Company Administrator - Pier Productions

This is a full-time, WFH position with a requirement to attend in-person meetings in Brighton.

Pier Productions is looking for an Administrator to run all practical aspects of the Company's award-winning Audio output. The Company provides a wide range of factual and drama programmes for BBC Radio 4, including the long-running strand Opening Lines presented by John Yorke, single voice readings for A Book at Bedtime and Book of the Week, as well as original audio dramas and full cast dramatisations for both the BBC and Audible.

The Company is looking for a highly organized administrator to run all day-to-day practical aspects of the Company's production work, including scheduling, planning, booking talent, issuing and negotiating contracts, booking studios and locations, pre- and post-production paperwork using the BBC Proteus and Picos systems, clearing archive and music using BBC Music Box, as well as assisting the Managing Director with the day to day running of the company and helping coordinate development. This role will suit someone who is keen to progress in Production Management rather than an editorial role.

Experience of working in a busy media environment across a range of projects is essential. You will need to be able to manage conflicting demands and prioritise people and activities to meet operational deadlines. The role requires great attention to detail, good written and interpersonal skills, an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, an awareness of how to use new technology and social media. Also desirable is a basic working understanding of copyright and an interest in classic and contemporary literature.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Administrative Support: You will provide administrative support across the whole range of the company's scripted and non-scripted output, and when appropriate television productions, and will assist the Managing Director in the day-to-day running of the company.

The postholder will set up productions and see them through to delivery but will also sometimes, where appropriate, work with freelance specialist drama and comedy coordinators, casting productions and acting as script supervisors.

The Administrator will also assist with the practical aspects of development, including the various online submission systems like the BBC's Picos.


RESPONSIBILITIES IN MORE DETAIL

Administrative:
Administrative support across the day-to-day activities of the company, including:
• The company diary
• Liaising with broadcast schedulers
• To provide logistical support across Pier's factual and drama output, from planning through to delivery
• Sourcing studios, locations and negotiating rates
• Preparing call sheets
• Booking travel and accommodation
• Arranging meetings
• Completing all the pre- and post-production paperwork using the BBC Proteus Systems
• Manage with MD the various stages of the commissioning rounds, including liaising with freelance producers, and inputting the commissioning round offers into the Picos system

Business Affairs:
• Managing BBC Production Agreements and the Schedule 1 Programme Specifications
• Preparation of copyright contracts, writers' agreements for original drama and dramatizations, and negotiating rights and fees with agents in collaboration with the MD and the Business Affairs Executive
• Issuing factual contracts and contributor release forms
• Sourcing and clearing music
• Sourcing and clearing archive material

Non-Scripted Output:
• Acting as the central point of contact for the company's long-running factual strand Opening Lines, including:
o organising the production schedule
o liaising with freelance producers, executive producers, sound engineers and presenter.
o sharing and updating information on its designated Google Sheet.

Scripted Output:
• Setting up the logistics of all the company's readings and drama output including:
- Booking Production Coordinators, Sound engineers, studios and locations
- Script Preparation for studio
- Sometimes casting in collaboration with Director and Drama Coordinators


PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications
Educated to A-Level or Degree Level
Experience of working in a busy media environment across a range of projects.

Required Demonstrable Skills
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Able to schedule and prioritise people and activities to meet operational deadlines
• The ability to prioritise conflicting demands, while ensuring that transmission always takes priority
• Good written and verbal interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with those at all levels, both within the company and externally
• Experience of working with external talent
• Willingness and ability to take the initiative not only in identifying problems, but also in suggesting and implementing creative solutions
• An eye for detail and a concern for accuracy, together with the ability to keep sight of the broad picture
• The capacity to work within a team and contribute ideas
• The ability to use social media both as research tool and for the promotion of the company and its programmes
• Maintain an awareness of new technology and software and to undergo training or self-learning where appropriate
• Knowledge of and curiosity about the BBC and the wider broadcasting landscape
• An interest in both classic and contemporary literature and performance arts
• The ability to remain discreet and maintain confidentiality

You will need to demonstrate you are proficient in:
• Microsoft Office software (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) and Teams
• A working knowledge of Zoom, Google Systems incl. Docs, Sheets, Drive
• A working knowledge of the basics of copyright and performance rights

And, if not already able proficient in, you will have experience or be willing to learn new online systems, such as:
• BBC Proteus
• BBC Picos
• Audio and TV Commissioning Submissions systems
• Adobe
• Basic design systems, like Canva
• Basic audio recording systems, like Cleanfeed
• Basic audio editing systems, like Audacity

Please send your CV and a covering letter to us by midnight on Friday the 16th May 2025.