communicate effectively
• Ability and willingness to work a part-time schedule with varied shifts
• Able to travel to/work on location for events related to a live show.

Preferred Qualifications

• Economics, business, finance or political history subject matter knowledge
• Ability to use recording equipment to gather field sound
• A natural interest in news and current affairs
• A practiced instinct for social media
• Ambition and interest in improving our web and social media presence
• Digital media skills, including proficiency in social media as a news-gathering technique
• Well developed sound design skills.
• Video editing
• A knowledge of narrative audio.

Work Location & Requirements

• NPR Remote-Permitted: This is a remote-permitted role. This role is based out of our New York, NY office, but the employee may choose to work on a remote basis from a location that NPR approves. You will have the option of working (a) remotely from a location of your choosing within the United States that is supported by NPR; (b) on-site at an NPR facility, based on the availability of desks and approval from NPR; or (c) a combination of both. Regardless of where you choose to work from, you may be expected to travel to other locations from time to time to perform the duties of your position.

Job Type

• This is a temporary (4 to 6 month) part-time position.

Compensation

Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $52.88 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.

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