Assistant Director, Production Management & Operations

PBS NewsHour; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

Medical, dental, vision insurance

PBS Retirement Plan 403(b)

Paid time off

Paid sick time

Paid parental leave

Paid holidays

Job summary

PBS NewsHour is seeking an Assistant Director, Production Management & Operations (PMO) to join the team in Arlington, VA. This hybrid, full-time role supports cross-functional production logistics, budgeting, and vendor coordination, reporting to the Director, Programming Operations & Strategy.

The PMO role provides exposure to development, contracting, and oversight of production and production finance, influencing the national slate.

Qualifications

• Experience with production logistics, scheduling, and payroll practices.
• Strong data analysis and reporting abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in a collaborative environment.
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information and maintain discretion.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external partners to manage production logistics and schedules.
• Track production budgets, cash flows, and financial health across projects.
• Generate reports and dashboards to support leadership decisions and KPI tracking.
• Assist with contract timelines, vendor management, and payment workflows.
• Collaborate with PMO Directors and cross-functional teams to ensure smooth production delivery.

Skills

Production logistics

Data analysis

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

BS/BA in Film/TV/Digital Production

Tools

Microsoft 365

Excel

Monday.com

Job description

## Assistant Director, Production Management & OperationsApply: Hybrid: Arlington, VA: Full time: Posted 4 Days Ago: JR1000331**Position Title:**Assistant Director, Production Management & Operations**Department:**Production Management & Operations**Corporate Area:**PBS Programming**Status:**Regular, Full time Exempt**Manager Title:**Director, Programming Operations & Strategy**Position Overview:**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: Functions as an organizational linchpin with a broad reach across business units, including PBS and PBS KIDS Programming, Digital Studios, Digital, Marketing, Communications, Programming Engagement, Learning Media, Distribution, Business Affairs & Legal, and Finance. Externally, the group interfaces with key funding partner organizations, including the PBS Foundation, PBS producing stations, and independent producers and their financiers. 2. Production Management: Partners with in-house content teams, PBS stations, and the domestic and international production community. The group oversees production logistics and PBS’s financial investments for all content in active negotiation, development, production, delivery, and project reconciliation. Role Summary 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. This role sits at the center of how PBS content gets made and feeds directly into how audiences connect with it. It offers end-to-end exposure to development, contracting, and oversight of production and production finance, alongside cross-departmental operational strategy. Department Assistant Directors partner closely on the decisions that progress the national slate, building the judgment, a network, and a track record that fuels growth within PMO, across PBS, and into the public media system. The Assistant Director drives effective, 360-degree communication and relationship-building — partnering with the department’s Directors to keep information flowing to all stakeholders, while supporting the Vice President, Production Management & Business Operations. This is a self-starter role that requires the ability to prioritize multiple concurrent assignments in a dynamic environment while consulting and aligning efforts with management.**Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:****Operations*** Assists to ensure producer proposals align with department expectations and effectively represent value. Assists the Directors of PMO in determining project scope across internal business units.* Consults and collaborates with partner organizations, working through requirements and managing relationships effectively.* Partners to move assigned projects through cross-department meetings and systems toward contracting; consults with internal constituents to tailor project requirements.* Supports workflow assessments to identify business needs, opportunities to improve efficiency, and reduce bottlenecks and points of friction. Assists with the implementation of process improvements.* Develops and maintains reports, dashboards, and presentations to support leadership decision-making. Tracks, analyzes, and communicates progress against key performance indicators (KPIs).* Partners with Technology and Operations teams to support the evaluation, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of operational tools and workflows.* Supports the implementation, coordination, and ongoing maintenance and operational initiatives, ensuring timely execution and follow-through.**Contracting*** Supports PMO Directors in consulting with appropriate business units on timelines for contract renewals.* Assists with analysis of producer assumptions, production budgets, funding plans, staffing and production schedules, and cash flows.* Creates payment schedules and content deliverable documents in line with agreed editorial proposals.* Identifies, tracks, and communicates all funder sources.* Assists with formal contract adjustments and production breakages/overages.* Consults with internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate technical delivery for contracting of all project materials.* Prepares and finalizes negotiated, internally approved exhibits for contract and manages new vendor initiation.* Manages a slate of production R&D titles and content to be licensed, as assigned.**Production*** In collaboration with Programming, organizes project kickoff and status meetings with internal and external partners.* Tracks production logistics, schedules, and project financial health across commissions, co-productions, and licensed deals — engaging from development through delivery and acceptance, and 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, generates reports, and coordinates funder requirements between producers and multiple PBS departments; records all activity in PBS systems.* Consults across PBS on satisfaction of editorial milestones, and related items, elevating to managers as necessary; manages producer materials delivered directly to the department.* Owns and initiates payment authorizations up to the Vice President, shepherding approval documentation and supporting materials.* Implements “Payment Ahead of Milestone” and “Out of Cycle” payment requests, as requested by management.* Oversees budget compliance and production cash flow requirements via producer financial reporting; assists with reconciliation of final financial reporting against contract terms and captures revenue disbursement calculations for compliant project closeout.**Systems, Processes & Special Assignments*** Assists with development and maintenance of PMO’s third-party vendor relationships, as applicable, ensuring availability to producers via the PBS Producer’s Handbook; manages deal processing within internal systems.* Supports specialty assignments, including collaborating with Finance on historical analysis of production expenditure and strategic cash flow forecasting.* Helps build and maintain funder reporting capacity, including regular data sharing and project-by-project analyses such as quarterly financial and annual carriage reporting.**Requirements for success:*** Minimum 3–4 years of experience as a Production Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, or Junior Production Manager/Unit Manager — or an equivalent tenure in broadcast operations and/or broadcast production management, including direct-to-digital.* BS/BA in Film/TV/Digital Production, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.* Knowledge of and experience with content production logistics, production scheduling, and production payroll practices.* Proficient with Microsoft 365, with high proficiency in Excel; of using AI tools to improve productivity, streamline workflows, and support high-quality work outcomes. Ideal candidate has experience with the project management tool, Monday.com.* Experience with data management, analysis, and reporting; data visualization.* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential.* Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; critical thinker, team player, and problem solver.* Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.* Previous experience working within the public television system or non-profit organization is helpful, but not essential.The base pay range for this position at the beginning of employment is expected to be between $65,000/year to $70,000/year The actual base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will also include other elements for eligible employees, including: (i) eligibility for discretionary bonuses; (ii) various insurance options, including medical, dental, vision, hearing, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance; (iii) identity protection program; (iv) employee assistance program; (v) financial and retirement savings benefits including the PBS Retirement Plan 403(b); (vi) paid time off (17 days per year), paid sick time benefits (12 days per year), paid parental leave (60 days / 12 weeks ), and paid holidays (12 days per year). Details of these benefit plans will be provided upon request. The application window for this position is expected to close on 10/12/2026.