General Manager Sport

TVNZ; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

TVNZ is seeking a visionary General Manager Sport to redefine how New Zealanders experience and engage with sport across live, digital and on-demand platforms.

You will lead strategy, editorial direction, and high-impact productions, delivering growth in audiences, partnerships and revenue while shaping tactical decision-making and executive reporting.

Qualifications

• Broadcasting or journalism qualification and/or
• Wealth of knowledge of audience and fan engagement.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in Sports Media.
• In-depth knowledge of operational and production processes for television, video, streaming and social broadcasts.
• Experience working with international broadcasters both in locally and globally.
• Experience in managing sports productions, from small domestic events to major international events.
• Experience working on sports rights, including business casing, content development, budgeting, production, licensing and/or acquisition.
• Extensive network across NZ sporting organisations.
• Data fluent.

Responsibilities

• Set the ambition for TVNZ's sport and own the strategy that delivers it, with a clear pathway to growth in audience, engagement and revenue targets.
• Develop and drive the revenue sports partnership strategy, actively seeking opportunities for innovation, growth, and incremental revenue across advertising and paid content.
• Own, interpret and communicate sports audience, revenue and performance data to inform acquisition strategy, business cases, audience targets and commercial outcomes.
• Identify local and international sports events to target for acquisition, and work with Chief News & Content Officer, GM Commercial, News, Content, Revenue and Marketing to acquire, manage and co-ordinate bidding processes.
• Maintain strategic calendar for future sports and events partnerships and acquisitions.
• Set the vision and editorial direction for sport content across live, digital and on-demand platforms, and oversee the broadcast vision for sport and major events, including editorial proposition. production approach, on-air look and feel, talent requirements and technical delivery.
• Lead all TVNZ sport and event productions, including live production, to ensure they are on track financially, editorially and operationally, and meet high standards of quality, storytelling and innovation.
• Work with the Commercial team and other key stakeholders to drive business casing, board and executive reporting, along with PIRs for all Sport and Events.
• Support commercialisation of all sports and events, partnering with commercial and sponsorship teams to integrate brands into content in ways that are natural, additive and effective.
• Break convention with new formats, production techniques and platform‑native content, and drive multi‑platform storytelling and faster content cycles.
• Pioneer new ways to fund and sustain sport content.

Skills

Audience engagement

Sports media

Production processes

Broadcast partnerships

Data fluency

Education

Broadcasting or journalism qualification

Business or sport management qualification

Job description

Base Salary plus mobile/broadband allowance

Sport is where New Zealand comes together, and it is a core pillar of TVNZ's Audience Strategy. We're looking for a visionary leader who wants to take As General Manager Sport you will have the platform and the mandate to reinvent how Kiwis watch, feel and share sport, across live, digital and on-demand.

You will lead a talented team, shape the content, live production, rights and partnerships that put TVNZ in the biggest moments, and be accountable for results you can point to: bigger audiences, stronger revenue and a sport offering that fans talk about. We want you to build, grow, innovate and succeed.

The opportunity - Te tūranga

In this senior leadership reporting to Chief News & Content Officer, you will be responsible for redefining how New Zealanders experience and watch sport through innovative storytelling and world‑class content that brings fans closer to the action.

You will help shape the future of sport at TVNZ, growing audiences, strengthening partnerships, and creating unforgettable experiences that make TVNZ the home of sport for Kiwi fans.

You will focus will be on;

• Set the ambition for TVNZ's sport and own the strategy that delivers it, with a clear pathway to growth in audience, engagement and revenue targets.
• Develop and drive the revenue sports partnership strategy, actively seeking opportunities for innovation, growth, and incremental revenue across advertising and paid content.
• Own, interpret and communicate sports audience, revenue and performance data to inform acquisition strategy, business cases, audience targets and commercial outcomes.
• Identify local and international sports events to target for acquisition, and work with Chief News & Content Officer, GM Commercial, News, Content, Revenue and Marketing to acquire, manage and co-ordinate bidding processes.
• Maintain strategic calendar for future sports and events partnerships and acquisitions.
• Set the vision and editorial direction for sport content across live, digital and on-demand platforms, and oversee the broadcast vision for sport and major events, including editorial proposition. production approach, on-air look and feel, talent requirements and technical delivery.
• Lead all TVNZ sport and event productions, including live production, to ensure they are on track financially, editorially and operationally, and meet high standards of quality, storytelling and innovation.
• Work with the Commercial team and other key stakeholders to drive business casing, board and executive reporting, along with PIRs for all Sport and Events.
• Support commercialisation of all sports and events, partnering with commercial and sponsorship teams to integrate brands into content in ways that are natural, additive and effective.
• Break convention with new formats, production techniques and platform‑native content, and drive multi‑platform storytelling and faster content cycles.
• Pioneer new ways to fund and sustain sport content.

This is a newly created permanent leadership position, established to drive strategic priorities and provide impactful leadership in a key area of TVNZ.

What we're looking for - Tā mātou e kimi nei

To be successful, we are looking for

• Broadcasting or journalism qualification and/or
• Relevant business or sport management qualification.
• Wealth of knowledge of audience and fan engagement.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in Sports Media.
• In‑depth knowledge of operational and production processes for television, video, streaming and social broadcasts.
• Experience working with international broadcasters both in locally and globally.
• Experience in managing sports productions, from small domestic events to major international events.
• Experience working on sports rights, including business casing, content development, budgeting, production, licensing and/or acquisition.
• Extensive network across NZ sporting organisations.
• Data fluent.

Personal Attributes:

• A sport fanatic.
• A growth mindset and positive attitude.
• Driven, focused and a desire to win.
• A restless innovator who challenges the way things have always been done.
• Strong interpersonal skills across a broad range of levels, cultures and skill areas.
• Demonstrates high levels of integrity and honesty.
• Thrives under pressure and stays composed when live sport doesn't go to plan.
• Proactive, shows initiative.
• Sharp judgement and the confidence to make bold calls.
• A great leader who fosters innovation, creativity and experimentation.

If you would like to find out more about this amazing opportunity, please feel free to call our Head of Talent Acquisition, Philly Irvine mobile 02 691, she loves to chat about TVNZ careers and sport!!

TVNZ is a New Zealand public broadcast service.

Our Māori name is Te Reo Tātaki, which translates to ‘the leading voice’.

We love all things video content… We love watching it, we love talking about it, and most of all we love continuing our proud history of making it and putting it out there for New Zealanders to enjoy.

We’re always looking for new ways to connect with viewers - through platforms like our youth focused alternative news voice Re:, and leading edge technology like our augmented reality studio graphics. Our willingness to innovate brings a real sense of energy, excitement, and fun to what we do.

We’re driven by a few simple words ... Inspiring the conversations of Aotearoa - Kia whakaihiihi i ngā kōrero o Aotearoa.

Our Māori name is Te Reo Tātaki, which translates to ‘the leading voice’.

We love all things video content… We love watching it, we love talking about it, and most of all we love continuing our proud history of making it and putting it out there for New Zealanders to enjoy.

We’re always looking for new ways to connect with viewers - through platforms like our youth focused alternative news voice Re:, and leading edge technology like our augmented reality studio graphics. Our willingness to innovate brings a real sense of energy, excitement, and fun to what we do.

We’re driven by a few simple words ... Inspiring the conversations of Aotearoa - Kia whakaihiihi i ngā kōrero o Aotearoa.