Talent Lead, Local Media

WORK OPTION:
The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week._________________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 allocationS erve 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 preferred1 0 + 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…