Senior Director, Media Services and Distribution

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About Our Client: Our client is a Canadian media company.

Position Scope:

Our client is seeking a Senior Director, Media Services and Distribution to lead the teams responsible for content ingestion, media asset management, master control, playout and content delivery across its growing portfolio of linear, FAST, streaming and digital platforms.

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, this leader will focus on strengthening media services operations, improving end-to-end content workflows and increasing the value delivered through our clients existing MAM and rights-management platforms. The Senior Director will bring a strong understanding of broadcast and playout technology, along with the leadership experience to guide managers and multidisciplinary teams.

This role will partner closely with Global Product Delivery, Corporate Technology and business stakeholders to improve the speed, reliability and scalability of content intake and delivery. The successful candidate will combine hands-on knowledge of modern media workflows with a collaborative, practical and continuous-improvement mindset.

This role will report to the Chief Technology Officer and is a hybrid position requiring in-office attendance at the head office in Toronto for a minimum of three (3) days per week.

Core Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategy & Leadership

Support the execution of the organization’s media services and distribution roadmap, translating priorities into practical operational improvements.
Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across media services, master control, playout and content delivery, including managers and their teams.
Provide informed recommendations to the Chief Technology Officer on media services, broadcast and playout technology, operational risks and improvement opportunities.
Implement clear operating standards, governance and best practices across media services and master control operations.

Broadcast & Media Technology

Oversee master control and playout operations supporting the organization’s linear, FAST, streaming and third-party distribution services.
Apply a strong understanding of broadcast and playout technology to improve workflows, reliability and the use of modern tools.
Ensure high availability, resiliency, disaster recovery, and regulatory compliance across North American and international operations.
Manage key vendor relationships and work with internal technology partners to improve service, performance and cost effectiveness.
Contribute to modernization initiatives and technology decisions affecting playout, master control and media delivery; satellite distribution experience is an asset and can be learned in the role.

Media & Content Services

Lead the media services function responsible for content intake, ingestion, preparation, quality control, metadata, asset management and delivery to distribution partners and platforms.
Provide direct operational leadership for Master Control and associated playout activities.
Ensure reliable, scalable delivery across global platforms, while optimizing content services improving speed, quality, and scale.
Strengthen standards and processes for metadata, asset lifecycle management, versioning and localization.
Improve the use of the existing MAM and rights-management platforms, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, increase automation and strengthen system integration.
Partner with Global Product Delivery, Program Presentation, and Distribution teams to support linear, VOD, FAST and international platform delivery.

Operational Excellence

Manage assigned operating budgets and identify practical opportunities to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness across media services and master control.
Manage service providers and track KPIs, SLAs and operational performance to improve reliability, responsiveness and accountability.
Drive continuous improvement through automation, workflow optimization, and data-driven decision making.
Maintain strong controls around content security, rights protection and operational risk in partnership with the appropriate internal teams.

People & Culture

Provide clear, visible and collaborative leadership to managers and their teams, building trust and alignment through change.
Build, develop, and retain high-performing technical and operational teams.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and inclusion.
Develop team capabilities and succession plans aligned with evolving media services, broadcast and playout technologies.

Qualifications and Experience:

Post-secondary education in broadcast technology, media, engineering, information technology or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
8+ years of progressive experience in media services, broadcast operations, master control, playout, content operations or content distribution, including leadership of managers and operational teams.
Strong understanding of broadcast and playout technology, media workflows and content delivery ecosystems, with the curiosity and willingness to learn areas outside of direct experience.
Proven experience leading managers and multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to motivate long-tenured employees and build support for change.
Strong understanding of linear TV, digital/OTT platforms, and evolving distribution models.
Experience improving and modernizing media services, content ingestion, master control, playout or distribution processes.
Demonstrated success managing vendors, service performance and operating budgets.
Familiarity with modern media technologies, including cloud-based workflows and IP-based broadcast environments.
Hands-on experience with media asset management platforms and content supply chain workflows, including content ingestion and delivery.
Familiarity with FAST channels, streaming platforms, and international distribution.
Experience integrating, implementing or optimizing a MAM and using metadata-driven workflow automation. Rights-management platform experience is an asset.
Master control leadership experience is required; satellite distribution experience is an asset but is not required.

Key Competencies:

Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
Executive presence and clear communicator
Change leader with a modernization mindset
Strong commercial and financial acumen
Collaborative, resilient, and results-oriented
Curious, adaptable and willing to learn

Application Instructions:

To apply, please send a resume to Aman Sodi at Aman.Sodi@summitsearchgroup.com.

AI Disclosure: AI will not be used in the recruitment process.

Vacancy Disclosure: This is a newly created position.

Summit Search Group is a fair and equitable search firm. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.