Content Planning Lead, Local Media

Position Summary

At the NBA, we’re passionate about growing and celebrating the game of basketball. Through the intensity of the game and the amazing athletic skill of our players, we deliver excitement to hundreds of millions of fans around the world. As a global sports and media business, the NBA is so much more. The Content Planning Lead will oversee the integration and execution of broadcast operations across the NBA’s Local Media partnerships, ensuring seamless coordination between the league and its local network partners.

Major Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for local broadcast partners, managing day-to-day engagement, issue resolution, and long-term partnership effectiveness
• Establish and enforce operational and production standards across partner broadcasts to ensure consistency in quality and execution
• Act as the central coordination point between local networks and internal NBA teams, including Production, Programming, Technology, Marketing, and Ad Sales
• Oversee onboarding and integration of new local network partners, including defining workflows, expectations, and operating protocols
• Partner with Production, Operations and Broadcast Engineering teams to ensure partner capabilities align with evolving production requirements and technology standards
• Collaborate with Programming, Production and Content teams to align broadcast execution with scheduling, content strategy, and fan engagement priorities
• Develop scalable operating models to support centralized and distributed production across multiple team markets
• Monitor partner performance and provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve execution, efficiency, and viewer experience
• Lead and manage a team responsible for content planning and broadcast integration, partner management, and operational support, including prioritization, execution oversight, and team development
• Create a culture of consistent coaching and feedback across talent and the full content team
• Support escalation management for sensitive or high-priority issues across partner broadcasts
• Monitor industry trends in sports media distribution, local broadcasting, and partner operating models to inform strategic direction
• Contribute to overall strategy and transformation efforts within the Local Media organization

Required Education/Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Media, Communications, Business, or a related field preferred
• 10–15+ years of experience in broadcast operations, media partnerships, production, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience managing external broadcast or distribution partners
• Prior experience leading teams and managing complex operational environments

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Deep understanding of broadcast operations, live sports production, and media distribution models
• Strong experience managing external partner relationships in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Knowledge of evolving local media landscape, including RSN alternatives, DTC distribution, and hybrid production models
• Established history of creating a culture of consistent feedback and coaching across all levels
• Experience sourcing and negotiating agreements a plus (e.g., vendor, content)
• Proven ability to design and implement scalable operational frameworks across multiple markets
• Strong problem-solving and escalation management capabilities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with ability to influence across internal and external partners
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving, and highly matrixed organization

Salary Range

$180,000 - $210,000

Job Posting Title

Senior Director

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.