Principal Production Operations Manager, Live Sports

This is a Full Time Job

The Production Operations Team is responsible for delivering high quality event productions on all global live sports properties to customers worldwide, across all Prime Video product lines and devices. We also support our productions through process improvements, scalability, and various initiatives.

We are looking for an experienced senior production leader with a proven track record to oversee large-scale Live Sports Production Operations across multiple sports properties. This dynamic role combines high-level production management with hands-on field operations expertise. As Principal Prod Ops Manager, you will be responsible for leading and overseeing various rights properties entire production life-cycle from the scoping stage, through budgeting and operational design, and boots-on-the-ground launch.

You will be responsible for administering RFP launches and vendor selection for Production Service Partners (PSP). You will drive how we engage third-party PSPs for production and technical services defining the scope of work, deliverables, service levels, while maintaining budgetary oversight, and collaborating with Legal on the contract terms. The role encompasses end-to-end operational and production planning, including logistics oversight, crew management, and technical planning coordination across key stakeholder teams such as Creative/Editorial and Technical Operations. You will be tasked with scaling operations and assessing cost standards that may impact the budget or production roadmap, and ensure we are consistently delivering a best-in-class broadcast. A crucial aspect of your responsibility will be conducting thorough evaluations of existing productions to drive continuous improvement in event execution and property launches.

As the Principal Prod Ops Manager, you are also responsible for leading the end-to-end production launch readiness roadmap for the entire production team and will define milestones to ensure timely delivery of the event including day-to-day operational oversight. Your influence will extend across the organization, managing critical interdependencies with Legal, Production Finance, Business Development, Accounting, Tax, Risk and other corporate stakeholders to ensure business continuity throughout the event launch process. This role presents an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of live sports production while working with industry-leading teams.

The successful candidate is a self-starter and possesses the ability to complete high volumes of complex tasks and projects quickly, and reacts with appropriate urgency to situations and events that require immediate response and turnaround. The candidate has a proven track record taking on end-to-end ownership, and is effective at delivering results in a fast-paced and dynamic business environment. The candidate will be able to issue spot, drive decision making, and escalate matters that have risk impact.

Key job responsibilities
- Own and manage the end-to-end lifecycle of a project launch, gathering business requirements, implementing workstreams, and developing milestones and launch schedule to ensure successful delivery of event
- Oversee production operations of on-site event production including logistics and crew management, Health & Safety, risk management, and vendor relationships
- Spearhead RFP processes and vendor selection for Production Service Partners and orchestrate comprehensive operational planning, including logistical and technical coordination
- Lead cross-functional collaboration with Creative/Editorial and Technical Operations teams
- Manage production costs for various properties, including forecasting and variance analysis
- Drive synergy and manage stakeholder relationships across legal, business development, production finance, accounting, and other global operations teams
- Own high-visibility updates (compiling and drafting documents) and present to all levels of senior leadership

Qualifications
• 10 years of budgeting, scheduling and cost reporting experience
• 10 years of experience as head of production/head of production operations/production executive leadership role within live sports broadcasting
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in broadcast production with various formats; live telecasts, shoulder programming, specialty content
• High level competency and experience managing end-to-end production processes, encompassing production company oversight, venue operations, crew management, budgeting, and cross-departmental problem resolution
• Business acumen with demonstrated expertise in contract management, including defining service requirements and ensuring comprehensive commercial terms in contracts and statements of work
• Track record of implementing and optimizing production workflows to enhance operational efficiency and quality
• Outstanding cross-functional leadership abilities with a documented history of building trust and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with technical teams, creative personnel, and executive leadership