VP, Production Operations

Sinclair Broadcast Group; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 184,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennis Channel in Santa Monica, CA seeks an executive leader to oversee studio and remote production operations for premier live broadcasts worldwide. The Vice President, Production Operations will guide planning, staffing, budgeting, and on-site delivery, partnering with cross-functional teams and external vendors to drive innovation and excellence across platforms.

The role requires a track record in large-scale live sports productions, multi-million-dollar budgets, and strong leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years leading production operations in national networks or major live production.
• Knowledge of evolving technologies in broadcast operations and post-production workflows.
• Strong understanding of REMI models, cloud workflows, IP-based production and new broadcast tech.
• Experience leading large-scale live sports productions and remote broadcasts.
• Proven ability to manage multi-million dollar budgets and complex vendor relationships.
• Ability to lead large cross-functional teams and influence senior executives.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (35–40% per year).

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for studio and remote production operations, ensuring seamless live broadcasts.
• Lead production operations for high-profile events (Grand Slams, domestic tournaments, REMI productions).
• Oversee all physical production, technical operations, logistics, and on-site delivery.
• Direct pre-production planning, staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and event documentation.
• Develop and oversee production budgets; partner with Production Accounting for cost control.
• Negotiate contracts and production services with vendors and facilities.
• Collaborate with Head of Production on vendor selection and strategic initiatives.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders, partners, and broadcasters.
• Lead cross-functional coordination to deliver productions across platforms.
• Evaluate and implement emerging production technologies and workflows.
• Identify operational, contractual, legal, or liability concerns and advise leadership.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing production team.

Skills

Leadership

REMI workflows

Cloud-based workflows

IP-based production

Vendor mgmt

Cross-functional leadership

Budgeting

Talent management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At Tennis Channel, we bring the world's biggest tennis events to fans across every screen. As Vice President, Production Operations, you will lead the planning and execution of our studio and remote production operations, ensuring exceptional live broadcasts from premier events around the globe, including the Grand Slams and other marquee tournaments.

This executive leadership role oversees the technical, operational, financial, and logistical delivery of live productions while leading a high-performing production operations team. Working closely with Production, Engineering, Technical Operations, and external partners, you will drive operational excellence, implement innovative production solutions, and help shape the future of Tennis Channel's live production capabilities.

This role is based in our Santa Monica, CA office.

In this role, you will:

• Provide executive leadership for Tennis Channel's studio and remote production operations, ensuring seamless execution of live broadcasts and special events.
• Lead production operations for high-profile events, including Grand Slams, domestic tournaments, and REMI productions.
• Oversee all aspects of physical production, technical operations, logistics, and event execution from initial planning through final delivery.
• Direct pre-production planning, staffing, budgeting, scheduling, operational planning, event documentation, and on-site production management.
• Develop and oversee production budgets while partnering with Production Accounting to ensure fiscal accountability and cost-effective execution.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and production services with vendors, technical facilities, transmission providers, and other third-party partners.
• Partner with the Head of Production on vendor selection, transmission facilities, and strategic production initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, production partners, broadcasters, and external vendors to ensure successful collaboration.
• Lead cross-functional coordination across Production, Engineering, Technical Operations, Digital, Programming, and other departments to deliver exceptional productions across all platforms.
• Evaluate and implement emerging production technologies and operational workflows that enhance efficiency, scalability, and production quality.
• Identify operational, contractual, legal, or liability concerns and provide recommendations to executive leadership.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of production managers, coordinators, production assistants, staff editors, and freelance production personnel.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the Production Operations organization.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of progressively responsible production operations leadership within a national broadcast network, sports media organization, or major live production environment
• Possess knowledge, participation and experience incorporating new and evolving technologies related to operations into broadcast and post-production workflows
• Strong understanding of REMI production models, cloud-based workflows, IP-based production, and emerging broadcast technologies
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale live sports productions and remote broadcasts
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar production budgets and complex vendor relationships
• Proven ability to lead large cross-functional teams, deal with on-air talent and influence senior executives
• Experience developing operational strategy and driving organizational change
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally. Traveling between the U.S., Europe and Australia to attend as needed Grand Slams & tournaments; total travel time averages a minimum of 3 months (or 35-40%) per year

About Tennis Channel

Tennis Channel is the only multiplatform destination dedicated solely to tennis year-round. Together, the Tennis Channel flagship network, Tennis Channel 2, and the Tennis Channel app (tennischannel.com) deliver the most accessible and concentrated single-sport coverage anywhere. As the exclusive U.S. home of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour, Tennis Channel features live coverage of every Masters 1000 tournament — including Indian Wells, the Miami Open, Madrid, Rome, Cincinnati, and more — alongside live studio programming including its premier series, TC Live. Tennis Channel 2, a free FAST channel available in over 100 million homes, brings fans matches from across the globe at every level of the game. The Tennis Channel app brings it all together in one place, delivering live and on-demand matches, original content, and a personalized multi-view experience for fans, available on mobile and connected TV devices. Owned by Sinclair, Tennis Channel is also a co-owner of PickleballTV (pickleballtv.com), a joint venture with the Professional Pickleball Association.

Sinclair is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Sinclair:

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 177 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair’s AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at www.sbgi.net.

About the Team

The life-blood of our organization is our people. We have a compelling story, a goal-oriented culture, and we take really good care of people. How good? Here is a glimpse: great benefits, open-door policy, upward mobility and a strong desire to see you succeed. Ready to be part of a winning team? Let’s talk.

The base salary compensation range for this role is $184,000 to $205,000. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidates’ relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. Full time positions are eligible for benefits that include participation in a retirement plan, life and disability insurance, health, dental and vision plans,flexible spending accounts, sick leave, vacation time, personal time, parental leave and employee stock purchase plan.

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