Director of Live Production | Full-Time | Ryan Field at Northwestern University

Position Summary

The Director of Live Production leads the creative vision, planning, and execution of gameday presentation and in-venue entertainment at the New Ryan Field and Welsh Ryan Arena. This role creates a distinctive, innovative, emotionally engaging experience that reflects New Ryan Field and Northwestern University’s brand, traditions, and competitive environment while aiming to deliver the best gameday experience in collegiate sports.

Responsibilities

• Create memorable moments that create energy, strengthen fan connection, and enhance home-field advantage.
• Lead the evolution of team entrances, opening sequences, music, lighting, fan prompts, recognitions, traditions, and situational entertainment.
• Identify new ideas, technologies, and industry trends that can elevate the overall experience.
• Keep the presentation fresh, intentional, and engaging throughout the season.
• Lead the full planning process for Northwestern University football and basketball games, including scripts, rundowns, timing, rehearsals, and contingency plans.
• Regularly serve as the lead show caller for football games, men’s basketball games, and other priority productions.
• Lead production meetings, event-day briefings, rehearsals, and post-event reviews.
• Ensure all productions meet university, conference, league, broadcast, safety, and venue requirements.
• Collaborate with internal creative teams and outside partners on intro videos, hype content, graphics, features, and event-specific assets.
• Review and approve content for creative quality, brand alignment, accuracy, and technical readiness.
• Oversee music strategy, entertainment booking, hosts, performers, student groups, recognitions, and specialty acts.
• Build strong relationships across athletics, marketing, communications, creative services, spirit programs, bands, student groups, alumni relations, development, campus leadership, stadium operations, and other university departments.
• Manage expectations, communicate deadlines and production needs, and align multiple stakeholders around a cohesive vision.
• Advise leadership on fan experience, creative strategy, presentation opportunities, and industry trends.
• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate student workers, freelancers, contractors, and control room personnel.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of preparation, creativity, accountability, teamwork, and calm execution under pressure.
• Oversee the operational readiness of videoboards, LED displays, replay, graphics, audio, IPTV, cameras, intercom, lighting, and show-control systems.
• Coordinate with engineering, information technology, stadium operations, and vendors to ensure systems are tested and event-ready.
• Identify opportunities for workflow improvements, system upgrades, and capital investment.
• Collaborate with corporate partnerships and marketing teams to integrate sponsored elements into the gameday experience.
• Help identify new presentation assets and fan-engagement opportunities that may support revenue goals.
• Balance commercial obligations with show pacing and audience experience.
• Provide production oversight for concerts, commencements, ceremonies, rentals, and other stadium events.
• Serve as an operational liaison for promoters, production companies, outside clients, and vendors.
• Review staffing, technical requirements, schedules, and use of stadium systems.
• Develop and manage budgets for game presentation, staffing, entertainment, production support, content, and equipment.
• Manage relationships with production vendors, creative partners, entertainment providers, and freelancers.
• Recommend future investments based on creative impact, operational need, and audience experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in live event production, broadcasting, communications, media production, sports management, marketing, entertainment, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5-7+ years of progressively responsible experience in game presentation, live sports entertainment, stadium production, broadcast production, or major live events.
• Proven experience developing creative game-presentation strategies and producing high-profile live events.
• Strong show-calling experience and knowledge of scripting, timing, control room operations, rehearsals, and contingency planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and event details simultaneously.
• Experience directing student workers, freelancers, contractors, vendors, or event-day crews.
• Strong creative judgment, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to remain calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented in high-pressure live environments.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, and production resources.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and irregular hours based on the event calendar.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in major collegiate athletics, professional sports, a large stadium or arena, or a nationally recognized live-entertainment organization.
• Experience participating in production-system upgrades, control room projects, or stadium technology planning.