Manager – Sports Labs, Star Sports

About the Role:

Star Sports is the leading sports broadcaster in India. It offers a wide variety of sports content, broadcasting all major sports events such as IPL, ICC, Premier League, Pro Kabaddi, Wimbledon etc. Star Sports has redefined sports broadcasting in India with extensive cricket coverage, including domestic and international matches. It also offers several regional channels in different languages to cater to the diverse linguistic audience in India. We serve high quality content to millions of customers with world class technology and production. We are seeking an experienced and innovative individual to lead our Star Labs team in the dynamic field of sports broadcasting. As the Team Lead, you will be responsible for driving the technological advancements that enhance our broadcast capabilities, improve fan experiences, and maintain our competitive edge in the industry.

Context:

Star Sports is a key catalyst in espousing a multisport culture in India. Over the past 5 years, it has invested in and partnered with key stakeholders to popularize sports beyond Cricket. The Mumbai-based Lab spearheads long-range research and development efforts and partnerships around new technologies for Disney Star India and its audience. Star Lab works to identify, develop and deliver solutions in the sphere of broadcast and digital entertainment. By experimentation with new trends in cutting-edge technology and emerging platforms, the Lab is positioned to enable new creative capabilities and entertainment experiences. Star Lab focuses on building prototypes to test new ideas, collaborating on innovation with content creators and technology disruptors, and shapes strategy around production capabilities to fuel future content and engagement opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:
•Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a technology roadmap aligned with Star Sport’s strategic goals and objectives. Provide visionary leadership in identifying emerging technologies and trends relevant to sports broadcasting. Source and build strategic partnerships with start-ups, big tech and academia. Leverage an entrepreneurial mindset to secure funds and find consumer facing solutions and enhance back-end production and creative capabilities.
•Team Management: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of technical professionals. Foster a collaborative and innovative culture that encourages creativity and continuous learning. Set clear goals and performance expectations and provide regular feedback to team members and vendors.
•Project Management: Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of technology projects within scope, schedule, and budget constraints. Coordinate cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
•Technology Development: Drive the research, evaluation, and adoption of cutting-edge technologies, tools, and methodologies. Spearhead the development of innovative solutions to enhance live sports broadcasting, including immersive experiences, real-time analytics, and interactive features. Work with partners to develop new products and collaborate on R&D. Quality Assurance: Establish and enforce quality standards and best practices for software development, testing, and deployment. Implement robust testing processes to ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of broadcasting systems and applications.
•Risk Management: Identify potential risks and challenges related to technology development and implement effective mitigation strategies. Stay informed about industry regulations, security threats, and compliance requirements, and ensure adherence to relevant standards.
•Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including content production, operations, marketing, and IT, to align technology initiatives with business needs. Communicate effectively with senior management, providing regular updates on project status, key metrics, and technology trends.

Performance Measures:
• Technology Innovation and Adoption: Rate of adoption of emerging technologies and innovations in sports broadcasting. Number of successful technology implementations that enhance viewer experiences or improve operational efficiency. Feedback from stakeholders on the effectiveness and impact of technology solutions implemented.
• Project Delivery and Execution: Percentage of technology projects delivered on time and within budget. Quality of deliverables, measured through metrics such as system reliability, performance, and user satisfaction. Number of successful technology deployments or system integrations without major disruptions to broadcast operations.
• Team Performance and Development.
• Strategic Alignment and Leadership: Alignment of technology initiatives with organizational goals and strategic priorities.

Qualifications:
• Post-Graduate or equivalent in Computer Science, Media Technology, Innovation with 8-10 years of relevant experience.

Personal Attributes:
• Resilient, collaborative, team player
• Being a sports fan an added advantage

About Star Sports
The Star Sports Network is home to several leading domestic and international sports with 17 channels broadcasting premier sporting events which include cricket coverage under the purview of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket South Africa and Asian Cricket Council (ACC); VIVO Pro Kabaddi; Football under Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Premier League; and Wimbledon amongst others.