Overview of the role
The development producer is a senior member of the development team. They have thorough knowledge of the output of a range of channels and use this when shaping new programme ideas. The development producer will be expected to have a clear vision for the style, tone, and content of pitch materials. They lead on finding talent and contributors for ideas. They support the head of development (HoD) and manage junior members of the development team.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale / budget band / genre of the production.
- Consume a range of traditional and social media to help support the creation of new ideas
- Develop original programme ideas that respond to the needs of a specific channel, department or commissioner
- Monitor trends in programming in the UK and globally by viewing the output of a wide range of channels (including SVODs)
- Attend commissioner briefings and review department briefs
- Monitor audience ratings for new and returning programmes using access to overnight/consolidated viewing figures and trade magazines (where possible)
- Draw on this information to identify gaps in programming
- Lead on brainstorming sessions, suggesting topics and techniques as inspiration
- Filter the best and most appropriate ideas from brainstorms and present these to senior members of the team/company.
- Build relationships with new and established talent, talent agencies and agents and identify the best talent to attach to specific projects
- Shape and pitch ideas for talent that will appeal to them and/or the agents that represent them
- Take the lead on identifying and casting potential contributors
- Arrange Zoom and in-person meetings
- Assist the junior team members to film and cut contributor casting tapes for the HoD to review
- Identify high-profile or unique people, places and organisations with the potential to make compelling TV
- Play a key role in gaining access by making approaches and carrying out initial meetings
- Conduct research conversations and use this to devise an original and engaging approach
- Work with the HoD to negotiate an appropriate/required level of access
- Keep potential access engaged and informed about the commissioning process and new developments or opportunities
- Manage expectations on the likelihood of a commission
- Pitch new ideas internally to the HoD, creative directors and managing directors as well as externally to commissioning editors
- Manage the team to source relevant and compelling statistics and facts to support a story
- Be adept at summarising an idea into concise and compelling paragraphs that outline the programme and highlights its unique selling points
- Generate channel-appropriate programme titles and straplines
- Lead on the development of new formats
- Act as a sounding board for the HoD to stress test new formats and ideas
- Develop decks that clearly identify the tone, look and content of a programme
- Work with the wider development team to deliver high quality materials
- Drive the creation of sizzles that help to sell a format, act as a proof of concept for a show or present new and existing talent to their best
- Support junior members of the team in a variety of tasks, monitor the quality of their work and support them in shaping ideas
- Assist the team in understanding prioritises and managing workload
- Delegate responsibilities and provide clear instructions for tasks, acting as second in command to the HoD
- Be available as senior support to junior members of the development team to ask questions
- Manage workload and prioritises independently
- Juggle ideas at varying stages of the development process, with a clear understanding of what each idea needs to move forward
- Oversee workflow for specific ideas to ensure that projects move at the appropriate pace to hit key deadlines
- Understand how to manage and structure a slate of ideas
- Work with the HoD to keep the slate up to date with new and rejected ideas
- Assess the practical and financial implications of a project and shape ideas in a way that make them possible to realise for a specific tariff
- Understand budgets and how these are put together
- Where appropriate, assist in creating budgets for funded development projects alongside the HoD, head of production or production manager
- Be confident in implementing GDPR data protection rules
- Ensure that personal data is stored in a safe and appropriate way, with limited access
- Be aware of relevant compliance issues - this may include considerations such as impartiality, accuracy, conflicts of interest or managing secret filming
- Identify vulnerable contributors and implement appropriate duty of care and safeguarding measures
- Where necessary, understand the rules and guiding principles for working with children
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of development producer.
- Actively engage with the output of a range of broadcasters and platforms and become familiar with the commissioning landscape
- Organise and contribute to the design and production of pitch materials, decks and sizzles
- Manage and prioritise a varied workload, juggling a range of projects at different stages of the development process with varying needs
- Communication: communicate the requirements of the development team with a variety of internal and external organisations and individuals
- Team-working: collaboration within own and with other departments and external organisations
- Problem-solving: assessing ideas for practical, editorial, and financial considerations, creatively adapt to different requirements
- Deliver under pressure: responding quickly to the needs of the team and responding to urgent deadlines calmly and efficiently
- Management: manage the development team, uphold ethics, and maintain respect when dealing with others
- Support and encourage junior members of the team
- Set etiquette: the roles and responsibilities within development teams and the etiquette to follow
- Resilience: adapt positively to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring deadlines continue to be met
- Proactive and explores new ideas and non-standard ways of working which will enhance and deliver the best results for the ideas
- Productivity: organises work effectively and achieves required results within deadlines
- Demonstrates the drive and energy to get things done in pressurised situations and escalates appropriately when necessary
- Ethics and integrity: honest and principled in all of their actions and interactions
- Respectful and inclusive of others and meets the ethical requirements of their profession/ discretion
- Flexibility: willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements and has the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment
- Independent working: the ability to work unsupervised, exercising initiative and assessing priorities but referring issues upwards where appropriate
- Professional development: develop an ethos to learn and seek out learning and networking opportunities, identifying those that will be most beneficial