Assistant Director, Production Management & Operations

Job Description

Production Management & Operations (''PMO'') works alongside internal stakeholders and with PBS member stations and producers to facilitate the creation of multiplatform content. The group operates within two prime areas of focus:

1. Production Operations: It functions as an organizational linchpin with a broad reach across business units, including: GA and KIDS Programming, Digital Studios, Digital, Marketing, Communications, Programming Engagement, Learning Media, Distribution, Business Affairs & Legal, and Finance. Externally, it interfaces with key funding partner organizations to include: the PBS Foundation, producers, and PBS member stations.

2. Production Management: It partners with in-house content teams, PBS stations, and the domestic and international production community. In this respect, the group oversees production logistics and PBS' financial investments for all content in active negotiation, development, production, delivery, and project reconciliation.

Working on assigned projects and with producers, the Assistant Director, Production Management & Operations supports the group's objectives by providing service and support to internal stakeholders and the production community. The Assistant Director is required to perform 360-degree effective communication and relationship building; working with the department's Directors to assist with the flow of information to all partners while also providing support for the Vice President, Production Management & Business Operations. The Director is a self-starter with the ability to prioritize multiple concurrent assignments in a dynamic environment, while consulting and aligning efforts with department managers.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Production Operations
• Assist to ensures producer proposals are in-line with expectations; represent value and meet internal ambitions.
• Assist the Directors of PMO that work across internal business units to determine work scope on a project-by-project basis.
• Organize to consult and collaborate with partner organizations and PBS stations, working through requirements and assisting to manage relationships effectively.
• In partnership, help move assigned projects through cross-department meetings and systems, and onwards towards contracting. Consults with internal constituents to help tailor project requirements.
• Manage a slate of production R&D titles and content to be licensed, as assigned.

Contracting
• Supports Directors of PMO to consult with appropriate business units on timelines for series contract renewals.
• Assists with the analysis of producer assumptions; production budgets; funding plans; staffing and production schedules; cash flows.
• Creates payment schedules and content deliverable documents as they relate to agreed editorial proposals.
• Assists to identify, and then tracks and communicates all funder sources.
• Assists with formal adjustments to contracts and with production breakages/overages.
• Consults with internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate technical delivery for contracting of all project materials.
• Prepares and finalizes negotiated and internally approved production exhibits for contract.
• Manages new vendor initiation.

Production
• In collaboration with Programming, organizes project ''kick-off'' and ''check-in'' meetings with internal and external production partners.
• Responsible for tracking production logistics, schedules, and project financial health across commissions, co-productions, and licensed deals. Engages from development to delivery and acceptance -- problem solving as needed.
• Works with producers, external fundraising teams, and PBS departments to coordinate on-air and online funder acknowledgments and change requests.
• Manages funder financial revenue data, generating reports, and coordinating funder requirements between producers and to multiple PBS departments. Records all in PBS systems.
• Consults with Programming on editorial milestones satisfaction, title approval, key art, etc. elevating to managers as necessary. Manages producer materials delivered to the department.
• Supervises and verifies cross-department milestone completion with teams throughout the organization. Owns and partners to initiate payment authorization, shepherding approvals and materials.
• Implements 'Payment Ahead of Milestone' or 'Out of Cycle' payment requests.
• Via producer financial reporting, oversees budget compliance, production cash flow requirements. Assists with the reconciliation of final financial reporting against contract, and revenue disbursement for compliant project closeout.

Systems/Processes/Special Assignments
• Assists with development and maintenance of PMO's third party vendor relationships (as applicable). Ensures these are available to producers via the PBS's Producer's Handbook. Manages deal processing within systems.
• Works on assigned specialty assignments, including collaborating with Finance to perform historical analysis of production expenditure and strategic cash flow forecasting.
• Helps build and maintain funder reporting capacity to include regular data sharing, along with analyses on a project-by-project basis to include quarterly financial and annual carriage reporting.

Requirements for success:
• Minimum 3-4 years of experience as either a Production Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, Junior Production Manager/Unit Manager; OR an equivalent tenure in broadcast operations and/or broadcast production management to include 'direct to digital'.
• Knowledge of and experience with content production logistics, production scheduling, and production payroll practices.
• BS/BA in Film/TV/Digital Production – or – equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient with: Microsoft 365, with high proficiency in Excel. Movie Magic experience helpful.
• Experience with data management, analysis, and reporting. Data visualization experience a plus.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. Very important.
• Exceptional organizational skills and massive attention to detail. Team player. Problem solver.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
• Previous experience of working within the public television system or for a non-profit organization also helpful, but not essential.

PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the EEOC and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-r0k161-3-149-247-159-42 in your application.