Manager - Program Planning and Scheduling

The Manager - Program Planning and Scheduling plans the scheduling of content and commercials for the network to create effective monetization opportunities using the network schedule. He/She also analyses the content pipeline to identify content shortfalls and opportunities to deliver new programs with high monetization potential. He manages a team of scheduling executives who deliver programming schedules. The work involves a high amount of planning, coordination and team management. He spends his time in planning discussions with content teams as well as in guiding team members in delivering effective scheduling. He is expected to be proficient at planning, organizing and problem-solving to be able to deliver effectively and manage contingent content shortfalls. He should be process-oriented with an eye for detail to be able to analyze and improve operational processes. He should also be an effective communicator and people manager.

Skills and Competencies

Technical Skills & Competencies

Concept Creation
Proficiency Level
"Lead concept generation, review and improve the creative process to obtain better original concepts."
4
Content Strategy
Proficiency Level
"Determine optimal content types, styles, modes and frequency of content delivery, and translate content ideas into digital storyboards "
4
Customer Behaviour Analysis
Proficiency Level
"Manage activities to carry out customer behaviour analysis and present findings and recommendations pertaining to possible changes in marketing activities to influence target consumers."
4
Customer Experience Management
Proficiency Level
"Analyse implications of customer profiles, requirements and buying patterns on organization's marketing strategy, and propose customer engagement initiatives "
3
Market Evaluation
Proficiency Level
"Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to develop a deeper understanding of market trends. "
3

Generic Skills & Competencies

Teamwork
Proficiency Level
Facilitate work team activities, provide assistance and support needed by team members and promote ownership and commitment among team members to work goals to improve team performance.
Intermediate
Sense Making
Proficiency Level
Interpret data to uncover patterns and trends between various sources of data.
Intermediate
Communication
Proficiency Level
"Negotiate with others to address issues and achieve mutual consensus."
Advanced
Digital Literacy
Proficiency Level
Use available software features to create and edit documents, customize templates and reports and evaluate online information.
Intermediate

Critical Work Functions and Key Tasks

Plan programmer planning and scheduling operations

• Develop the plan and schedule of new content by collaborating with content teams
• Develop plans to maximise scheduling opportunities for counter-programming to increase audience base for various linear and nonlinear platforms
• Develop short-range and medium-range programme plans and calendars for each channel brand
• Develop plans to execute on-air promotion strategy
• Identify content shortfalls and opportunities to deliver new content
• Customise ideas to exploit digital media consumption by leveraging programme schedules
• Optimize scheduling process and workflows to improve channel operations
• Identify 'tent-pole' or successful programmers in alternate slots between which a promising new show could be launched

Execute business development and sales operations

• Manage network scheduling as per content and commercial requirements
• Utilise quantitative and qualitative research to inform scheduling decisions
• Guide the development of programming schedule with a view to enhance audience base and drive commercial revenue
• Review daily playlists before release to relevant departments
• Review commercial placement schedules in collaboration with sales team to maximize content monetization
• Recommend scheduling changes based on performance and competitor information
• Guide the development of short term schedules for specific prime content for linear and non-linear channels 

Support content monetization strategy

• Review advertiser needs, sponsorships, suggest opportunities and understand schedule requirements with the sales team
• Develop plans to create promotional campaigns for new content by collaborating with the content and marketing teams
• Review 'as-is' logs to ensure sales obligation are met
• Guide team to identify opportunities to insert extra advertising slots for specific content 
• Provide inputs to sales team in pricing advertising slots for specific events by providing information such as audience measurement 
projections and benchmark figures

Evaluate program planning and scheduling performance

• Determine effectiveness of programming efforts by collaborating with the customer insights team
• Review content, promotions and commercials placements from transmission reports to evaluate scheduling performance
• Prepare reports to inform leadership of content and commercial performance 

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