Manager, Production Engineering

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Versant Media is looking for a talented individual to become the Manager of Production Technology Support for Versant Media Operations and Technology (O&T), based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and New York, NY. Versant O&T supports Enterprise Technology, Broadcast, and Production systems across Versant Media globally. The Manager of Production Technology Support balances day-to-day operations, such as management of a dynamic team, providing best-in-class live television production support for Versant, with forward-looking planning and execution around live television production technology strategy, process methodology, architecture, and collaboration with cross-functional business teams and partners. This position will have direct management of the New Jersey and New York-based teams supporting live television production control rooms, studios, and related equipment for all Versant Properties.

Responsibilities;

• Team Leadership Build and maintain a strong support engineering team.
• Maintain team schedules that allow for optimal facility and production coverage including meeting project deadlines and major events.
• Maintain group documentation including but not limited to task tracking, reoccurring maintenance schedules, and upcoming event calendars.
• Maintain reoccurring training and knowledge share resources keeping the team up to date Provide regular employee feedback and performance reviews.
• Develop partnerships across Versant Engineering teams with cross-facility support and engagement.
• Maintain clear communication with leadership on all issues and task the engineering team is actively working on. 
• Maintain inventory supply levels to prevent team slowdowns that lead to on-air impacts,must have previous experience with inventory management using a database/automation to track supply levels.
• Develop and maintain standard disaster recovery procedures and drills across various situations.
• Television Production Technology Support and Maintenance
• Assume responsibility for the technical performance of Studios, Control Rooms and associated systems for the Midtown Manhattan office.
• Provide around-the-clock technical support and maintain a complex broadcast production environment consisting of multiple studios and production control rooms.
• Track and resolve on/off air reliability tickets as well as communicate with leadership on the status.
• Consistently track and maintain JIRA support instance.
• Monitor and oversee operational readiness of current facilities, maintaining in-depth understanding of all relevant technical systems.
• Coordinate the activities of teams involved in the maintenance, support, deployment, and configuration of broadcast equipment. Attend project meetings to ensure the support teams are engaged and proper resources are assigned to the project life cycle.

• Bachelor’s degree in Film Production, Broadcasting, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related fields, or equivalent work experience. Knowledge of SMPTE 2110 standards.
• 5+ years of recent experience supporting live, television production environments.
• 2+ years of management or supervisory experience, including providing performance feedback.
• Experience with Evertz products, including control systems such as Magnum, EXE Routers, SDVN, VUE, VIP, and more.
• Experience with SONY Production Switchers, Studio Cameras, and other Studio systems.
• Experience with audio systems: Calrec, LAWO, Pro Tools, RTS/Bosch/ClearCom Intercoms, ENCO.
• Experience with VizRT, Ross, and Chyron.
• Experience with Front of House, audience Public Address, and Actors’ Call systems.
• Experience with Transmission, Fiber, and Encode/Decode Distribution and Transport Systems. Experience with Cloud and VM-based applications and platforms.
• Must be willing to work evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays with little or/no notice, depending on production schedules; must be available at all times for team work escalations.

Additional Requirements: Onsite: This position has been designated as onsite, meaning that the position is expected to contribute from a Versant worksite.

Desired Characteristics

• Collaboration & Communication Deliver professional customer service with strong organization and documentation.
• Collaborate closely with clients and peers across O&T. Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Leadership Provide clear, adaptable direction and lead confidently through change. Foster a supportive, resilient team culture. Maintain composure under pressure and promote teamwork.
• Technical Expertise Deep knowledge of broadcast technologies, production environments, and IP workflows.
• Advanced proficiency in Jira Service Management, including feature creation and daily operations. Committed to evolving with industry trends and maintaining high-performance systems.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Salary range: $120,000 - $150,000 (bonus eligible) We are accepting applications for this position on an ongoing basis.

What we’ll offer: At CNBC Headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, you’ll have access to great perks and amenities:

• Sweat it out -- Free onsite fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, plus daily group classes
• Eat up -- Gourmet cafeteria with daily specials plus soup and salad bars
• Extras -- Dry cleaning, and sneak peeks Don’t have a car? No problem! We offer free shuttle transportation to and from multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken and Jersey City

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.