VP - Production & Development

This is a Full Time Job

Partners with SVP to develop, produce and manage ground breaking, innovative documentaries and specials. The VP has creative oversight of a variety of production projects and manages the efforts of multiple outside production companies simultaneously.

Responsibilities

1. Will be expected to share ideas and contribute to the strategic vision and direction of the network. Must always think through the “big picture” when managing the development and production process for documentaries and specials. Will be held accountable for exploring all the possibilities for each project managed (ex. Online opportunities, VOD offering, commerce options, potential of project to become an event or series, etc.)
2. Research and develop ground-breaking, high quality documentaries and specials that push boundaries and allow viewers to satisfy their curiosity and explore the world around them.
3. Develop and maintain strong partnerships with people, institutions and organizations that will allow the unprecedented access needed to deliver exceptional on-screen storytelling.
4. Must work with internal research team to conduct regular health checks on shows being managed and make recommendations on what the implications of the data are for communications, marketing, ad sales, etc.
5. Serve as Team Lead and Main Contact on all aspects of development and production for Network projects as assigned by SVP. Directly responsible for pushing project information to internal Network teams and ensuring that the network is maximizing the potential of each project in all stages of production.
6. Review and convey timely comments to program producers on all stages of development and production, and, if a stage in production is not approved, give timely written notice to the producer of the reasons why such approval has not been accorded.
7. Work with the SVP to develop new creative concepts, formats and show ideas to pitch back to Development and Programming teams.
8. Supervision of entire creative process – from treatment review to final delivery on original, co-production and reversion projects.
9. Review, edit, and approve preliminary and final treatments, outlines, shooting scripts, scripts, production schedules, budgets, selects, graphics, music, rough cuts, fine cuts, final narration and final versions of all assigned programs.
10. Communication of production information to all internal (ex. Production Management, Business Affairs, Legal, Scheduling, Marketing, Communications, Digital, Education, Consumer Products, etc.) and external parties associated with the production including the Network senior management team as necessary.
11. Management of multiple outside production companies on multiple series and specials simultaneously, and in coordination with Discovery internal departments to ensure timely, effective and on-budget development, production and delivery of original commissions and co-productions.
12. Adherence to and accountability for all aspects of Discovery’s editorial, budgetary and production standards, as well as contractual and deliverables requirements for Discovery programming. Requires clear, on-going communication of Discovery’s editorial guidelines and standards of quality to outside production companies, particularly during story development and rushes stages, including early notification of productions not meeting Discovery standards.
13. Supervision of all production phases of reversions or repackaging, including editing, re-narration, post-production audio, scripting, graphics and field and studio production.
14. The VP will be held jointly accountable for the effective business and financial management of their programs.
15. Acts as network representative to outside organizations and responsible for maintaining relationships with external vendors and clients.

Requirements

* Ten plus years’ field or studio production and development experience
* A demonstrated track record in creative execution and delivering high quality, successful projects. Experience managing a slate of multiple television projects simultaneously.
* Exceptional research and writing skills.
* Demonstrated aptitude to work closely with external producers to represent the network’s needs. Demonstrated ability to manage the creative process from concept to air. Ability to work closely with related divisions including press, marketing, ad sales, education and consumer products.
* College degree or equivalent work experience.

* Must have the legal right to work in the United States.

Los Angeles, California, LA, CA