Kew, London, United Kingdom | Posted on 07/02/2025
* Dates ASAP on a full time permanent contract
* Client Name Whisper
* Date Opened 07/02/2025
* Job Type Permanent
* City Kew, London
* Country United Kingdom
Job Description
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Whisper is a leading global production company, specialising in sports, unscripted and branded entertainment.
Our diverse team of over 270 team members work in offices across the UK and beyond, producing top level sports such as Formula One, UEFA and The Paralympics, as well as branded content, prime-time documentaries and entertainment quiz shows for a raft of broadcasters.
In 2023, Whisper won a BAFTA and was nominated for an International EMMY.
It's co-owned by Sony Pictures Television and is a seven-times Broadcast Best Places to Work.
Whisper has seen considerable growth in recent years and is poised to enter an exciting period of further expansion. To ensure we are set up for success, we will be splitting the Director of Production role across two people, with one role overseeing all sport activities and the other to oversee production activities across our entertainment, documentaries and commercial content divisions.
As well as the DOP’s slate, each individual will be expected to lead across the whole business on areas such as archive and music, insurance, IR35 compliance, safeguarding and these will be split based on candidates’ area of expertise.
Whisper is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Lead Production teams to ensure first class delivery of complex domestic and international productions.
2. Ensure systems, structure and facilities are in place to ensure maximum efficiency and an environment that promotes creative excellence.
3. Work closely with Whisper MDs to help support the strategic vision by identifying growth opportunities, optimising workflows, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across productions.
4. Line manage the Heads of Production (and Prod Exec’s where appropriate), mentoring junior production personnel and actively seeking new talent from diverse backgrounds.
5. Work closely with business development and other members of Senior Team to drive and convert new business opportunities.
6. Sign off all high value budgets and high value contracts.
7. Drive financial efficiency across productions, identifying cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high creative standards.
8. Ensure all RFP responses accurately reflect the budget and resource required to deliver the vision proposed.
9. Working with Business Affairs to ensure productions are efficient and compliant across the board.
10. Overseeing supplier, freelancer and talent contracting and running RFP processes for high value supplier contracts.
11. Oversight of all cost reporting against budgets and have clear processes for reporting variations to SMT.
12. Negotiating deals with new and returning clients.
13. Ultimate responsibility for Health and Safety on all Productions including signing off on high risk activities and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards.
14. Stay abreast of emerging production technologies and innovations, working with the CTO to integrate new tools and workflows to enhance production efficiency and creative output.
15. Build strong client relationships and act as key point of contact for large contracts.
16. Actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across all productions.
17. Work with the talent and production management team to build a strong and diverse network of international freelance talent.
18. Oversee allocation of staffing across all productions, working closely with Heads of Content, Heads of Production and Talent Management team.
19. Foster a culture of professional development by identifying training needs and creating pathways for growth within production teams.
20. Sign off on salaries, title changes and promotions in conjunction with the Senior Management Team.
21. Maintain vision and ethos of Whisper and promote a positive working environment where production talent can grow and gain opportunities throughout the company.
Please note that responsibilities may be amended, added to, or removed to reflect the changing needs of the production or organisation.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
1. Experience across a range of output at a Senior level, Head of Production and above.
2. Please indicate areas of specialism.
3. Strong and collaborative leader.
4. Confident working independently using own initiative while being prepared to take guidance on appropriate matters.
5. Highly organised and able to work quickly without losing attention to detail.
6. Strong relationships with clients, suppliers and freelance production community.
7. Strong international relationships and experience setting up offices and productions in international territories such as the US and KSA is desirable.
8. Ability to manage a large and varied portfolio – prioritising effectively and acting with a creative and flexible outlook.
9. Integrity – able to look after the interests of the company while building effective working relationships with colleagues and outside contacts.
10. Must be able to work effectively in a complex environment with diverse stakeholders.
LOCATION: The position is based at our Kew office.
WORKING DAYS: Monday – Friday, 4 days in-office and 1 day remotely, with some weekend work and international travel likely. When weekend work is required, DOILS will be provided. Whisper offers the option of flexitime hours.
START: ASAP on a full time permanent contract.
SALARY: Based on experience.
APPLICATION CLOSING:
Monday 17th February.
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