Producer II, Event

Responsibilities

• Promotes storytelling and content decisions that elevate live sports programming and enhance the overall viewer experience.
• Directs all production planning and operational activities for assigned events, including establishing production schedules, determining broadcast formats, managing production workflows, identifying technical requirements, and overseeing the execution of production assets across multiple platforms and delivery models.
• Manages cross-functional production teams, ensuring they are aligned on event coverage strategies, production priorities, and storytelling approaches.
• Collaborates with production and technical leadership to ensure all aspects of event coverage meet or exceed ESPN’s creative, editorial, and operational standards.
• Oversees the implementation of critical production decisions before, during, and after live events, including replay philosophy, graphics integration, interview strategies, sponsorship requirements, promotional elements, and execution of established production priorities.
• Produces assigned sports telecasts while exercising advanced editorial judgment and decision-making authority, with strategic guidance from Coordinating Producers and Vice Presidents as appropriate.
• Evaluates production crew performance and provides detailed, constructive feedback to improve execution, strengthen accountability, and support individual and team development.
• Mentors and develops production staff by encouraging innovation, creative problem-solving, and continuous improvement while helping build future production leadership talent.
• Leads creative, content, operational, and budget-related decision-making for assigned productions, balancing editorial objectives, production quality, resource allocation, and business priorities.
• Solves complex content, operational, technical, and logistical challenges by collaborating with internal partners, remote operations teams, vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Contributes to department-wide initiatives, best practices, workflow improvements, and strategic planning discussions while actively participating in production reviews and feedback sessions.
• Identifies opportunities to improve production efficiency, innovate workflows, and enhance storytelling techniques across assigned sports and events.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to independently create, lead, and produce compelling live sporting event telecasts, driving productions from concept and strategic planning through execution and post-event evaluation.
• Advanced knowledge of sports production models, including on-site, REMI/remote, hybrid, and emerging production workflows, with the ability to successfully line produce complex live events.
• Expert knowledge of real-time live sports production, including replay production, graphics integration, event timing, editorial decision-making, and technical coordination.
• Proven leadership, organizational, communication, and project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and perform effectively in high-pressure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, develop, and execute compelling storylines, editorial concepts, and innovative production elements that enhance audience engagement.
• Extensive knowledge of assigned sports, including rules, athletes, storylines, competitive structures, and industry trends that directly inform production and editorial decisions.
• Strong understanding of production budgeting, staffing, resource allocation, and operational logistics required to deliver high-quality live event productions.
• Proven ability to manage complex production challenges, mitigate risks, and make effective real-time decisions during live broadcasts.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with talent, league representatives, teams, venues, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing production staff, including Associate Producers, Production Assistants, and Producer I-level employees.
• Ability to influence production strategy, improve workflows, and contribute to department-wide operational and creative initiatives.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible and increasingly complex remote, on-site, or live sports production experience, including experience leading major live event productions and cross-functional teams.