Business Operations Manager: Office of GE:VE at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

MAIN PURPOSE OF POSITION

• The Business Operations Manager – Video Entertainment provides  strategic and operational support to the Group Executive Video Entertainment, with a specific focus on television production operations, commissioning support , content delivery and broadcast readiness. This role serves as a central strategic and performance management function, ensuring that commissioned productions, in-house productions and acquired content are delivered on time, within budget and in line with audience, editorial and public broadcasting mandates. The incumbent supports executive decision-making through data driven analysis, governance coordination and integrated reporting across production , scheduling, finance and operational functions

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COMMISSIONING SUPPORT 

• Support the Group Executive in executing strategic priorities and operational plans.
• Coordinate and track divisional projects, business reviews, and transformation initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level reports, dashboards, presentations, and briefing documents.
• Monitor operational performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Participate in the development of business cases for new productions, seasons, renewals, and co-productions.
• Support genre planning and production pipeline tracking across drama, factual, entertainment, and children’s programming. Conduct industry, audience, and competitive analysis relevant to public broadcasting and local content mandates.
• Translate strategic objectives into measurable divisional targets and track progress using dashboards and scorecards.

EXECUTIVE, PRODUCTION AND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT

• Provide operational and analytical support to the Group Executive on production performance, commissioning status, and content delivery risks.
• Prepare executive briefings, presentations, and reports for EXCO, Board Sub-Committee, and internal governance structures.
• Coordinate and track governance submissions related to production approvals, budget variances, and contractual escalations.
• Ensure accurate tracking of executive decisions and follow through on action items.

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Leverage advanced Excel and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to develop dashboards and analytical reports covering:
• Production delivery milestones
• Budget vs actual spend per production
• Content output and scheduling readiness
• Audience performance indicators
• Provide analytical insights to support commissioning, renewal, and scheduling decisions. 
• Track KPIs, operational metrics, and business performance across video entertainment functions.
• Analyse operational and financial data to support executive decision-making.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual business review processes.
• Ensure alignment between departmental objectives and broader organizational strategy.
• Ensure reporting alignment with PFMA, Treasury, and internal SABC governance requirements, where applicable.

PROJECT & PRODUCTION COORDINATION 

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional strategic and operational projects related to:
• TV production cycles
• New content launches and seasons
• Special broadcasts and flagship programmes
•  Track production schedules, dependencies, and delivery risks in collaboration with production and technical teams.
• Escalate risks impacting on-air readiness and transmission timelines.
• Support post-production coordination and content delivery handovers where required

STAKEHOLDER & INDUSTRY LIAISON 

• Act as a coordination point between:
• Various units with Video Entertainment
• VE and independent producers
• Finance, Legal, HR, and Technical Operations
• Prepare documentation for board and board sub-committee meetings relating to Video Entertainment.
• Facilitate collaboration to ensure seamless execution of production and commissioning processes.
• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders to gather information and foster collaboration on strategic initiatives.
• Represent the Group Executive’s office in production planning and operational forums as delegated.

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, COST CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE

• Identify and implement improvements in production administration, reporting, and workflow efficiency.
• Support the Group Executive with budget monitoring, and financial oversight across all Video Entertainment productions.
• Ensure compliance with editorial policies, commissioning frameworks, and corporate governance requirements.
• Track and report on key divisional KPIs related to production output and efficiency.
• Track and report on key divisional KPIs related to production output and efficiency

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in film and television production / Broadcast
• Management/ Business Management
• A Postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a business management, strategy, or operational role, preferably within a broadcast, media or content environment.
• Proven experience supporting senior executives.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Media & Production Acumen: Understanding of TV production workflows and commissioning cycles.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to interpret production and audience data to inform decisions.
• Data & Reporting Capability: Advanced Excel, experience with Power BI or similar tools
• advantageous.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and quantitative skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making
• Project Coordination and Management: Experience with project management methodologies and tools. Ability to manage multiple production-related deliverables concurrently. PMP certification is a plus.

Deadline:23rd July,2026