Broadcast Operations Management Lead, Local Media

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Position Summary

The Broadcast Operations Management Lead, Local Media leads the day-to-day operational execution of live and time-shifted NBA and WNBA Local Media broadcasts, helping ensure productions are delivered reliably, efficiently, and at a consistently high standard. Reporting to the VP, Production Technology Lead, Local Media, this role manages a team of full-time employees and supplemental Operations Managers responsible for technical production coordination, vendor management, crew and game logistics, team support, and operational readiness.

The role provides day-to-day leadership for the Broadcast Operations Management function, implementing and maintaining consistent operating standards in partnership with Production Technology leadership while empowering Operations Managers to lead execution across assigned productions and markets. The Lead serves as a critical connection between broadcast operations and production technology, partnering closely with Technical Managers, Broadcast Engineering, Production Operations, Distribution, and vendors to integrate technical systems and workflows are effectively integrated into game-day operations.

The role manages day-to-day production and operational vendor relationships and contributes to planning for the continued growth and scaling of the Local Media production model. This individual uses operational insights and production experience to identify risks, improve workflows, inform resource planning, and lead projects that strengthen the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of Local Media broadcast operations.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Broadcast Operations Management team, including full-time employees and supplemental Operations Managers supporting live and time-shifted productions across NBA and WNBA markets.
• Establish team priorities, operating standards, responsibilities, workflows, and performance expectations to drive consistent execution and accountability across productions.
• Oversee game and production operations across assigned productions, including technical production coordination, crew planning, vendor readiness, schedules, venue requirements, and other operational dependencies.
• Ensure Operations Managers have the information, tools, resources, and cross-functional alignment required to effectively support assigned productions and teams.
• Establish clear production readiness, communication, escalation, and quality-control processes and; serve as a key escalation point for complex or time-sensitive operational issues.
• Build strong relationships with NBA and WNBA teams and Local Media stakeholders to understand market-specific production requirements and provide effective operational support.
• Own day-to-day operational relationships with production, mobile unit, crewing, master control, and other key vendors supporting Local Media broadcasts.
• Establish and monitor vendor performance expectations, service levels operating procedures, and escalation paths, driving accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support vendor planning, evaluation, and commercial discussions by providing operational requirements, performance insights, resource needs, and recommendations.
• Partner with vendors and internal teams to anticipate staffing, equipment, facility, scheduling, and logistical requirements across the Local Media production calendar.
• Partner closely with Technical Managers, Broadcast Engineering, and Production Technology to integrate technical systems, workflows, and standards into day-to-day broadcast operations.
• Establish effective working models between Operations Managers and their technical counterparts, ensuring strong coordination across operational and technical workflows.
• Coordinate the operational transition of new systems and production capabilities transition effectively from technology design into operational execution through appropriate documentation, testing, training, rehearsals, and readiness planning.
• Provide structured operational feedback to Production Technology and Engineering teams, identifying recurring issues, technical dependencies, and opportunities to improve workflows, reliability, and usability.
• Ensure appropriate contingency plans, escalation procedures, and operational safeguards are established to support resilient live and time-shifted production. 
• Develop and standardize operating procedures, production playbooks, planning tools, and performance measures that enable consistent execution across markets and production models.
• Lead and support projects focused on scaling the Local Media production program, including new markets, increased production volume, evolving production models, resource requirements, and expanded capabilities.
• Analyze operational performance, production incidents, vendor trends, and resource utilization to identify risks and opportunities for improved efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Provide operational inputs and recommendations to Production Technology leadership for resource and capacity planning, operating-model development, and future-state production plans.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable operating culture across employees, supplemental resources, technical partners, and vendors focused on reliable execution and continuous improvement.

Required Education / Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Production, Media, Communications, Technology, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in broadcast operations, live production, technical production management, media operations, or related fields, preferably within live sports.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and supplemental resources responsible for complex, high-volume live production environments.
• Strong experience managing production vendors, mobile units, crewing partners, and/or other third-party broadcast service providers.
• Experience overseeing game-day production logistics, technical production coordination, operational readiness, and issue resolution across multiple productions or markets.
• Experience partnering closely with Broadcast Engineering, Production Technology, Technical Management, Distribution, and production teams.
• Experience implementing and improving scalable workflows, operating procedures, readiness processes, and production operating models.
• Experience with centralized, remote/REMI, cloud-enabled, and/or other modern production models preferred.
• Professional or collegiate live sports production experience strongly preferred.

Required Skills / Knowledge Attributes

• Strong understanding of live sports broadcast operations, technical production workflows, game-day logistics, and end-to-end production execution.
• Strong people-management and coaching skills with the ability to establish accountability across full-time and supplemental resources.
• Strong vendor-management capabilities with the ability to build productive partnerships while driving service quality and operational improvement.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between broadcast operations, production technology, engineering, and distribution.
• Ability to anticipate operational risks, manage escalations, and make sound decisions in high-pressure live production environments.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to contribute to resource and capacity planning while balancing immediate production requirements with assigned longer-term initiatives.
• Strong process orientation with the ability to develop scalable, standardized workflows while accounting for market-specific production needs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical, production, vendor, team, and leadership audiences.
• Strong analytical and operational judgment with the ability to use production data, incident trends, and performance insights to improve execution.
• Collaborative management style focused on team development, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Salary Range:

$140,000 - $180,000

Job Posting Title:

Employees currently are eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus, awarded at the sole discretion of the Company and subject to any terms and conditions set by the Company. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company-sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; dental; vision; life/AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; fertility and family-forming assistance; wellbeing allowance; educational assistance; mental health coaching/therapy; tax advantaged accounts such as HSA and healthcare/dependent care FSAs; a 401(k) retirement plan; and time off benefits that include vacation, sick time, and personal days.

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.