Coordinating Studio Director

Job Description

Who We Are:

At IMG, our Studios business use content and technology to power the world's passion for sport, working with global clients including The Premier League, The R&A, DP World Tour, Euroleague Basketball and Major League Soccer. We've built Europe's best-connected broadcast centre at Stockley Park, London, distributing 35,000 hours of content globally and creating some of the world's best sporting coverage. Our facilities include four broadcast studios, fifty edit suites and a multitude of radio, podcast, dubbing and VFX facilities, with specialisms in remote production and carbon reduction thanks to our Green to Screen initiative. Whether it's live coverage, archive, highlights, social media, branded content or feature films, we give the audience a front row seat to the best sport in the world.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title

Coordinating Studio Director

Department

MLS Production Department (IMG Studios)

Main Purpose of Job

To set a creative direction for the look and feel of MLS studio shows in English and Spanish languages on Apple TV, and direct some of the most entertaining shows in the game. To help set a standard of studio production which will ensure it is of the highest quality and consistent for informed global audiences, whilst also ensuring IMG is providing quality and value to football clients and partners. To lead the visual direction, improvement and feedback for all MLS studio directing to achieve creative, departmental, and business objectives for both the short and long-term – whilst always ensuring client focus.

Reports To

SVP, Director of Content

Direct Reports

Freelance pool

Indirect Reports

N/A

Hours of Work

40 hours per week

Contract Type / Length

Permanent/Staff

Location

Stamford, Connecticut

USA

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: Role may include but not prohibited to the following.
• Set the direction for the look and feel of the MLS studio programmes across both English and Spanish language.
• Direct shows each week in one of the studios.
• Be a leading voice in the visual evolution of the programmes, working with virtual set vendors and production crew to ensure the shows are always moving forward creatively.
• Work with show producers to ensure each programme is entertaining, informative and able to attract viewers from core MLS fans to casual viewers.
• Set the IMG studio style guide for all shows.
• Provide detailed direction for studio directors, and clear instruction on how they implement the IMG style guide.
• Work with directors on areas of improvement to ensure they operate at the standard expected.
• Run regular feedback and check-in sessions with directors – either individually or collectively – to ensure all are supported by the management team.
• Introduce new ideas and outside thinking to the studio teams, ensuring they are kept up to date with global trends and opportunities to ensure MLS programming is at the forefront of sports broadcast entertainment.
• Work with the Production Management team to roster freelance studio staff with the standard of the product in mind.
• Set weekly meetings that enable improvement to be made incrementally across the season.
• Work with the Senior Coordinating Producer and Coordinating Studio Producer to ensure consistency of standards and quality between the studio teams, to ensure coverage of MLS forms one picture for the audience.
• Work with on-air talent to ensure they are provided with a high level of support editorially.
• To form an integral part of Senior Production team within the MLS Production Department – particularly the Director of Content, Senior Production Manager, Coordinating Match Director and colleagues across English and Spanish match and studio production.
• Work collaboratively with other Senior Production staff to oversee all staffing requirements/issues within the team.
• To work closely with the Production Management team to ensure strong financial, business and personnel management on each project – always staying within budget.
• Ensuring studio directors are regularly appraised and training needs are facilitated in order to respond to changes in editorial and technical workflows.
• Responsible for new production innovation/enhancement development and improvements.
• Ensure that IMG attracts, recruits and retains the best talent to deliver world class content.
• Ensure that IMG is at the forefront of diversity & inclusion at all times.
• Ensure that IMG is at the forefront of sustainability at all times.

You may also be required to carry out any other duties which are within the scope and purpose of the job.

Unusual Challenges or Circumstances e.g., shift(s)/ unsocial hours/ travel etc
• Required to respond to the needs and feedback of MLS
• Responding to feedback from Director of Content and other members of Senior Management.
• Weekend Work and long shifts

Key Results Areas
• Studio programmes directed to the highest standard
• Organization, planning and time management.
• Effectively lead the team to create original ideas and produce compelling content
• Demonstrable creativity and capability of constantly rejuvenating studio coverage

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Mandatory
• Minimum 7 years' experience as a Studio Director working across sports programmes – most notably soccer domestically and/or internationally.
• Experience with virtual studio environments.
• Experience of managing people.
• Previous experience of dealing with and managing high profile clients/talent, third parties, key stakeholders and leading broadcasters
• Strong and extensive knowledge of soccer globally.
• Proven experience of communicating with large production teams of various levels
• Previous experience of leading and motivating production teams to achieve departmental, business and creative objectives.
• Proven history of performance/appraisal management with the ability to offer training solutions
• Relevant and up-to-date production technical (including digital production) workflow analysis
• Understanding of employment law, contract and copyright, conditions of service, equal opportunities, corporate social responsibility, ethical position on doing business and health and safety at work

Desirable
• Previous experience setting up and working on international television events

Skills and Abilities

Mandatory
• Clear & concise communication skills.
• Calm unflappable manner during live broadcast.
• Excellent presentation and communications skills with the ability to build good working relationships. with third parties, event promoters and main TV clients.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - ability to engage with and persuade key stakeholders to achieve creative objectives.
• Ability to recognise potential and facilitate training and development.

Desirable
• N/A

Aptitudes

Mandatory
• Passion for soccer/football.
• Creatively minded.
• Team-focussed.
• Strong management and organisational skills with the ability to lead, motivate and delegate.
• Proven problem-solving skills.
• Excellent administrative, organisational and communication skills - accurate imparting and communication of information.
• Excellent time management - reliable and punctual and proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - when to deploy tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Adaptable - a flexibl

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g4bp67-35-215-180-183-42 in your application.