Scratch Radio Committee Positions

Job Descriptions
All positions

1. Will ensure good conduct at all times at the radio station and media centre
2. Will be expected to act with due authority and responsibility, as appointed to them.
3. Are expected to inform their appropriate manager on the committee of any actions taken or
any progress regarding Scratch Radio in relation to their position.
4. Will make sure their handover file is submitted before the annual elections.
5. Will be expected to regularly attend committee meetings, or submit apologies of absence as
agreed by the management team.
6. Will provide reception/producer cover as agreed during committee meetings.
7. Will work in equal partnership with their position equivalent (Internal or External) for the
mutual benefit of all student and community members of the station, the Union and all Media
Group members.
8. With the exception of the Station Management team, all other position holders are
encouraged to recruit and manage members to support the work within their team.

Station Managers (Internal/External)

Will be responsible for the day to day management of Scratch Radio, and to manage all committee
members. Will ensure the integrity and good conduct of the station and all committee members at all
times.

1. Will ensure the safety, well being and rights of all members and individuals involved in the radio
station is maintained at all times and will Chair committee meetings.
2. Will liaise with members of the station to the best of their ability on a regular basis.
3. Will ensure that they and all members of the station are fulfilling their job descriptions to the best
of their ability.
4. Will assist other members of the management team as and when such a need arises.
5. Will be responsible for every aspect of the station, particularly enforcement of the station
regulations, The Union of Students policy and regulations, Radio Authority rules and regulations
as well as British Law.
6. Will make themselves available as much as possible for station business and will ensure that
members of the station may contact them as and when required.
7. Will be responsible for submitting a yearly budget based on the station’s needs, and to work with
the Union Communications Officer on how the budget will be spent.
8. Will ensure that correct logging procedures are in place (ensuring that companies and
organisations requiring this information are in receipt of it in good time).
9. Will liaise with and are accountable to the Communications Officer.
10. Will ensure that Scratch is represented by 2 members (one of them being the Station Manager, or
any of the Assistant Station Managers) on the appropriate Union decision making bodies.
11. Will liaise with the Union Finance Office, Union Communications Officer and the Student
Development Coordinator to raise cheques and so forth in relation to the station.
12. If called upon, will write references for all Scratch members as requested.

Assistant Station Managers (Internal/External)

Shall focus specifically on, and is responsible for, all internal administration with regards to Scratch
Radio. Will ensure accurate records of current student and community membership are maintained
and will share the responsibility of taking minutes at all committee meetings. Act as joint Chair at
committee meetings in the absence of the Station Managers.

1. Will be responsible for creating a rota for reception/producer cover of committee members
covering these duties while the station is on air, and organising day to day duties for the Non
Portfolios including answering the phone, taking messages and carrying out administrative duties
in the media centre.
2. Is responsible for recruiting members for Scratch, using different methods including organising
stalls at Fresher’s and holding induction talks/presentations to students across all campuses
within BCU.
3. Will ensure community groups are fully represented and actively involved in the production and
output of the station.
4. Will work closely with the Head’s of What’s On to source and produce What’s On
information/guides to assist with their What’s On Team members and the ‘We Love Brum’ show.
5. Will take on Station Managers responsibilities in their absence.

Head of Brand (Internal/External)

Responsible for the station’s branding – both imaging and the station sound – while in keeping with
the Student of Union’s own branding guidelines. This will cover posters, jingles, idents and logos.

1. Will be responsible for organising the production of all the station’s jingles, idents and promos,
liaising closely with the Programme Controller and Myriad Manager to ensure all material
produced is appropriate to programme schedules.
2. Will obtain input from other members and ensure all material produced meets the
requirements (in terms of format) of appropriate programmes.
3. Will liaise with the Union Communications Officer to obtain Union approval for all printed
promotional materials.
4. Will work closely with the Heads of Online and Social Media to ensure all online content and
imaging is consistent with the station brand.
5. Will work closely with Heads of Music and Programme Controllers to ensure Daytime music is
in keeping with station brand.
6. Will provide for the publicity of the station around the Union and University, subject to usual
regulations.
7. Will provide the publicity of the station to external bodies where this is seen necessary, on
liaison with other members of the station.
8. Will ensure any publicised event is appropriate to all members, and observance of any legal
requirements is fully adhered to.

Chief Engineer (Internal/External)

Responsible for the maintenance of all station equipment excluding Myriad, and acting as adviser with
regards technical issues. Manage repairs and advise on electrical purchases, as well as being
responsible for any appropriate action required.

1. Must make sure that she/he is familiar with all station equipment.
2. Will ensure the technical well being of the station.
3. Will endeavour to make themselves or members of their team contactable at all times and be
available on short notice during broadcasts.
4. Will be responsible for managing repairs on station equipment, whether conducted in-house or by
external companies.
5. Will be responsible for all equipment materials used for output is of broadcast standards.
6. Will assist members with all technical issues, whether it be in the studios or on location.

Programme Controllers (Internal/External)

Responsible for the allocation of airtime to members and monitoring of broadcasts. Together with the
Myriad Manager and Heads of Music will be responsible for creating the station schedule. Also will be
responsible for allocating studio training for all Scratch members and make sure that all members
have been suitably trained before being allowed on air.

1. Will ensure the smooth running of the station with regards the day to day broadcasting schedule.
2. Will regularly coordinate and update the broadcast schedule alongside the Myriad Manager.
3. Will make sure the updated schedule is submitted to the Heads of Online and Social Media.
4. Will endeavour to synchronise the music policy with the Heads of Music and Heads of Brand to
provide programming appropriate to the day, audience and time, within the remit as specified in
 Radio Authority licence application and the stations own branding (eg Daytime and Niche
programming).
5. Along with the Station Management, be responsible for amending the output of the station
accordingly, should an issue occur that infers with an agreed schedule.
6. Will ensure that backup programmes are always on hand in case of amendment of the agreed
schedule.

Head of Music (Internal/External)

Is responsible for working with Promotional companies and artists to source new, popular tracks as
well as up-and-coming artists. Will oversee the new ‘Heads of Genre’.

1. Responsible to create a weekly report sent to Myriad Manager regarding tracks suitable for the
daytime playlist.
2. Will be responsible to weekly check Niche presenters’ personal carts for suitable Daytime music.
3. Responsible to keep up correspondence with promotional companies.
4. Source music based items for competition give aways (eg gig tickets, band t-shirts).
5. Will be responsible for organising festival coverage. This includes fairly distributing festivals
amongst station members and sorting out press clearance.
6. Will be responsible for the Heads of Genre – 7 music groups which will ensure that all areas of
music is being researched for new tracks for the station output.
7. Heads of Music is also Head of Pop and Mainstream.

Myriad Manager

In overall charge of the running and maintenance of Myriad. Will have sole authority to add or change
content on Myriad. This is to ensure that Myriad content keeps a consistent standard and to avoid
Myriad crashing due to unskilled handling.

1. The Heads of Brand, Heads of Music and Programme Controller will together decide on the
appropriate music to be played out on Myriad, this list will then be given to you to add to Myriad.
2. Work with the Programme Controller to schedule the week’s clocks on Myriad.
3. Will regularly check content of presenters’ personal carts and remove content that is not in
keeping with station sound (eg bad quality recordings).

Head of Online and Social Media (Internal/External)

Is responsible for the up keep of the station’s website and other online platforms.

1. Is responsible for providing a functional and up-to-date website that reflects the position of the
station, whilst being in line with The Union of Students and station brand.
2. Will be responsible for the content and development of the website, subject to the approval of the
Station Management, Heads of Brand and the Union Communications Officer.
3. Will be responsible for ensuring that all members receive training and guidance in usage of the
stations website and social media platforms.
4. Is responsible for getting the signal broadcasted over internet.
5. Work closely with the Programme Controllers and Myriad Manager to provide accurate data to the
Union Communications Officer when supporting the station’s quarterly PPL report.

Head of News (Internal/External)

Is responsible for all news content for the station.

1. Is responsible for the coverage of Student Union, BCU and local/community events, news and
issues.
2. Is responsible for their team to help research and produce news content for the station, and
for all news programming in the schedule (eg. Spaghetti Junction Show).
 3. Will be responsible for creating a rota of news readers on a daily basis for pre-record news
bulletins as agreed by the Programme Controllers.
4. Will encourage a wide range of news and ensure informative programming is delivered.
5. Will liaise closely with the Heads of What’s On to co-ordinate events coverage – within the
Union’s clubs and societies, and within the local community.
6. Will ensure the training of all news reporters, including interviewing techniques.

Head of Sports (Internal/External)

Is responsible for all sport content for the station.

1. Is responsible for their team to help research and produce sport content for the station, both
around within BCU and the local community
2. Will be responsible for creating a rota of sports reporters and readers on a regular basis for
the making of pre-record bulletins as agreed by the Programme Controllers.
3. Will encourage a wide range of different sports are covered around BCU and in the local
community.
4. Will liaise closely with the Heads of What’s On to co-ordinate events coverage – within the
Union’s clubs and societies, and within the local community.
5. Will ensure the training of all reporters, including interviewing/reporting techniques.

Head of What’s On (Internal/External)

Is responsible for the coverage and reporting of all relevant events within BCU and the local
community.

1. Will be responsible for the up keep of the What’s On window.

2. Responsible for presenting the “We Love Brum” show on the station schedule.
3. Will liaise with the Heads of News and the Heads of Sport to co-ordinate coverage for relevant
events.

Head of Crew (Internal)

Is responsible for organising and managing the Scratch Crew – the street team who are the face of
the station. A new initiative, the Crew are the first point of contact between our listeners and the
station at events, on campus and around the city.

1. Is responsible for managing signed up Crew members and to recruit new members.

2. Will be responsible for booking the Crew for station and Union events.

3. Will organise events to promote the station brand.

4. Will be organising Crew events around the different campuses to raise awareness.

5. Liaise with the Heads of Brand and to make sure that new Crew members are trained in station
brand.

Non-Portfolio (x2 Internal & External)

Responsible for activity fulfilling a chosen area of the station, as listed above, and ensuring such
position is executed satisfactorily.
1. Will fulfil the job description of the relevant role accurately, adhering to the stated criteria (as
detailed above) at all times.

NB: The Non-Portfolio positions are open to anyone who wishes to stand for them. The BCU
Birmingham Students Union and the Station Management reserves the right to address under-
representation from either the community or students, with regards the fulfilling of these positions.
Consequently, these posts can and will only be filled once either all other positions within the
Committee team are taken, or up to two are vacant.

The groups that are to be represented fairly are:

• Student - Presently at BCU or have been a BCU student in past 3 years

• Community - Not a student

ALL POSITION JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.