BROADCAST OPERATIONS MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION

Broadcast operations at major sporting events answers to two masters at once: the rights-holding federation and the host broadcast team on-site. A Broadcast Operations Manager owns the operational layer between them - venue compounds, camera infrastructure, and the contractor and affiliate relationships that have to work on a fixed schedule. Deadlines here do not move. The role sits within an event delivery structure that spans multiple functional areas, and it carries direct accountability for staffing standards, documentation, and logistics from pre-season site visits through live competition days.

As the Broadcast Operations Manager, you translate federation and host broadcast requirements into executable venue-level plans, ensuring every compound, gantry, and crew arrangement is in place before a single camera rolls. You work day-to-day alongside senior broadcast leadership, reporting into a Senior Broadcast or Media Operations Manager, and your decisions directly govern whether production continuity holds across all scheduled matches and venues.

Career Impact: Managing broadcast logistics for international sporting bodies - including federation compliance and multi-venue coordination - establishes a specialist track record that is recognized across the sports media industry.

Business Impact: When compound access, crew scheduling, or affiliate coordination breaks down at a live event, coverage suffers in front of a global audience; this role is the operational authority that prevents that outcome.

Growth Opportunity: The path from this seat runs toward Senior Broadcast Manager and Head of Broadcast Operations, with scope expanding to include rights negotiations and multi-federation event portfolios.

• Lead venue broadcast operations including compound setup, camera gantry coordination, and hoist logistics across all event sites.
• Manage broadcast partner relationships through regular planning meetings, site visits, and timely communication to meet contractual obligations.
• Supervise photographers, editors, directors, and production assistants to ensure shifts are staffed and performance standards are met.
• Coordinate stakeholder visits and venue access in conjunction with internal functional areas and host broadcast teams.
• Develop and maintain key planning documentation to support smooth event delivery from pre-season through competition days.
• Partner with engineering teams to evaluate technical requirements and confirm all field gear and production systems meet operational needs.
• Act as primary liaison for network affiliate and international federation requests, coordinating logistics for all external relationships.
• Monitor project risks across event timelines and escalate solutions to senior management before they affect delivery.

• Bachelor's degree in media production, sports management, communications, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of broadcast operations or live event delivery experience, with demonstrated management responsibility.
• Proven record of managing complex, multi-venue or multi-sport event environments within fixed delivery timelines.
• Experience building and maintaining effective relationships with international sport federations, host broadcast teams, or equivalent rights holders.
• Demonstrable ability to manage contracts and coordinate with third-party vendors, affiliates, and facility providers.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities under immovable deadlines.
• Financial management competency, including experience working with complex event budgets and capital planning processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor style to technical, operational, and executive audiences.

• Knowledge of cycling, cricket, or other major international sport formats, including their governing body structures and event delivery models.
• Experience working directly with LOC structures or organising committees for multi-sport events such as Commonwealth Games or similar.
• Background in news operations or network affiliate coordination, including ENG systems and field production gear management.
• Familiarity with broadcast engineering standards, signal flow documentation, and the ability to read AutoCAD or Visio schematics.

• Shift coverage rate, measuring whether all production roles are staffed at broadcast standard across every event day.
• On-time venue readiness score, tracking compound and camera infrastructure sign-off against pre-agreed milestones.
• Stakeholder visit completion rate, reflecting coordination of all federation and partner site visits within planned windows.
• Documentation accuracy, measured by the proportion of planning documents approved without major revision before each event phase.
• Contractor and affiliate SLA adherence, tracking third-party delivery against agreed timelines and contractual requirements.
• Typical tools: Production scheduling platforms (commonly MS Project or equivalent); communication and documentation suites (commonly Microsoft Office, SharePoint)

• Base Salary Range: $75,000 to $105,000 per year, depending on event scale and experience.
• Bonus: Project-based or annual performance bonus, typically 5 to 12 percent of base.
• Equity: Rarely offered in this sector; may apply at larger media group employers.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across most employers.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, with additional flexibility around event cycles.
• Common Perks: Travel expense coverage, event accreditation, and occasional international assignment opportunities.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment contingent on successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of prior event and contractor references relevant to the nature of this role. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process - please notify the hiring team to request support. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Candidates must be authorized to work in the applicable jurisdiction prior to their start date.

The Broadcast Operations Manager owns the coordination of broadcast logistics and contract management across multi-venue sporting environments, ensuring projects are delivered on time and stakeholder relationships with international sport federations and Host Broadcast teams are maintained. Working closely with multi-disciplinary departments, this role shapes operational outcomes that determine whether large-scale event broadcasts run to schedule and meet federation standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Proven experience in a management role in events, broadcast or operations within a multi-sport event.
• Manage contracts and broadcast operations in a high-profile, multi-venue environment.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with international sport federations and Host Broadcast teams.
• Identify project risks and issues, propose creative solutions, and escalate as appropriate.
• Lead and work collegiately with multi-disciplinary groups across multiple departments.
• Deliver projects on time within a fast-paced, complex project-based environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in media, sports management, communications, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of experience in broadcast operations or event management within a management role.
• Comprehensive understanding of broadcast of major sport events and LOC structures.
• Knowledge of multi-sport, multi-venue events and the wider range of functional areas involved.
• Strong financial management with a track record of working with complex budgets.
• Excellent negotiation and contract management skills.
• High level of organisational skills with experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor style to diverse groups.
• Knowledge of cycling events is beneficial.

Embedded within the technical operations division, the Broadcast Operations Manager leads the efficient running of content creation and content delivery systems at a Disaster Recovery facility, serving as the primary point of contact for all service-affecting outages, enhancements, and ongoing operational support. Working closely with departments including Programming and Media Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Data Services, this role advances infrastructure reliability and ensures DR recovery protocols remain current and executable.

Technical Responsibilities

• Coordinate with internal and external contacts for all system upgrades, replacements, and enhancements to the Disaster Recovery facility.
• Respond to technical alarms from the Operations Management System.
• Coordinate system trouble tickets with required participants.
• Maintain processes, procedures, protocols, and sequence of events tied to DR recovery requirements.
• Coordinate with facility management on building systems operations and failures.
• Interface with departments such as Programming and Media Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Services, and third parties.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5 or more years of experience in broadcast operations, technical operations, or Disaster Recovery.
• Familiarity with broadcast engineering standards, practices, and terminology.
• Familiarity with satellite uplinking and downlinking practices and terminology.
• Knowledge of digital audio signals, routing, quality control, and evaluation.
• Experience with installation and deployment of systems, networks, and structured cabling within a broadcast facility.
• Ability to read schematics and data flow documents using AutoCAD or Visio.
• Thorough knowledge of MS-Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Reporting to the News Director, the Broadcast Operations Manager oversees staffing, field gear, and large-scale news coverage execution across photographers, editors, directors, and production assistants. Partnering with engineering and news managers, this role ensures content production continuity across all platforms while evaluating emerging technologies that inform capital planning decisions.

Core Functions

• Supervise photographers, editors, directors, and production assistants to ensure all shifts are staffed and performance standards are met.
• Determine the future direction of news operations through clear and regular communication with news managers and staff.
• Provide mentoring and performance management for all direct reports.
• Develop and execute large-scale coverage for special events and breaking news in collaboration with news managers.
• Act as primary liaison for network affiliate requests and coordinate logistics for external relationships.
• Collaborate with engineering to ensure all technical needs are fulfilled.
• Evaluate new technologies and make recommendations for budget planning and capital projects.
• Oversee media management to ensure content production is not disrupted and available for all platforms.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5 or more years of proven experience in broadcast operations or a related leadership role.
• Extensive knowledge of field cameras and gear, lighting, non-linear editing systems, ENG video playback, and news acquisition systems.
• Valid California driver's license and good driving record.
• Ability to work overtime, flexible shifts, and outside in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and move up to 40 pounds, and occasionally up to 80 pounds.

A key member of the event delivery team, the Broadcast Operations Manager builds and maintains broadcast partner relationships and coordinates venue logistics including compounds, camera gantries, and hoists across all event sites. Collaborating across internal functional areas and reporting to the Senior Broadcast and Media Operations Manager, this role ensures that all operational and facility needs for cricket events are met from pre-season site visits through to live delivery.

Primary Duties

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key broadcast partners through regular meetings, communication, and planning.
• Coordinate logistics at all venues including compounds, camera gantries, hoists, and other broadcast requirements.
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of stakeholder visits and meetings, facilitating venue access and facility provision.
• Support all operational needs and facilities as part of a successful event delivery team.
• Develop and maintain key documentation to support the smooth delivery of cricket events.
• Provide administrative assistance to the Senior Broadcast and Media Operations Manager as required.

Experience and Qualifications

• Demonstrable substantial experience in operational delivery of sporting events.
• Experience working within large-scale events or broadcasts within a fixed timeframe and high-pressure environment.
• Cricket knowledge is a distinct advantage.
• Strong attention to detail in the preparation of planning documents and communication.
• Ability to work with efficiency, flexibility, and good humour in an ever-changing events and broadcast environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to liaise with stakeholders at all levels.