Senior Production Manager - Story Films

The Senior Production Manager will work closely with Full Story Films’ Senior Production Executive to oversee Full Story Films’ development and production slate.

The role is responsible for supporting editorial ambition into workable budgets, schedules, staffing plans and production processes, while maintaining financial, legal, compliance, health and safety, and duty-of-care standards.

This role requires excellent planning, budgeting, negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the judgement to respond calmly and decisively to fast-moving production developments.

The Senior Production Manager will communicate clearly with editorial leads, production teams, contributors, commissioners, suppliers and external partners.

They will establish efficient production systems and maintain a seamless workflow across the production office, filming locations and post-production, while providing clear leadership and support to the wider production team.

What you’ll do

• Create and manage programme budgets and production schedules that reflect editorial requirements; prepare accurate forecasts and cost reports; monitor expenditure, commitments and cash flow; identify variances early; and recommend corrective action to keep productions on budget and on schedule.
• Oversee production finance, with the Production Accountant, including raising POs, invoice processing, expenses, payroll preparation, contracting.
• Source, negotiate and book experienced crews and suppliers; plan travel, accommodation and filming kit; ensure arrangements are cost-effective and appropriate to production’s requirements.
• Manage location research and access negotiations, obtain filming permits and permissions.
• Arranging contributor releases, material and location agreements.
• Create detailed filming call sheets, production risk assessments, and ensure that health and safety requirements, escalation procedures, insurance requirements, safeguarding measures are in place and communicated.
• Ensure compliance with production policies and protocols, escalating concerns promptly.
• Support teams working with sensitive material, vulnerable contributors or in hostile locations.
• Manage edit schedules and post-production workflows;
  Support clearances for music, archive, and other third-party material and is correctly licensed and cleared.
• Maintain post-production and delivery schedules, coordinate viewings; ensure associated paperwork, eg Silvermouse are delivered on time and to the required specifications.
• Build trusted relationships with contributors, commissioners, suppliers and external partners; provide clear support to development and production teams; promote a collaborative, inclusive working culture.
• Continuously review production processes, introduce practical improvements for production.
• Work primarily from the production office, but flexible to attend shoots, recces, production meetings or post-production facilities when needed, or require senior oversight.

Essential experience and knowledge

• Substantial production management experience in current affairs, factual or documentary television. A strong track record of managing complex investigative productions from development through to delivery.
• Confident ownership of programme budgets, cost reporting, forecasting, cash flow and financial controls.
• Detailed working knowledge of production insurance, contracting, rights and clearances, data protection, health and safety, safeguarding and contributor duty of care.
• Experience of managing productions involving sensitive subject matters, vulnerable contributors, complex access or challenging locations.
• Experience of managing and developing production staff, and negotiating effectively with freelancers, facilities, and…