General Manager

Job description

Purpose of the role 

The role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end operations within the studios division ensuring efficient delivery of content and services that meet audience and client expectations. This includes strategic planning, financial oversight, and risk management, while driving innovation and operational excellence.
The position requires strong leadership to build and develop high-performing teams, foster creativity, and maintain a collaborative culture. It also involves managing key client and partner relationships across the value chain, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and intellectual property laws.
A critical aspect of the role is strategic execution—designing and implementing plans for content monetization, audience engagement, and market expansion. The individual will be accountable for the Primedia Studios P&L, operational KPIs, and long-term growth objectives, while serving as a brand ambassador and engaging with stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies.

Role description 

Operational management 

• Oversee daily operations and ensure that all processes and services are delivered efficiently and meet client requirements.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement strategies to improve productivity, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Ensure adherence to established policies, procedures, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Identify media trends, opportunities and risks; create plans to leverage on the opportunities / mitigate the risks.
• Ensure smooth execution of content production, distribution, and broadcasting schedules.
• Monitor audience engagement metrics (e.g. viewership ratings, streaming performance).
• Optimize workflows for creative and technical teams to meet deadlines
• Ensure compliance with broadcasting standards and intellectual property rights.

Team leadership and development

• Lead, mentor, and develop operations leaders and staff, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Conduct regular performance reviews for senior leadership, provide feedback, and create development plans for team members.
• Take full ownership of the division’s P&L, delivering against ambitious KPIs.
• Lead, grow and inspire a high-performing team.
• Build strong succession plans while developing the next generation of leaders.
• Lead and mentor creative, production, and technical teams.
• Foster innovation and collaboration across departments (content, marketing, tech).
• Implement talent development programs for creative professionals

Client relationship management

• Build and maintain strong client relationships to ensure long-term satisfaction and retention
• Regularly communicate with clients to provide updates on performance and discuss potential improvements.
• Maintain strong relationships with advertisers, sponsors, and distribution partners.
• Negotiate and manage contracts for content licensing and syndication.
• Ensure client satisfaction through timely delivery and quality assurance

Strategic planning and execution

• Develop and implement operational strategies to achieve business goals and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with executive management to set objectives and develop plans to achieve them.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization and cost savings.
• Lead the strategic and annual business planning, and be accountable for its execution.
• Develop strategies for content monetization (advertising, subscriptions, syndication).
• Identify trends in audience behaviour and adapt programming accordingly.
• Drive digital transformation (OTT platforms, social media engagement).
• Plan and execute expansion into new markets or genres.

Compliance, risk and financial management

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks to protect the company and clients.
• Conduct regular audits and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee local operations and finances to ensure maximum impact and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with broadcasting regulations and copyright laws.
• Manage financial performance, including production budgets and P&L.
• Mitigate risks related to content rights, reputational issues, and operational delays.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Postgraduate in business administration
• 5 years in a senior level with a minimum of 10 years’ experience
• Broadcasting/television industry experience

Planning and organizing skills

• Plan and define long-term content, commercial, and operational strategy.
• Ability to identify trends, audience opportunities, and multi-year investment priorities.
• Operationalise strategy into annual goals, budgets, schedules, and KPIs.
• Allocate resources and adjust production timelines

Communication 

• Balancing creative and commercial decisions, explaining content prioritisation and ROI.
• Operational challenges, e.g. production schedules, resource constraints, and workflow adjustments.
• Strategic insights on audience trends, market data, and long-term content planning.
• Regulatory, rights, or advertiser funded issues requiring clarification for non-experts.
• Formats Communication 
• Reporting 
• Negotiation 

Influencing skills

Operational/tactical 

• Processes and procedures: Streamlines workflows, e.g. improving content approval cycles to reduce production delays.
• Systems and tools: Enhances operational systems, e.g. implementing dashboards for real-time tracking of budgets and production progress.
• Outputs and guidelines: Refines reports, templates, and internal guidelines, ensuring quality, compliance, and actionable insights.

Strategic 

• Policy and strategy: Advises on content investment criteria, resource allocation, and long-term planning.
• Systems and practices: Proposes high-level process or system redesigns, e.g. integrating creative, financial, and operational data for executive decisions.
• Outputs: Produces insights that shape divisional strategy and stakeholder decision-making, e.g. audience and market analysis for programming strategy.

Decision making skills

• Regularly navigate complex, ongoing challenges that require balancing creative, commercial, and operational priorities.
• Managing delivery timelines across multiple productions
• maintain and balance stakeholder expectations
• Navigating funding constraints

Judgement skills

• Have a visible business impact within the same financial year, while higher-impact content and strategic decisions influence performance across multiple planning cycles

Accountability

• Make day-to-day and medium-term decisions relating to the operational, creative, and commercial performance of the Division within approved strategy, budgets, and policies

This includes:

• Approving content slates, commissioning schedules, and renewals within the approved budget.
• Allocating budgets and resources to optimize content performance.
• Appointing and managing staff within approved structures and headcount.
• Managing supplier, talent, and production partner engagements within delegated authority.
• Setting divisional KPIs and taking corrective action to address underperformance.

Decisions with material financial, strategic, organisational, or reputational impact are referred to the CEO and/or President for approval.

This includes:

• High-value content investments or flagship productions beyond delegated authority.
• Entry into new content markets, platforms, or strategic partnerships.
• Significant budget changes or commitments outside the approved plan.
• Senior leadership appointments, restructures, or high-risk content decisions.

Posted on 22 Jan 18:42, Closing date 30 Jan