Director of Live Production | Full-Time | Ryan Field at Northwestern University

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management hospitality and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015 the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas stadiums convention centers music festivals performing arts centers and cultural institutions spanning four continents.

The Director of Live Production leads the creative vision planning and execution of gameday presentation and in-venue entertainment at the New Ryan Field and Welsh Ryan Arena. This role creates a distinctive innovative emotionally engaging experience that reflects New Ryan Field and Northwestern Universitys brand traditions and competitive environment while aiming to deliver the best gameday experience in collegiate sports. The Director is responsible for presentations from concept development and scripting through rehearsal show-calling and post-event evaluation while also managing event-day staff production workflows budgets systems vendors and production oversight for concerts commencements rentals and other third-party events.

This role pays an annual salary of $115000 - $120000 and is bonus eligible.

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health Dental and Vision Insurance 401(k) Savings Plan 401(k) matching and Paid Time Off (vacation days sick days and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until October 30 2026.

Creative Vision and Gameday Experience

• Develop memorable moments that create energy strengthen fan connection and enhance home-field advantage.
• Lead the evolution of team entrances opening sequences music lighting fan prompts recognitions traditions and situational entertainment.
• Identify new ideas technologies and industry trends that can elevate the overall experience.
• Keep the presentation fresh intentional and engaging throughout the season.

Show Planning and Live Execution

• Lead the full planning process for Northwestern University football and basketball games including scripts rundowns timing rehearsals and contingency plans.
• Regularly serve as the lead show caller for football games mens basketball games and other priority productions.
• Lead production meetings event-day briefings rehearsals and post-event reviews.
• Ensure all productions meet university conference league broadcast safety and venue requirements.

Content and Entertainment Direction

• Collaborate with internal creative teams and outside partners on intro videos hype content graphics features and event-specific assets.
• Review and approve content for creative quality brand alignment accuracy and technical readiness.
• Oversee music strategy entertainment booking hosts performers student groups recognitions and specialty acts.

University and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build strong relationships across athletics marketing communications creative services spirit programs bands student groups alumni relations development campus leadership stadium operations and other university departments.
• Manage expectations communicate deadlines and production needs and align multiple stakeholders around a cohesive vision.
• Advise leadership on fan experience creative strategy presentation opportunities and industry trends.

Event-Day Staff Leadership

• Recruit train schedule supervise and evaluate student workers freelancers contractors and control room personnel.
• Provide coaching feedback and development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of preparation creativity accountability teamwork and calm execution under pressure.

Stadium Systems and Production Operations

• Oversee the operational readiness of videoboards LED displays replay graphics audio IPTV cameras intercom lighting and show-control systems.
• Coordinate with engineering information technology stadium operations and vendors to ensure systems are tested and event-ready.
• Identify opportunities for workflow improvements system upgrades and capital investment.

Partnerships and Sponsored Integration

• Collaborate with corporate partnerships and marketing teams to integrate sponsored elements into the gameday experience.
• Ensure partner activations are accurate entertaining and aligned with the overall presentation.
• Help identify new presentation assets and fan-engagement opportunities that may support revenue goals.
• Balance commercial obligations with show pacing and audience experience.

External and Non-University Events

• Provide production oversight for concerts commencements ceremonies rentals and other stadium events.
• Serve as an operational liaison for promoters production companies outside clients and vendors.
• Review staffing technical requirements schedules and use of stadium systems.

Budget and Vendor Management

• Develop and manage budgets for game presentation staffing entertainment production support content and equipment.
• Manage relationships with production vendors creative partners entertainment providers and freelancers.
• Recommend future investments based on creative impact operational need and audience experience.

• Bachelors degree in live event production broadcasting communications media production sports management marketing entertainment or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in game presentation live sports entertainment stadium production broadcast production or major live events.
• Proven experience developing creative game-presentation strategies and producing high-profile live events.
• Strong show-calling experience and knowledge of scripting timing control room operations rehearsals and contingency planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects deadlines stakeholders and event details simultaneously.
• Experience directing student workers freelancers contractors vendors or event-day crews.
• Strong creative judgment organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication leadership and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to remain calm decisive and solutions-oriented in high-pressure live environments.
• Experience managing budgets vendors and production resources.
• Ability to work nights weekends holidays and irregular hours based on the event calendar.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in major collegiate athletics professional sports a large stadium or arena or a nationally recognized live-entertainment organization.
• Experience participating in production-system upgrades control room projects or stadium technology planning.

At OVG we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation strengthens ourpeople improves ourservice and raises ourexcellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (protected class) including but not limited to veteran status uniform service member status race color religion sex national origin age physical or mental disability genetic information or any other protected class under federal state or local law.