DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The T4 & Music department looks after between 500-600 hours of originated programming a year - T4 plays in weekend daytime throughout the year and Music plays in post midnight slots across the week on C4. The department also works closely with Box Television (C4/Bauer 50/50 joint venture across 7 x Box music channels).

Our target audience is 16-34 year olds, with a fairly even male/female split and our shows are broad in appeal, reflecting the interests of our target audience. We have limited budgets and need to be creative with how we make the numbers work (be it working with ad-funds, sponsors, record labels or acquiring programmes with existing 3rd party funding in place).

JOB PURPOSE

The Commissioning Editor role will be working across the departments T4 and Music output - from initiating pitches, initial acquisition/commission, editorial decision making throughout production through to compliance, sponsorship and then delivery.

The position will assumes responsibility of a number of key commissions within T4 and Music on 4' (C4's late-night music zone), plus potentially across key events/live programming such as 'V Festival' or 'T4 on the Beach'.

They will work to Head of T4 & Music (Neil McCallum) and need to be prepared to join a small, productive, commissioning team responsible for a high volume of output, often turned around at short notice. Within that team, they should be able to generate new ideas and formats (often with limited budgets) to keep both areas fresh and engaging.

The Commissioning Editor works with a number of independent production companies and is responsible for programmes being delivered on time, on budget and are accountable for compliance/sponsorship/presentation decisions (requiring close relationships with relevent internal departments).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- To initiate and solely oversee a number of key T4/Music commissions.
- To manage and quality control a wide range of challenging programmes, remembering limited budgets and Ofcom restrictions to create the strongest programming possible.
- To work effectively with other parts of Channel - Legal & Compliance, Sponsorship, Press, Cross Platform, Scheduling, Presentation and Programme Management.
- To potentially work (with the department) across large live events (and manage all delivery relating to live programming).
- To identify and nurture new and diverse on and off screen talent from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.
- To be across everything that our target (16-34) audience are be it music, social networking, language etc.

JOB FACTORS

Technical & Professional Skills (Knowledge, Skills, Education & Experience)

• Must have relevent experience and understanding of production process and ideally of Commissioning/Broadcast.
• Strong experience of financial, legal and compliance issues around television production.
• Good understanding of budgets for television programmes.
• They need to be passionate about music/youth culture with a natural insider knowledge of trends for 16-34 audience in terms of programmes, productions, on and off screen talent, and an ability to develop the department's overall strategy, within budget constraints.
• Will be required to demonstrate a high degree of editorial judgement in the execution of programmes, exceptional personal integrity and insight into the Channel 4 brand and values.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
• Good standard of education, prefer educated to a degree level.
• Ability to generate and manage a very high volume of programmes.
• Ideally experience of working with record labels and ideally sponsors/ad-funded programming.

Autonomy/Judgement/Decision Making

• Job requires decision-making concerning a broad variety of matters within own work area and priorities are set by the job holder.
• Work concerns a broad variety of matters making decisions involving potential risks.
• Guidance on work issues is typically met by bouncing ideas and issues at weekly departmental meetings and with relevant heads of department across Commissioning.
• Financial constraints on doing the job.

Managing Resources

• Oversees the process of producing a programme after it is commissioned through a creative process mainly in the edit with the producer/director at the commissioned independent production company.

Relationship Management

• Conducts and maintains good relationships with independents producing programmes for the Channel. Networking is a significant part of the role.
• Keeps abreast of all new talent in genre and stay one step ahead of immediate competitors.
• Required to handle conflicting viewpoints and gain consensus for the Channel during the editorial process of commissioned programmes with independents.

Complexity/Problem Solving

• Job holder may face a number of unpredictable and unique problems across the spectrum of editorial, legal, press, marketing, publicity and independent company liaison.
• High degree of creativity required when developing ideas and problem solving with highly demanding and unpredictable talent and production companies on programme content.
• Role holder will need to assess the impact of any contentious material on the general public.

Business Impact/Strategic Perspective

• Role impacts on short to medium term business targets and plans for programmes at least a year in advance whilst maintaining the flexibility to act swiftly on exclusivity deals, cultural climate, trends and opportunities.
• Legal, compliance and financial issues e.g. OFCOM regulations on programming have a huge impact on the role.