Back to search
Overview
At STN Digital, we help the biggest brands in sports and entertainment win on social media. Our work powers global tentpole events, builds fanbases, launches shows, sells products, and shapes culture for partners like Netflix, the NFL, Hulu, Nike, NBA teams, and more.
For over a decade, we’ve been the most trusted social-first agency in the industry. As we continue to grow, our own social presence plays a critical role in how we show up, tell our story, and connect with the brands we want to work with next.
The Production Operations Manager is responsible for owning and executing production logistics across STN Digital’s client and internal initiatives. This role ensures productions are delivered on time, on budget, and with the operational discipline required to support creative execution.
This role owns all production planning, resourcing, and execution, while the Creative Project Manager retains ownership of overall project timelines, client communication, and delivery. Clear alignment between these roles ensures production execution supports and delivers against broader project goals.
You will manage production systems, logistics, vendor relationships, budgets, equipment, and on-site coordination. This role sits within the Project Management team and partners closely with Creative, Social, and Production leadership, as well as assigned pod Creative Project Managers, to ensure seamless integration of production into broader client delivery plans.
This role operates with a high level of accountability in production execution, partnering closely with Creative Project Managers to ensure alignment while maintaining clear ownership of production outcomes.
We’re looking for a highly organized, systems-oriented operator who thrives in fast-paced sports and entertainment environments and takes pride in being the operational backbone behind successful production execution.
This is a San Diego-based role with a hybrid structure that includes in-office collaboration, on-site production work, and occasional travel depending on project needs.
The Role
The Production Operations Manager leads the operational execution of all production work within STN Digital’s pod-based structure. From pre-production through wrap, you will oversee logistics, manage vendors and Independent Contractors, maintain production systems, and ensure financial discipline across every production scope.
You will work in close partnership with the assigned Creative Project Manager on each account, aligning production plans to overall timelines, budgets, and client expectations. The CPM owns overall project delivery and client communication, while this role owns how production is scoped, resourced, and executed within those parameters.
On smaller shoots, you will coordinate directly with Social teams to support streamlined content capture. On larger productions, you will collaborate closely with Creative and Executive Producers to operationalize creative vision and ensure seamless on-site execution.
This role balances hands-on production execution with ongoing improvements to production systems and workflows; however, execution excellence and delivery reliability are the primary priorities.
What You’ll Do
Production Execution & Logistics
Own end-to-end production logistics across client and internal projects
Draft call sheets, production schedules and workflow documentation from pre-production through post-production
Partner closely with assigned Pod Creative Project Managers to align production plans with overall timelines and deliverables
Identify risks, gaps, and operational needs proactively and communicate impacts clearly
Anticipate equipment and production supply needs for on-site teams based on scope and deliverables
Translate project scope and creative direction into executable production plans, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, and resource constraints
Coordinate packing, shipping, tracking, and unpacking of production kits, including iphones, cameras, audio gear, lighting, and accessories
Source, secure, and manage props, wardrobe elements, and specialty production materials as required
Coordinate travel, crew booking, and on-site logistics
Source, negotiate, and manage vendors including equipment houses, crew, locations, and specialty services
Manage Independent Contractors and freelance crew members across concurrent projects
Make informed adjustments to production plans (resources, timelines, vendors) within approved scopes, proactively communicating changes to the Creative Project Manager and escalating when changes impact budget, timeline, or client expectations.
Secure Certificates of Insurance and manage compliance requirements as needed
Coordinate under Senior Creative Producers or EPs for large-scale productions
Deploy standardized workflows for content handoff and post-production
Support a range of production types including lo-fi social capture, live events, and larger-scale shoots, with an emphasis on adapting production rigor appropriately to the scale and complexity of each project.
Budget & Financial Oversight
Develop production budgets based on approved scopes in partnership with Creative Project Managers and Accounts, and maintain ownership of tracking, managing, and delivering against those budgets
Negotiate vendor rates and manage cost efficiency
Track expenses, reconcile invoices, and flag potential overages early
Proactively identify risks to margin and provide actionable recommendations (timeline shifts, vendor changes, scope adjustments) in partnership with CPM and Accounts
Maintain working knowledge of market rates for production crew, equipment, and vendors to inform budgeting and negotiations
Production Operations & Systems
Develop and maintain production playbooks, templates, and standardized workflows
Build and manage vendor databases and rate card documentation
Maintain and track all in-house production inventory and equipment lifecycle
Uphold and evolve internal workflows in alignment with broader Project Management standards to ensure consistency across pods
Coordinate equipment shipping, tracking, storage, and condition management
Evaluate and recommend equipment upgrades, replacements, or sell-offs
Improve operational systems to increase efficiency and scalability across pods
Identify process inefficiencies and partner with Project Management leadership to improve scalability and execution speed
Lo-Fi, Podcast & Internal Event Production
Coordinate logistics for CEO and internal podcast recordings
Operate and troubleshoot podcast recording equipment as needed
Ensure studio equipment is functional, organized, and upgraded appropriately
Provide hands-on technical support for smaller productions when required
Capture lo-fi internal brand content for STN Digital when needed
Support production logistics for internal company events including State of the Union meetings, awards, and retreats
Ensure all internal productions (podcasts, events, lo-fi content) follow the same operational rigor as client work (planning, documentation, budget awareness)
Who You Are
5+ years of experience in production coordination, production management, or production operations
Experienced working within agency, sports, entertainment, or media environments
Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously within defined project scopes, making decisions that balance creative quality, timelines, and budget constraints
Strong understanding of how production execution impacts broader client delivery and project success
Highly organized with strong systems-thinking capabilities
Comfortable managing budgets, vendors, and Independent Contractors
Proactive in identifying risks and solving problems before they escalate
Technically fluent with camera, audio, lighting, and podcast equipment at a working level
Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally across company org chart
Calm and solution-oriented during live or high-pressure production moments
Available for occasional travel and flexible to support select evening or weekend productions as needed
What Success Looks Like
Productions consistently deliver on time and within approved budgets
Creative Project Managers feel supported and aligned on logistics and financial tracking
Production execution consistently aligns with project scope, timelines, and client expectations without requiring excessive oversight
Risks are identified early and resolved proactively with clear communication to CPMs and stakeholders
Creative leadership trusts production execution and feasibility assessments
Vendor relationships are reliable, cost-effective, and scalable
Equipment inventory is organized, current, and strategically maintained
Production systems are documented, repeatable, and efficient
Podcasts and internal events operate smoothly without technical disruption
Most Critical Outcome (MCO)
Production work is delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with project scope and creative expectations.
Job Details
Location: San Diego, CA (In-Office Required)
Reports to: Project Management Lead
Type: Full-Time
Compensation: CA-based salary range is $65,858 - $73,941 plus benefits. Actual compensation is dependent on experience, location and job-related qualifications and may vary for positions outside of California.
Benefits
As a full-time employee, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive package designed to support your growth and well-being, including:
Unlimited PTO, plus your birthday off
401(k) with company match up to 4%
Medical insurance, with STN covering 70% of the base plan
Dental and vision coverage available
12 weeks of paid parental leave after your first year
Paid sick leave and 9 paid company holidays
Wellness perks, including a complimentary gym membership (24 Hour Fitness or ClassPass)
Paid 1-hour mental health break each week
Apple laptop and iPhone provided for work
Employee Assistance Program for confidential personal and professional support
Education & Experience
5+ years of relevant experience in production coordination, production management, or production operations within an agency, sports, entertainment, or media environment
Demonstrated experience managing production budgets, vendor negotiations, and Independent Contractors
Experience supporting live events, multi-crew productions, or high-volume content capture
Working knowledge of camera, audio, lighting, and podcast recording systems
Strong organizational and documentation skills with a systems-oriented mindset
Ability to operate effectively in a collaborative, pod-based structure
Sports and entertainment industry experience strongly preferred
Physical Requirements
Comfortable working in an office for 40 hours/week with the understanding that working within the sports and entertainment industry will require evening and/or weekend work.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs using proper lifting techniques
Occasional travel required
GOAT Fundamentals (Our Foundation)
At STN, we don’t just have values - we have behaviors that define how we show up and win together.
At STN, our goal is never just to be good - it’s to be extraordinary. We believe extraordinary performance starts with extraordinary people, grounded in an extraordinary culture. The 28 fundamentals (HERE) below define the behaviors that shape our unique award-winning culture. Together, they set us apart and fuel our drive to remain the #1 social-first marketing agency in the world.
Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site
