Showrunner/Creative Producer

Title: Showrunner / Creative Producer
Reporting to: Executive Producer,  Originals
Supervisory role: No
Classification: Temp Employee, Full-Time
Location: NYC (Hybrid) 
Compensation: $3,000/week, estimated 14-16 week engagement with off weeks in late December & Early January.

 

Company Summary:
Wave Sports & Entertainment (Wave) is the leader in digital storytelling for the next generation reaching more than 130 million highly engaged followers globally. Wave’s award-winning, programming is led by some of the most popular athletes and personalities in culture today-- including the hit digital series’ “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce,” “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony”, and “So True with Caleb Hearon” -  dishing out entertaining commentary, unique perspectives, expert analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories about the biggest moments and trends shaping sports and entertainment.

Wave’s Media Agency (WMA) collaborates with leading sports leagues and rights holders to create engaging, data-driven digital programming. Our partners include major organizations such as the WNBA and CONCACAF, and we deliver always-on content experiences that engage the internet’s largest and most passionate fan communities.

 

Role Summary:
We are seeking a Showrunner/Creative Producer to co-lead the creative development and production of a new 6-episode unscripted series featuring an NBA star in collaboration with the Executive Producer. The series will blend elite basketball training with behind-the-scenes insight into the business and technology shaping the next generation of the game.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of producing standout unscripted or docuseries content, structuring training or competition based episodic formats, and giving on-set direction to high-profile athlete talent. They'll also possess a strong editorial point of view, be an enthusiastic creative collaborator, and have experience coordinating with professional athletes, trainers and their representatives. A passion for basketball culture and strong knowledge of the sport's current landscape (NBA, WNBA, NCAA) is necessary.  

Responsibilities

• Co-lead the overall creative and editorial direction for a 6-episode unscripted series featuring an NBA star in collaboration with the executive producer and development team. 
• Own the episodic prep process, including guest/talent research, trainer coordination, and building a personalized training-plan narrative for each episode
• Give on-set creative direction to NBA star, guest athletes, and trainers
• Translate the series' episode structure into shootable, story-driven production days
• Partner with the Line Producer and Production Coordinator to plan and execute location shoots, including scouting and day-of logistics at the NYC gym location
• Conduct weekly meetings with the creative team to align on creative direction and execution  through pre-production, shoots, and post production. 
• Collaborate with the sales team to ensure brand/sponsor integrations are captured organically and remain true to the show's voice
• Guide the post-production team, including editors working in tandem, to hit the series launch window
• Contribute to series launch assets, including trailer direction and episodic promotional strategy
• Set a positive, collaborative, respectful work example for fellow team members.
• Own the production end to end with a YouTube-first, digitally native sensibility and a strong instinct for what performs on the platform
• Lead on set directing talent and camera coverage, and build and manage the run-of-show (ROS) schedule so the crew has clear daily direction
• Oversee the post notes process across review rounds, manage competing asset requests, and track the production against budget

 

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years producing or showrunning unscripted/docuseries content, ideally in sports or athlete-driven programming
• Experience producing content featuring high-profile athletes or celebrities, with strong on-set talent management skills
• A highly creative storyteller. Ability to write, produce, manage, and execute projects from start to finish in a fast-paced production environment.
• Experience leading a small production team across pre-production, field production, and post-production
• Experience integrating brand/sponsor moments naturally within unscripted content
• Self-starter, with the ability to anticipate obstacles and problem-solve under pressure
• Strong experience organizing production workflows and assets
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of basketball and sports culture (NBA, WNBA, NCAA)
• Able to travel to and work on location in the NYC area for the series' field production weeks
• Proven ability to produce YouTube-first, digitally native content with a strong grasp of platform storytelling and pacing.
• Strong understanding of post-production, including overseeing editors through multiple notes rounds.

Pay Transparency + Benefits

At Wave, we're transparent from the get-go—we want our candidates to know as much about us as possible, even before applying. We're excited about our candidates and want them to feel the same about us!

This is a freelance, project-based position with a rate of $3,000/week, estimated at 14-16 weeks across pre-production, production, and post-production. Actual terms at the time of offer may vary based on final production scope, timeline, and an individual's experience level and qualifications.

 

Physical Requirements + Work Environment

• Capacity to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery and hardware.
• The ability to communicate and exchange information clearly and accurately.
• Work during pre-production and post-production weeks is largely sedentary; field production weeks involve extended on-site hours in a basketball gym/training facility environment.
• Able to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends during the shoot window.
• The worker may be exposed to variable lighting conditions (brightness or darkness) and noise, and physical activity typical of an active training/production environment during field weeks.

 

At Wave Sports + Entertainment, we are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law.

We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We are a Bullpen Sports Network, Inc. affiliate company

 

Direct Applicants Only