RTS is an enthusiast culture company that builds at the intersection of gaming, creators, and brands. From global live events to bespoke branded content, we exist to create meaningful connections between fans and the worlds they love. Our team brings deep expertise across partnership sales and marketing, talent management, event production, media, community building, and IP development.
About Evo
For more than 20 years, the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) has produced the largest and longest-running fighting game tournament conventions in the world. Our events are gathering points where players, fans, publishers, developers, creators, and brands come together to celebrate fighting games and the communities that make them thrive.
Beyond our flagship live events, Evo continues to expand how we create, celebrate, and grow fighting game fandom around the world.
Role Overview
As the Director of Programming, you will lead Evo's live programming strategy and production across our year-round digital content and global live events.
You will oversee the programming calendar, production priorities, budgets, and the teams responsible for executing Evo's live content. This includes developing new programming, improving existing shows and formats, and making sure our productions are well planned, properly staffed, and delivered at a consistently high standard.
This role sits within the Evo Production team and works closely with the Head of Production, Show Producers, Technical Director, Talent Manager, and partners across Marketing, Partnerships, Product, and Event Operations.
The ideal candidate has deep experience developing and producing live programming, leading production teams, and managing multiple productions at once. They understand the realities of live production, know how to work with passionate communities, and can balance creative ideas with the practical needs of schedules, budgets, staffing, and execution.
Reporting Structure
You will report to Evo's Head of Production.
Key Responsibilities
Programming & Creative Direction
- Define and lead Evo's live programming strategy across year-round digital programming and Evo's global live events.
- Develop, own and manage Evo's programming slate and production calendar, establishing priorities across weekly programming, special productions, and event coverage.
- Lead the development of new live programming, formats, and creative concepts from ideation through launch and ongoing evolution.
- Establish programming and creative standards that ensure Evo content is community-focused and consistent with the Evo brand.
- Partner with relevant teams to evaluate programming performance and audience response, using those insights to improve existing shows and identify new programming opportunities.
Team & Production Leadership
- Build and lead the teams required to execute Evo's programming slate, including full-time employees, freelancers, production partners, and crew.
- Manage and develop production leaders responsible for the day-to-day execution of individual shows and productions, providing clear direction, feedback, and accountability.
- Partner with production leadership and relevant internal stakeholders to hire production personnel and negotiate freelance and vendor agreements within approved budgets.
- Partner with the Talent Manager and production teams to identify talent needs and ensure programming is supported by the right hosts, commentators, creators, and on-camera talent.
- Work closely with the Technical Director to identify the technology, equipment, and production infrastructure required to support current programming while evaluating new technologies that could improve Evo's live productions.
Production Operations & Cross-Functional Delivery
- Develop and manage programming and production budgets, balancing production quality with responsible resource allocation.
- Collaborate with the Partnerships team to develop sponsor and partner integrations that add value to the programming and audience experience.
- Provide programming and creative oversight for Evo event livestream productions, including show direction, programming priorities, production standards, partner integrations, and talent considerations.
- Partner with Show Producers on the execution of Evo event livestreams, ensuring individual productions align with the broader programming strategy, creative direction, budget, and production standards.
- Maintain visibility across production schedules, invoices, and vendor deliverables to ensure programming is delivered on time and within approved financial parameters.
- Continuously identify opportunities to improve Evo's programming, production processes, team structure, and overall audience experience.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience developing, producing, and delivering live programming within gaming, esports, sports, entertainment, digital media, television, or a related industry.
- Demonstrated experience developing and managing an ongoing programming slate, including taking new live programming from initial concept through production, launch, and ongoing iteration.
- Strong creative judgment and an understanding of what makes live programming engaging for passionate and highly connected audiences.
- Significant experience leading producers, production teams, freelancers, vendors, and other creative or technical partners.
- Experience managing production budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and resources across multiple productions.
- Strong working knowledge of live production workflows, including control room operations, broadcast technology, graphics, talent, production crews, and post-production processes.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to align creative, production, commercial, and operational stakeholders around a shared vision.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and maintain a high standard of execution in fast-moving live production environments.
- Experience working in live studio and event production environments.
- Ability to work weekends and nontraditional hours as required by live productions and events.
Bonus Points
- Passion for fighting games, esports, gaming communities, and the people who make them thrive.
- Experience working directly within the fighting game community.
- Experience working on coverage of fighting game tournaments.
- Existing relationships with tournament organizers, community leaders, creators, publishers, on-camera talent and other key figures within the fighting game landscape.
Compensation
The salary for this role is $130,000 to $150,000, based on experience and qualifications.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- 401k plan available for employee contributions
- Flexible work schedule
- Generous PTO and company-observed holidays
- Remote-first culture