Innovation Lead Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Position Summary:

The Broadcast Technology Innovation Manager, Local Media supports the development and implementation of innovative broadcast technologies, production workflows, and localized broadcast experiences across NBA and WNBA Local Media. Reporting to the Broadcast Event & Innovation Lead, this role helps translate broader broadcast strategy and innovation priorities into scalable capabilities tailored to the needs of local productions, markets, and audiences.

The Manager will work shoulder-to-shoulder with GPM Broadcast Strategy on major broadcast initiatives, emerging technologies, and new production concepts, serving as a key connection between broader GPM innovation efforts and Local Media. This individual will assess how new capabilities can be adapted and applied within the Local Media ecosystem and help develop differentiated, localized broadcast offerings that enhance the fan experience while maintaining operational scalability.

The Manager will also serve as a forward-looking innovation resource for the team, continuously researching developments across broadcast technology, live sports production, content creation, and fan engagement. Working closely with the Broadcast Event & Innovation Lead, Technical Director, Broadcast Engineering, Production Operations, Content Production Lead, Content Planning Lead, and broader GPM Media Operations & Technology organization, this individual will help move promising concepts from research and ideation through pilots, implementation, and operational adoption.

Major Responsibilities:

• Partner closely with GPM Broadcast Strategy on major broadcast innovation initiatives, helping translate broader strategies, technologies, and production concepts into applications tailored to NBA and WNBA Local Media.
• Identify opportunities to use technology and production innovation to create more localized and differentiated game broadcasts that reflect the needs, audiences, and opportunities of individual markets.
• Develop concepts and use cases for localized broadcast offerings, exploring how graphics, data, automation, alternate feeds, production tools, content integrations, and emerging technologies can enhance the local fan experience.
• Partner with the Broadcast Event & Innovation Lead to develop and evolve the Local Media production innovation roadmap, identifying opportunities, priorities, dependencies, and areas for further exploration.
• Collaborate with Local Media production and content stakeholders to understand market-specific needs and identify scalable solutions that balance localization with operational and financial efficiency.
• Help evaluate how broader NBA broadcast capabilities and innovations can be adapted, scaled, or differentiated for Local Media productions.
• Work with Broadcast Event & Innovation Lead to establish, track, monitor and report on KPIs for Event & Innovation initiatives.

Emerging Technology & Future Innovation

• Research and evaluate emerging broadcast technologies, production models, content formats, and industry trends that could shape the future of NBA and WNBA Local Media productions.
• Serve as an innovation resource for the team, maintaining visibility into developments across sports, media, technology, and adjacent industries and identifying relevant applications for Local Media.
• Explore emerging capabilities including AI-enabled production, automation, cloud and remote production, virtual production, advanced graphics, data-driven storytelling, personalization, immersive experiences, and other evolving technologies.
• Develop technology briefings, innovation assessments, competitive analyses, recommendations, and use cases that translate emerging developments into actionable opportunities for Local Media.
• Build relationships across GPM and with technology vendors, startups, strategic partners, and other industry participants to maintain awareness of emerging capabilities and potential innovation opportunities.
• Monitor innovation across sports broadcasters and media organizations to identify best practices, new approaches, and opportunities to differentiate NBA and WNBA Local Media broadcasts.

Innovation Development & Implementation

• Lead implementation of priority broadcast innovation initiatives, translating strategic concepts into defined use cases, workflows, pilots, and scalable operational capabilities.
• Partner with the Broadcast Event & Innovation Technical Director and Broadcast Engineering teams to evaluate technical feasibility and translate innovation concepts into production-ready solutions.
• Develop project plans, requirements, success criteria, timelines, and stakeholder alignment necessary to advance initiatives from concept through testing and implementation.
• Coordinate proofs of concept, demonstrations, pilots, and live production trials to assess the creative, operational, technical, and fan value of new technologies and workflows.
• Evaluate pilot results and develop recommendations regarding scalability, operational impact, localization opportunities, cost, fan value, and potential next steps.
• Partner with Production Operations and other stakeholders to integrate successful innovations into live event and studio workflows and support adoption across Local Media.
• Track innovation initiatives, industry developments, pilots, risks, and outcomes and provide clear, recurring updates and recommendations to the Broadcast Event & Innovation Lead and broader team.
• Serve as a connector across Broadcast Strategy, Local Media, Production Operations, Broadcast Engineering, Content, and GPM Media Operations & Technology to move innovative concepts from strategic vision to practical application.

Required Education / Professional Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Media, Broadcast Production, Technology, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in broadcast production, production technology, media operations, live sports production, broadcast strategy, innovation, or a related field.
• Experience researching, evaluating, piloting, and/or implementing new broadcast technologies and production workflows.
• Experience developing new production concepts, broadcast experiences, or technology-enabled content offerings.
• Experience supporting complex cross-functional initiatives from concept development through implementation.
• Experience working across production, technology, engineering, content, strategy, or other media functions.
• Experience working with broadcast technology vendors and external partners preferred.
• Live sports production or sports media experience strongly preferred.

Required Skills / Knowledge Attributes:

• Strong understanding of live sports production, broadcast workflows, and the evolving media technology landscape.
• Demonstrated curiosity and passion for emerging technology, production innovation, and the future of sports media.
• Ability to think creatively about how technology can enable differentiated, localized, and more engaging broadcast experiences.
• Knowledge of emerging production capabilities such as cloud and remote production, AI and automation, virtual production, advanced graphics, data integration, personalization, and immersive technologies.
• Ability to connect broader broadcast strategies and emerging technologies to practical Local Media use cases and scalable production solutions.
• Strong research and analytical skills with the ability to synthesize industry developments and complex information into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to move innovative concepts from ideation through evaluation, pilots, and implementation.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively communicate ideas and recommendations to creative, strategic, technical, operational, and leadership audiences.
• Strong cross-functional relationship skills and the ability to operate as an effective partner across highly collaborative and matrixed organizations.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, challenging conventional approaches, experimenting with new ideas, and balancing forward-looking thinking with practical implementation considerations.

Salary Range:

$95,000 - $120,000

Job Posting Title:

Employees currently are eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus, awarded at the sole discretion of the Company and subject to any terms and conditions set by the Company. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company-sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; dental; vision; life/AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; fertility and family-forming assistance; wellbeing allowance; educational assistance; mental health coaching/therapy; tax advantaged accounts such as HSA and healthcare/dependent care FSAs; a 401(k) retirement plan; and time off benefits that include vacation, sick time, and personal days.

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA's own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA's global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.