The purpose of the Head of Production is to work closely with many different departments and teams in order to create all OTRO output. Managing budgets for various teams and balancing creative needs, business requirements and the departmental budgets.
This is a varied production role that expands beyond the production of video content and works as a Channel Management Head of Production, Creative Services marketing requirement Head of production as well as requiring experience on traditional and short form / digital first production.
As OTRO is an evolving company it also needs a HOP who is willing to roll up sleeves and get involved in the business operations to make sure that the requirements for Content or Creative are being met across all lines of business.
Objectives of this Role
• To make sure OTRO content is the best quality it can be and comes in on time and on budget
• To safeguard OTRO's reputation in the media industry
• To manage delivery of compelling content, not limited to Video and be in cutting edge technology
• Look at international sales of content produced at OTRO
• Develop internal communications so that the business is aware of content creation and timelines
• Meet budget standards by forecasting and managing costs across the departments
Key responsibilities and duties:
Finance
• Responsible for departmental budgets, including the commissioning budget for productions, creative services budget for any freelance support needed, overarching archive deals for sports content, interactive budget, acquisition budget, translation operations budget, travel budget for Creative team, talent fees and expenses incurred.
• Monitor cashflows to make sure that the finance team know when to expect costs and to regulate and monitor cashflow for any agreements that OTRO engage in to ensure that cashflow is in align with Finances of OTRO
• Setting up Cost reporting and accounts procedures with Finance
• With Production Manager oversee Third Party Cost reporting and try to mitigate and monitor any overspends or underspends that the production company has on monthly or end of project reporting.
• Sign off all invoices for the entire department.
• Approve and Raise PO's when needed
• Reconcile the departmental quarter to make sure that expected costs are accurate and all projects that can be are closed down to help accounts make sure that their reporting is accurate
• When required reforecast with the direction of the company strategy for the company, to make sure that all aspects of deliverables of contracts are met and if needed renegotiate on behalf of the company.
Commissioning for OTRO
• Engage and Manage a number of production companies and varying lengths of content, making sure that the production company is the right partner for OTRO for the content being created.
• Constantly review and improve the commissioning process, including, budgeting, editorial spec, technical Spec, contracts, delivery process, brand guidelines for third parties, shoot style guides and compliance guidelines
• Constantly work with the development team to ensure that you are across all upcoming projects
• Research, write and negotiate budgets with broadcasters / production companies / post production / talent. Calling on external contractors for specialist work.
• Commissioning in house productions: Drafting budgets and schedules for all content across multiple durations, and for platforms including social first formats
In House Production Studio
• Bringing in Key talent that are great for specific projects.
• Managing and creating teams per project or production
• Work with a team of Freelancers to create high quality content for OTRO
• Managing workflow and processes with the operations team
Creative Services at OTRO
• Monitoring the freelance budget for Creative services to make sure that the resources needed to fulfil briefs
• Ensure that all stakeholders (Social, Editorial, Brand, PR, Member Experience and Sales) are following the correct process to submit briefs and allocate Job numbers, currently supported by Junior Production Manager in the role.
• If there are any issues arising from prioritisation of deadlines, helping the CS team to understand what has priority for OTRO as a whole.
• Ensure that the servers and policies for edit suite usage and ensuring that operationally it runs.
Legal and Business Affairs
• Negotiate talent contracts, crew contracts, production agreements, archive agreements and Archive deals with the Head of Legal and Business affairs.
• Liaison across business requirements: Health + Safety, insurance, legal, digital activities, PR, company policy implementation - delegation to specialist contractors for specialist knowledge where necessary
• Keeping up to date with PACT, Equity, Guild, BECTU and other standard industry agreements and best practices.
• Copyright, clearances including music, production and post-production processes. Negotiating agreements and ensuring that adequate reporting is kept up to date.
HR
• Working with HR and office manager to ensure resources and space for Freelancers, new members of staff. Making sure that teams sit together and have all they need to achieve their work.
• Management of PMs and/or Production Executives overseeing multiple productions.
Operations
• Set up and delivery of systems for smooth running of all aspects of business.
• Oversee the facilities for Creative Services, In House Production and any other Content needs.
• Make sure there is a business case for any additional hardware requests that are needed to achieve OTRO content
Skills & Experience
• Experience of lifestyle and sport filming is desirable.
• A broadcast channel or digital first platform background is advantageous
• Understanding workflows in a digital space
• Good industry knowledge of Freelance engagement, and managing a freelance team
• Good Knowledge of file & delivery formats
• Must have an ability manage multiple projects.
• Attention to detail
• Solution focused with strong problem solving & decision making.
• Experience of protocols and bibles for dealing with production companies.
• Some international experience is required- experience of organising carnets for crews and an understanding of the different filming and crewing regulations associated with filming internationally.
• The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
Additional skills and requirements
• Demonstrable interest in sport, current affairs and popular culture.
• A consuming interest in football, sport, popular culture and current affairs
In addition to the above you may be required to perform other duties that fall outside your job title or key duties.