About the Role
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Position Summary
At the NBA, we’re passionate about growing and celebrating the game of basketball. Through the intensity of the game and the amazing athletic skill of our players, we deliver excitement to hundreds of millions of fans around the world. As a global sports and media business, the NBA is so much more.
The Talent Lead will oversee the talent vertical within the Local Media organization, responsible for developing and executing the strategy for on-air talent across local game broadcasts, studio programming, and emerging digital formats. This role will lead the identification, development, management, and integration of announcers, analysts, and creator-driven talent to deliver a differentiated and locally relevant fan experience.
The Talent Lead will partner closely with Production, Content, Broadcast Integration, and Marketing teams to ensure talent is effectively deployed, strategically aligned, and integrated into evolving production formats across all platforms.
Major Responsibilities
Lead the overall talent strategy for Local Media, including announcers, analysts, and creator/influencer talent across all network programming
Oversee talent identification, evaluation, and selection to ensure alignment with local market needs and broader NBA brand objectives
Lead and manage a team responsible for talent strategy, talent operations, and day-to-day coordination, including setting priorities, providing guidance, and supporting performance and development
Manage talent relationships, including onboarding, development, performance feedback, and ongoing engagement
Partner with Talent Production Lead and Game Production Leads to integrate talent seamlessly into live game, studio, and digital productions
Collaborate with Content Planning Lead to expand and operationalize non-traditional and creator-led talent formats
Develop scalable talent models that support centralized and local production across multiple markets
Ensure consistency in talent quality, preparation, and presentation across all productions
Create a culture of consistent coaching and feedback across talent and the full content team
Partner cross-functionally with Programming, Marketing, Partnerships, and Social/Digital Content teams to align talent deployment with content strategy and audience engagement goals
Provide strategic input into new formats, including alternate broadcasts, digital-first productions, and multilingual programming
Monitor industry trends in sports media, talent, and creator ecosystems and recommend innovations to enhance fan experience
Oversee talent-related budgets, contracts coordination (in partnership with Legal/Business Affairs), and resource allocation
Serve as a senior leader within the Local Media organization, contributing to overall production and content strategy
Required Education/Professional Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Media, Communications, Business, or a related field preferred
10+ years of experience in sports media, broadcast production, talent management, or related fields
Demonstrated experience managing or leading talent strategies at a network, league, or large-scale media organization
Experience working with both traditional broadcast talent and emerging creator/influencer talent preferred
Significant experience negotiating talent agreements and pricing
Prior experience leading teams and managing complex, multi-market operations
Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes
Deep expertise in sports broadcasting, talent management, and live production environments
Strong understanding of evolving media landscape, including digital, streaming, and creator-driven content
Proven ability to lead talent strategy and manage high-profile on-air personalities
Strong editorial judgment and understanding of storytelling and audience engagement
Experience working cross-functionally across production, content, marketing, and partnerships teams
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume, and matrixed organization
Established history of creating a culture of consistent feedback and coaching across all levels
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Salary Range:
$185,000 - $200,000
Job Posting Title:
Senior DirectorEmployees 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.
