Manager, Production and Operations - New York, 10019

Manager, Production and Operations - New York, 10019, United States of America

How we LEAD:

Republic Collective, part of Universal Music Group, partners with a diverse community of independent labels and artists through its Artist & Label Partnerships division, delivering market-leading physical and digital distribution services. Combining the scale, expertise and global reach of the world's leading music company with an agile, partner-first approach, Republic Collective provides operational, commercial and distribution solutions that enable independent music businesses to grow and succeed.

As our business continues to expand, we are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Production & Operations Manager to play a key role in delivering operational excellence across our Artist & Label Partnerships division.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Artist & Label Partnerships, the Production & Operations Manager is responsible for leading the operational planning and delivery of Republic Collective's release schedule, ensuring physical and digital products are executed efficiently, accurately and on time.

Acting as the primary operational contact for a portfolio of independent labels and artist partners, you will oversee release management from planning through delivery, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure a seamless release process and an exceptional partner experience.

Working cross-functionally with Commercial, Marketing, Digital Operations, Supply Chain, Finance and International teams, you will drive operational excellence, identify opportunities to improve workflows and help shape scalable processes that support the continued growth of Republic Collective.

This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong music industry expertise, exceptional organizational skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with partners across the independent music community.

How you'll CREATE:

Production & Operations Management

• Own the operational delivery of Republic Collective's physical and digital release schedule across a portfolio of independent labels and artists.
• Lead release planning from product set-up through to commercial delivery, ensuring all milestones are achieved on time and to the highest quality standards.
• Develop and manage production timelines and critical paths across multiple concurrent projects.
• Coordinate physical manufacturing, digital distribution, metadata, artwork and asset delivery to ensure release readiness.
• Partner closely with Commercial, Marketing, Digital Operations, Supply Chain, Finance and International teams to deliver successful release campaigns.
• Monitor release progress, identify operational risks and implement solutions to ensure delivery against deadlines.
• Maintain best practice across production, release management and operational processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, scalability and partner experience.

Artist & Label Partnerships

• Act as the primary operational relationship manager for Republic Collective's independent label and artist partners.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships through exceptional communication, responsiveness and service.
• Advise partners on production timelines, release planning, manufacturing and distribution best practices.
• Manage expectations effectively while balancing partner needs with business priorities.
• Collaborate across Universal Music Group to deliver a seamless and market-leading partner experience.

Business Operations & Process Improvement

• Support the ongoing development and optimization of Republic Collective's production and operational workflows.
• Analyze operational performance and recommend improvements that increase efficiency and scalability.
• Prepare release reporting, operational updates and business insights for senior leadership.
• Contribute to business planning and cross-functional projects that support the continued growth of Artist & Label Partnerships.
• Champion best practice across release management, metadata integrity and operational delivery.
• Lead or support strategic operational initiatives as the business evolves.

Bring your VIBE:

You'll be an experienced operations professional who enjoys balancing project management, stakeholder engagement and operational delivery within a fast-moving music business.

• Demonstrable experience in music production, label operations, distribution or supply chain management.
• A strong understanding of both physical manufacturing and digital music distribution.
• Proven experience managing complex release schedules across multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of the independent music landscape.
• Experience driving operational excellence and improving business processes.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the confidence to make decisions and deliver results.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Experience with music metadata, release management systems and digital supply chain platforms is highly desirable.
• A genuine passion for music and supporting the independent artist and label community.