Manager, Sports Digital & Special Event Production

Job Description

WarnerMedia News & Sports brings together all of WarnerMedia's live programming and best-in-class digital properties. From CNN Worldwide providing news and information services to more than 2 billion people, in more than approximately 200 countries and territories, to Turner Sports leading the industry in the delivery of premium sports content across all multimedia screens, there's no limit to the reach you can have working here.

The Job

The Manager of Sports Digital & Special Event Production is responsible for managing and improving processes in three areas: Technology, Staffing, and Production Support for digital and social media content. As production for digital and social media platforms has matured to become a robust, multifaceted aspect of our daily work in addition to our linear broadcast content, the need for dedicated management of these processes has become a priority.

The Daily
• Participates in R&D of new technology to keep all areas of Sports, B/R, and Studios aligned on common platforms, e.g. vMix, Riverside.fm, enterprise Zoom accounts, SRT, LiveU, etc.
• Advises in decisions about purchasing approach: Capital vs. OpEx, Studios vs. Sports, Rental vs. Buy, Custom vs. Retail. We don't need to buy new stuff from B&H if we already have it.
• Oversees implementation and documentation of new technology and retirement of old technology for consistent support.
• Proactively coordinates upgrades, maintenance, repair, replacement, troubleshooting.
• Works closely with vendors to schedule demos, visits, seminars, etc.
• Advises with staffing approaches in concert with Sports brands and Studios Operations, including: Number of roles needed (sometimes shows are over or under-staffed); Traditional roles vs. Hybrid roles (2 people for Director/TD and Graphics/Encoding vs. 4 people for Director, TD, Graphics, Encoding); Development of new roles to operate in emerging technology platforms (vMix TD, Singular/Caspar graphics Op vs. Ross/Vizrt)
• Works to ensure a deep bench of qualified staff, including coordination of training and demos
• Oversees cross-training of operators across various roles/technologies/workflows
• Helps with agile staffing (e.g. so someone isn't booked for 10 hours and only works 2 hours
• Ensures staffing requests go through proper channels (to Operations, not to the Operators directly).
• On show days/game nights, acts as a liaison between Sports, Studios, and Engineering; sometimes we can solve problems ourselves, sometimes we need an engineer. This person helps make that call or finds an alternative solution.
• For field shows/tentpoles, acts as lead to guide technical approach.
• Ensures successful synthesis of digital/social approach with linear/broadcast approach.
• Logistical lead: shipping – including battery and other HazMat procedures - and gear handling/storage on site.
• Works with Studios & Sports Operations and Engineering to make sure there are no conflicts around production resources or procedures. Get ahead of bottlenecks and avoid mistakes.
• If B/R can't handle a regular show on a given day, find solutions in other teams at Studios.
• Assists Tech Managers with appropriate documentation/duties as necessary.
• When necessary and appropriate, acts as an Operator on a given production. You may have to sit in the chair and push buttons. The show must go on

The Essentials

Minimum:

5-10 years of sports production, video production, social media production, experience with special events. Detailed technical understanding of live and location digital video production and webcast production experience strongly preferred.

Excellent computer skills. Must be comfortable with multiple desktop and mobile operating systems, computer software and hardware, and the internet. Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 & Adobe Creative suite.

Excellent client service and communication skills. Must maintain a high level of customer service. Very good verbal, writing, and organizational skills, especially with technical details. Diplomacy is a must.

You must have experience in and enjoy the high-pressure environment of live event and live TV/webcast production.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent, preferably in a Media-related discipline.

Desirable:

Knowledge of both professional and prosumer technology is strongly preferred. You should be comfortable with SDI, HDMI, USB, and IP signal paths. We're constantly synthesizing the worlds of traditional linear broadcast with emerging technology and platforms.

This is a media and computer technology-heavy world. You should be knowledgeable about media, culture, and technology. A passion for news, sports, movies, gaming, and popular culture are assets.

We are a global company, so this is not a 9-5 job. Must be willing and able to work early mornings, nights, and weekends, and must be willing and able to travel.

Adaptability is a key trait for this position: must be willing to learn.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d98194-3-145-58-169-42 in your application.