Production Manager

The Role

8 month fixed term position

The team

We’re global and local, producing in 13 countries across 60+ labels in the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and more. Together with creators, producers, global networks and streamers, we’re behind the scenes of some of the greatest genres, attracting the largest possible audiences for our shows. Bringing thousands of hours of entertainment to everyone everywhere.

ITV Sport is home to some of the world’s biggest sporting competitions, and we’re looking for a Production Manager to join our busy Horse Racing team..

The role

Reporting to a Senior Production Manager, they will lead the operational and people management of the year round horse racing events. In conjunction with the Series Editor, they are responsible for the day-to-day financial running, reporting, logistical management and team leadership of the sport ensuring compliance with all ITV processes, policies (H&S, content compliance, GDPR, anti-bribery, employment legislation, cyber security) as well as fulfilment of ITV’s diversity and environmental commitments.

Our successful Production Manager will have a proven track record on live Sport OB and event programming, with up to date knowledge of television production and experience in production compliance, rights and H&S guidelines. Candidates will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to anticipate problems and plan ahead adapting to last minute changes, whilst under pressure. You will be highly computer and financially literate and have experience of taking a proactive approach. It is essential that you have proven experience of leading and developing a team and the ability to run and manage cost reporting. You will also need to be able to demonstrate the formation of productive relationships with a wide range of external resource providers, commercial partners, artists, their agents and freelance staff.

To be successful in this role, you will have an energetic and flexible approach to your work. You will be solution focused, adaptable, confident in yourself to manage difficult challenging situations in a fast moving environment, and entrepreneurial with the ability to think quickly and make decisions on the go. The successful candidate will also have extensive experience managing teams and live OB’s around the UK.

Responsibilities for the role:

Operational and financial management

• Review allocated budget and plan and schedule the production to maximise editorial ambition within the budget and time available
• Source and identify key resource/location requirements at the earliest possible stage (i.e. either at project initiation or block-by-block on a continuing drama production)
• Lead the efficient operational management of the whole production across a range of disciplines (OB, location filming) adhering to editorial brief and financial, health and safety and legal parameters
• Throughout the production cycle work collaboratively and effectively with editorial and operational colleagues to assess the financial viability of content ideas putting forward options and workable solutions
• Provide regular and accurate financial forecasts on the status and health of the production(s) highlighting areas of risk with suggested solutions
• Work with procurement to negotiate best high value contracts and ensure all purchasing adheres to agreed procurement frameworks
• Negotiate rates for crew, cast and resources as required
• Identify and set up location requirements and liaise with all relevant bodies regarding permissions and other logistical factors (parking, catering, access etc)
• Lead coordinator/production secretary teams and liaise with all crew and contributors so that all travel, visas, accommodation and location/studio scheduling are managed effectively
• Troubleshoot issues as they arise working to tight deadlines advising both editorial and production management teams on best course of action
• Ensure adequate business continuity plans are in place to mitigate unforeseen circumstances
• Where required, apply all skills in an international setting and lead teams through adjustment to local environment/laws, time difference, whilst maintaining adherence to ITV standards of TV production and compliance
• Contribute to the production review process, analysing the effectiveness of schedules and negotiated deals and ensure lessons learnt inform future tariff negotiations process and are applied successfully for re-commissions

THE LEGAL AND RISK FRAMEWORK

• Build a robust understanding of ITV’s risk framework ensuring with editorial colleagues that the production team understand and comply with all ITV policies, guidelines, legislative and regulatory requirements including but not limited to Health and Safety, Duty of Care, Insurance, Ofcom code, cyber security, data privacy, anti-bribery and modern slavery thereby minimising ITV’s exposure to risk and reputational damage
• Ensure all health and safety risk assessment paperwork has been completed and that Editorial Management are involved in and accountable for the risk taking decision process
• In partnership with business affairs teams ensure that on-screen talent and contributors are contracted in a timely manner, within HMRC tax legislation and that production and cast insurance/statement of health forms are in place
• Build understanding of the Ofcom Code and its application across a range of production scenarios
• With editorial colleagues ensure all necessary rights are acquired/licensed for the complete delivery of the production(s), escalating any issues at the earliest stage
• Establish frameworks to manage data within GDPR guidelines and ensure teams are aware of all cyber security risks and how to mitigate them
• Lead a culture where production teams are proactive in identifying risk, concerns raised are addressed and where the welfare of teams, cast and crew are considered at all times

LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCE

• With Series Editor lead the crewing up process to ensure fair recruitment and selection processes are adhered to and that teams reflect an appropriate skills mix of high quality talent
• Lead a proactive approach to diversity and inclusion across the team championing the capture of diversity data, implementing any initiatives for under-represented groups and ensuring a culture of opportunity for all regardless of background
• Ensure all team members are contracted within HMRC tax and contracting guidelines
• Oversee the set-up of office and onboarding process ensuring production teams complete all mandatory training
• With editorial colleagues effectively lead the production team and manage all staffing matters in line with company HR policy for both staff and freelancers
• Manage all team work schedules championing ‘smart working’ practices to best facilitate good life/work balance within production schedule constraints
• Where required, lead teams through the challenge of working (sometimes long periods) away from base in the UK and abroad maintaining professional standards of work/behaviour and adherence to ITV’s code of conduct throughout
• Identify training and development needs of direct reports and ensure performance management processes are in place giving regular and constructive feedback
• Lead a high performance culture so that teams work effectively together to achieve both personal and wider business ambition
• Embrace a ‘growth mindset’ in setting and achieving own personal development goals ensuring production knowledge and expertise is up to date and relevant

CORPORATE STRATEGY AND SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP

• Build awareness of and engage with ITV’s overall commercial and business strategy to ensure best return on investment for all production activity
• Build a network of contacts, keeping abreast of industry developments and proactively contribute to the development of the production management community and production working environment in general through the exchange of ideas and best practice
• Support other divisions (e.g Technology, Procurement, Site Facilities) with the implementation of their strategies contributing ideas and feedback as appropriate
• Build awareness of and champion ITV’s social purpose policy with particular focus on climate change strategy implementing ways to reduce carbon emissions and waste throughout the production cycle

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• A wealth of experience at Production Manager level with sufficient production knowledge to manage the scale and complexity of a wide range of live Sport OB productions both in the UK and abroad
• Proven financial acumen and the ability to lead the logistics of a production with a solution-focussed approach to achieving editorial ambition within prescribed budget and schedule
• Strong technical understanding of Sport outside broadcasts and live programming with a sound knowledge of a range of technologies/workflows and their application
• Thorough approach to completing tasks with good verbal & written communications skills along with a high level of integrity particularly when dealing with confidential and sensitive information
• Confidence to manage upwards effectively and draw on a range of strategies and styles to constructively persuade, challenge and influence others alongside being a confident leader with the ability to motivate and develop teams drawing on strengths of individuals to achieve best results
• Demonstrates passion and resilience and the ability to maintain performance in face of ever-changing priorities and workload along with the ability to manage and mitigate unforeseen events and advise production teams on best course of action

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Proven extensive experience in Sport event production
• Experience of working internationally adapting to different environments and adhering to local laws
• Experience of dealing successfully with a range of on screen talent and senior editorial colleagues ensuring keen adherence to duty of care processes
• Experience of successfully managing and developing teams of coordinators, production secretaries and runners
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to anticipate problems and plan ahead adapting to last minute changes
• Confidence to manage upwards effectively and communicate with the wider production team drawing on a range of strategies and skills to persuade and influence
• Demonstrates proven financial acumen with a solution-focussed approach to achieving editorial ambition within budget
• To control the financial and operational management of a series on a day to day basis so that it is produced efficiently on schedule and on budget delivering to editorial brief and production margins
• Lead the end to end production process (capture, editing process) for a wide range of production workflows (both single and multi camera across productions of significant scale), addressing any issues that arise in the course of a production and ensure all assets are delivered within the contractually agreed timeframe
• To be the central point and main contact for day to day guidance on health and safety, production compliance and insurance issues. Ensuring with senior editorial colleagues that teams have an understanding of – and comply with – ITV policies, guidelines, legislative and regulatory requirements in order to minimise ITV’s exposure to risk
• Will be required to work unsociable hours often away from base or abroad