• Radio station managers help keep stations running.radio image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
  
  Radio stations have many employees who help to keep the station running smoothly. One of these is the station manager. Station managers oversee and manage the day-to-day activities of the station.
  
  

Employee Duties

• The station manager must manage his employees efficiently by giving them goals to fulfill. He must hire people that he thinks will work well and he must make sure to assign them appropriate work. He may have to keep them on task and make sure they work to their fullest. He must help train any new employees. For example, if he hires a woman to record advertisements, he must train her on how to use the recording machines, the length of the average commercial, the proper radio voice and anything else that is appropriate. He has to create schedules for his employees and balance their personal needs with their work needs. The manager must set a level of professionalism that his employees can follow. He may have to discipline employees, including firing some.
  
  

Scheduling

• Radio station managers must also schedule the shows that appear on the air. They help choose the type of material played on the air and usually help pick the format of the station. Although the programming director makes the ultimate decision regarding programming, the station manager works directly with the director in order to fine tune the station. They must listen to the station regularly and monitor the quality of the shows and other material. If they find any element of the show's scheduling or programming to be weak or detrimental to the station, he must take steps to correct it. This can be done in many ways, including changing formats for a show, speaking directly to the DJs or even firing DJs and hiring new ones. He must also find people willing to advertise for the station and find appropriate times to run each advertisement. The manager must also create original promotions to bring new listeners to the station.
  
  

Station Business

• Station managers deal directly with many people, but they must also be good with business management. They must understand how to fill out large reams of paperwork. They work with the sales and accounting staffs to help monitor the moneymaking progress of the station. They try to maximize profits by altering the budget in any way they see fit. Alterations can include downsizing expensive employees. The station manager must have the strength of character necessary to fire employees if necessary. They must try to motivate their salespeople to make new connections with businesses and to find any way possible to create more money. Station managers must work directly with businesses, organizations and agency leaders in order to make financially sound partnerships. Many of these partnerships will account for expanding advertising. As a result, station managers must have very good communication skills.