Business Operations Lead, Local Media

About the role

The Business Operations Lead is responsible for driving business planning, operational strategy, organizational governance, and cross-functional execution for the NBA’s Local Media organization. Reporting to the General Manager, Local Media, this role serves as a key strategic and operational partner across the organization, helping translate business priorities into scalable processes, operational frameworks, and measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the operational and strategic lead supporting the General Manager, Local Media, helping drive organizational priorities, business planning, and cross-functional execution across the Local Media organization.
• Lead day-to-day business operations management for the Local Media group, including operating cadence, executive reporting, organizational planning, and strategic initiative tracking.
• Manage and develop the Business Operations Manager while establishing scalable operational processes, communication workflows, and governance frameworks.
• Carefully coordinate annual operating plans, budgeting processes, headcount planning, resource tracking, and business reviews in partnership with Finance, HR, and senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain organizational KPI frameworks, dashboards, reporting structures, and performance metrics to support data-driven decision-making and operational transparency.
• Drive cross-functional coordination across Programming, Production, Commercial, Engineering, Distribution, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and HR teams to ensure alignment on organizational priorities and operational execution.
• Support the launch and scaling of the Local Media organization for the 2026–27 season, including operational readiness planning, organizational design coordination, workflow implementation, and executive-level project management.
• Establish governance models, decision-making frameworks, and standardized business processes that improve organizational efficiency, accountability, and execution consistency.
• Lead preparation of executive presentations, operational reviews, business updates, strategic planning materials, and leadership communications for senior stakeholders.
• Partner with HR and leadership teams on organizational development initiatives including workforce planning, onboarding, team structure planning, and employee engagement efforts.
• Coordinate vendor and partner operational processes where applicable, including tracking deliverables, timelines, operational dependencies, and business performance.
• Identify operational risks, resource constraints, and process inefficiencies while driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Support organizational change management efforts related to new operating models, systems implementations, process standardization, and evolving business priorities.
• Foster a collaborative, high-accountability operating culture focused on execution excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in business operations, strategic operations, organizational management, consulting, media operations, or related functions.
• Experience supporting senior executives and leading cross-functional operational initiatives within complex matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing strategic planning processes, operational governance, executive reporting, and organizational coordination functions.
• Experience within sports media, broadcast, streaming, entertainment, technology, or live-event organizations preferred.
• Strong experience with budgeting processes, KPI development, operational analytics, and business performance reporting.
• Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience supporting organizational transformation, operational scaling, or new business launches preferred.
• Experience with vendor sourcing, evaluation and negotiation.

Qualifications

• Strong strategic and operational thinking with the ability to connect high-level business objectives to practical execution plans.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail and execution rigor.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills, including experience preparing materials for senior leadership audiences.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to synthesize operational, financial, and business performance data into actionable insights.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and coordinate across matrixed organizations.
• High degree of professionalism, judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive business matters.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments with competing priorities and ambiguity.
• Strong collaboration skills and team-oriented leadership style with a focus on accountability and operational excellence.
• Established history of creating, developing and fostering two way relationships across all levels of a company.

Skills/Knowledge

• Advanced proficiency with operational reporting tools, presentation development, and business planning methodologies.
• Established history of creating a culture of consistent feedback and coaching across all levels.

Benefits

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.

Pay

$140,000 - $180,000

Schedule

Not specified