Director, Broadcast Schedule Operations

Director, Broadcast Schedule Operations role holds the responsibility within Global Media Technology & Operations to continuously support the effective fault-free delivery of Discovery’s linear broadcast services, leading and managing the Broadcast Schedule Operations Team of 25+ FTE’s, responsible for 50+ feeds across WBD’s Free to Air & Pay TV, Entertainment, Factual and Sport Channels in the Asia Pacific Region.

Working closely with the VP Network Origination Services, this role works to ensure scheduling responsibilities, short term and long-term including Live Sport for all brands, are developed and maintained to provide the business with strong, accurate, compliant and commercially optimized playlists.

In addition to the responsibility to support daily broadcast operations, the role interacts with all APAC regions and teams on business development, new channel launches, broadcast graphics and automated continuity, operations optimization and training of multiple teams interacting with Broadcast Schedule Operations and sharing common tools/systems.

This position will work to ensure that the scheduling activities, marketing and Ad:Sales Optimization plans for all channels are developed and maintained to provide the business with strong, commercially successful brands.

The BSO team is responsible for optimizing every second of air-time across the WBD APAC, portfolio of channels through the most effective use of strategic scheduling techniques, tools and a clear understanding of the commercial imperatives of the business.

The Director of Broadcast Schedule Operations is responsible for ensuring the development of the Hyderabad BSO Team, shaping and developing schedule strategy across acquired, Factual & Entertainment, Original and Sports content for the Asia Pacific Region and ensuring all contractual obligations and targets are adhered to and met.

The Director demonstrates ongoing leadership and accountability for the standard operating model, proactively recommending and initiating change initiatives to continuously improve the customer experience and maximize return on investment, driving WBD shareholder value in a proactive and optimistic manner with a particular emphasis on positive customer relationships, demonstrating a “can-do” attitude.

The role is based out of Hyderabad and closely partners with the following teams’ key stakeholders in Asia Pacific Region: Content Team, Ad Sales, Comm Ops, Media Planning, Media Logistics/Languaging, Technical Ops, Content and Sales Systems, Creative Services, Finance, Business and Legal Affairs.

Warner Bros. Discovery Asia Pacific focuses on factual, lifestyle and sports genres in the Free to Air and pay TV segment. Its market clusters cover South Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Greater China and ANP (Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands).

Key responsibilities

• Working in a critical leadership role, as a senior member of the MT&O management team, taking part in strategic planning and ensuring annual departmental goals are met.

• Manage, Lead and develop a team of 25+. Ensuring a culture of inclusion, diversity, fairness and opportunity.

• Leading the Broadcast Schedule Operations Team in developing and implementing strategies which maximize performance and meet business targets

• Ensure Broadcast Schedule Operations Team produce technically ready and error free playlists in an accurate, timely and efficient manner to support a smooth transmission of APAC Pay and FTA channels

• Management of department performance metrics: determine KPIs and performance monitoring. Continuously monitor, assess and update operational workflows intra- and inter- department, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure continued relevance, regulatory compliance and optimal efficiencies

• Planning and coordination of efforts with Content and Sales Systems teams on new releases, system setup, regression testing, feeds configuration

• Coordinate BSO team interaction with Sterling and New Zealand Broadcast Operations teams, as well as local partners (Astro, CJ Powercast, Globecast), on program changes, LIVE broadcast, breaking news, broadcast schedule errors and missing materials to ensure readiness of transmission

• Set out the Strategy and department goals. Ensuring that they accurately reflect the overall strategy and priorities of key stakeholders at any point in time.

• Manage budget and staffing requirements, effectively managing fluxes in resources and technology requirements.

• Lead and coordinate integration, optimization and technology transformation projects, new brands, new channel launches, and Fast Channel Launches in close partnership with key APAC stakeholders such as Affiliate and Ad Sales, Marketing and Content teams

• Support of global projects, and transformation initiatives across Broadcast Management and Ad Sales Systems

• Building and maintaining of cross-functional partnership within APAC with Ad Sales, Comm Ops, Media Planning, Media logistic/Language, Technical Ops, Programming, Creative Services, Finance, Business and Legal Affairs to ensure quick response to changing business needs

• Collaborate with Programme and Sport production teams to plan and execute on content strategies for our Sport and Entertainment offerings, Delivering maximised revenue opportunities across platforms and markets in compliance with regulatory bodies.

• Collaborate with the sales, Marketing, Programming and Sport Production teams to identify new methods to maximise revenue, viewer experience and strengthen WBD’s brand.

• Successfully manage the relationship between the department and the wider business globally.

• Seek system, process and workflow improvements by analysing processes and workflows and restructure if needed.

• Represent the department in global initiatives and projects, lead projects with focus on successful delivery on time and within budget.

• Mentor and coach direct reports.

• Inspire and guide new ideas to optimise daily operations and work productivity. Assess, design and implement operational models and business processes to support APAC channels played out centrally and locally

• Assess, guide and efficiently manage human resources within the team to deliver BAU goals and respond to time-sensitive business needs

• Inspire, motivate and create environment for the BSO team to increase expertise and broaden skillset

Requirements

• 
  Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration / Media Studies / Organisation Management

• Minimum of 12 years experience in Broadcast Media Operations

• At least 5 years experience to manage large multi-location teams exceeding 20 employees to motivate and deliver exceptional results

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously

• Excellent analytical, communications, project and time management skills

• Excellent computer literacy, especially with spreadsheets and presentation software

• Ability to manage highly stressful work situations and very tight timelines with ease and composure

• Flexible, self-motivating and efficient

• Proactive, reactive, and solutions-oriented leader with a constant focus on service-level and technology improvements

• Positive attitude and the ability to be proactive, resourceful and flexible