Production Operations Director, Broadcast & Content

Broadcast Operations Leadership

The Production Operations Director will oversee all aspects of broadcast operations, engineering, and crewing for LOVB’s live events and original content productions. They will partner with Executive Producer and production/crewing partners to ensure well-rounded staffing for every match. They will build and coordinate travel needs, track crew issues and successes, and ensure best possible staffing as the season evolves.

• Strategically evaluate best possible operational solutions for each type of venue, and broadcast/stream during planning phase
• Manage implementation of production enhancements (i.e. live player mics, POV cameras, etc)
• Ensure operational excellence and high-quality standards for all broadcast and streaming outputs

Signal Distribution Management

The Production Operations Director will manage end-to-end signal distribution for all broadcast and streaming partners, ensuring reliable, high-quality delivery of matches. They will oversee process implementation to ensure every output reaches its intended input from broadcast to streaming to social media encoding. They will troubleshoot technical issues quickly and effectively to avoid disruptions.

• Own the management of LOVB’s selected broadcast production vendors and partners, including evaluation, selection criteria development, and ongoing performance reviews
• Implement on-site technical & operational workflows for official replay & score/stats data integration with vendors
• Escalate vendor issues &/or concerns to EP & leadership to streamline problem solving
• Lead RFP processes and solicit future production partners, as needed

Schedule Coordination

The Production Operations Director will own the Live Production Schedule matrix detailing venues, production methods, and broadcast/streaming outputs. They will create and maintain detailed timelines and workback plans for each telecast. They will clearly communicate on-site schedules with from call times to fax windows to on-air timeframes. They will partner with Team Event Managers and Venue Operators to ensure that broadcast setup schedules align with all other in-arena schedules. They will ensure all necessary inputs, approvals, and deliverables are executed on schedule and liaise with commercial, venue, and distribution teams to confirm match broadcast schedules and manage any subsequent changes. They will ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned on schedule updates.

• Create and maintain detailed timelines and workback plans for each telecast
• Clearly communicate on-site schedules with from calltimes to fax windows to on-air timeframes
• Partner with Venues, Events, and Ticketing teams to ensure infrastructure and operational needs are met
• Confirm venue power, internet, telco, and transmission capabilities, and determine what additional services may need to be outsourced
• Work with broadcast production vendors to ensure logistical requirements are met, such as: parking, credentials, catering, overnight security, restrooms, etc. for each match

Content Operations

The Production Operations Director will operationalize production workflows to maximize reach while adhering to tight budgets and timelines for original and non-live match content. They will identify clearance needs (e.g., location, materials, appearance) and partner with legal to secure necessary releases. They will continuously improve vendor and partner performance on an ongoing basis and implement best practices and process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.

• Operationalize production workflows to maximize reach while adhering to tight budgets and timelines
• Identify clearance needs (e.g., location, materials, appearance) and partner with legal to secure necessary releases
• Evaluate vendor and partner performance on an ongoing basis
• Implement best practices and process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality

Required & Preferred Skills/Abilities

• Production Expertise: Minimum 8 - 10+ years of experience in production management, with significant experience in live sports production
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in broadcast operations, engineering, and crewing for live events. Must know all of the different production switchers capabilities, as well as audio consoles
• Venue Experience: Skilled in working with venues of varying infrastructure capabilities, from advanced to limited
• Project Management: Proven ability to create and execute detailed timelines and workback plans
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Strong verbal, written, and negotiation skills; adept at working with cross-functional teams
• Budget Oversight: Experience managing production budgets and vendor relationships. Industry Knowledge: Volleyball experience is a plus, but not required
• Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel as required by the event schedule
• Leadership: Proven ability to manage, lead and inspire a staff of full-time and/or freelance operations personnel with clear goal-setting and timeline deliverables