High-Risk Production Executive

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION 

The High-Risk Team sits within Content Operations at Channel 4. It generates industry-leading high-risk filming guidance and process at Channel 4 and Film4 and jointly oversees the implementation of that guidance and process across all Channel 4 and Film4 productions where the necessity for a security risk assessment has been identified – for travel, recces, production, filming, undercover filming and content creation in remote, austere and hostile environments in the UK and abroad.

The High-Risk Team also helps producers assess the risk to secure content creation where the threat of cyber-attack or compromised digital communications has been identified, throughout the lifecycle of production.

As such, the High-Risk Team plays a key role in helping to manage corporate and reputational risk for Channel 4. With a comprehensive overview of productions across all genres, and liaison with a wide range of independent production companies, industry bodies and service providers the High-Risk Team serves as a representative of the Channel and is a sustained point of contact for producers throughout the production process.

JOB PURPOSE 

The purpose of the High-Risk Production Executive role is to assist the Head of High-Risk Production in the creation, regular updating, dissemination, implementation and oversight of the Channel’s High-Risk Filming Guidelines (the primary reference point for the Channel’s high-risk filming expectations for both producers (externally) and Channel 4 Commissioning, Production Finance, and Legal and Compliance (internally)).

It is likewise the High-Risk Production Executive’s role to assist the Head of High-Risk Production to create, update and implement the user-friendly High-Risk Filming Protocol (HFP) Template & Guidance Notes for use by producers, and to give guidance to producers to help them to identify threats and hazards, assess risks and apply controls to assist them in completing the High-Risk Filming Protocol in line with the Channel’s expectations and requirements. 

In conjunction with Channel 4 Legal and Compliance and Commissioning, the High-Risk Production Executive oversees the High-Risk Filming Protocol process on the productions that have been allocated to them by the Head of High-Risk Production, making sure that producers’ plans have been interrogated and continue to align with the Channel’s expectations for travel and production in high-risk environments. 

The High-Risk Production Executive also oversees projects that may not require the implementation of a full High-Risk Filming Protocol but do need an increased level of security planning and scrutiny. 

The High-Risk Production Executive may deploy in the UK or overseas to support the Channel’s crisis management procedures.

The High-Risk Team does not provide oversight of production Health and Safety Risk Assessments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

In addition to the purpose and responsibilities described above, the High-Risk Production Executive will:

• work closely with external open-source investigation, security and medical providers contracted by producers
• review the daily security logs submitted to the Channel by producers engaged on high-risk filming projects and is one of the primary Channel contacts in case of an incident, assisting with the Channel’s emergency response and ongoing crisis management.
• maintain risk-oversight throughout the lifecycle of production, from initial development to post-transmission.
• is expected to brief the Head of High-Risk Production on the projects they have responsibility for, and to flag any issues arising that may require upward referral.
• assist the Head of High-Risk Production in the delivery of training in the Channel’s high-risk processes for producers and relevant Channel 4 departments and individuals.
• help maintain an up-to-date bible of all high-risk filming projects, generating data sets relating to all high-risk deployments.
• By its nature the High-Risk Production Executive role will involve regular periods of time being on standby out of hours as a primary contact for producers who may require an emergency response.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

To carry out their role the High-Risk Production Executive must ideally therefore:

• have a strong command of written and spoken English
• communicate clearly, concisely and unequivocally
• write unambiguous, rigorous and detailed reports and briefings
• be experienced in giving presentations and delivering training packages to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with high-risk protocols and processes
• give timely, constructive and encouraging feedback on producers’ plans
• be prepared to take difficult decisions under pressure
• work as part of a fully integrated team across all areas of production, whilst also working effectively and accountably in a semi-autonomous capacity when required
• have worked in or with commissioning and/or television production
• have direct personal experience of working in a variety of high-risk environments (for example in conflict, political, remote, austere and undercover filming scenarios) and have experience of emergency response and crisis management
• maintain a network of relevant contacts (including, for example, fixers, field producers, media professionals, and medical, security, open-source investigation and communications experts)
• have a wide-ranging interest in international current affairs and an understanding of how ongoing political developments may impact crew safety and security
• have a keen interest in the latest developments in open-source investigation and cyber, communications and data security. Although the role contains no direct Information Security component, at least a basic understanding of how media teams intersect and with these security components is required
• have an up-to-date overview of current industry-standard medical and hostile environments awareness training for the media and for the high-risk advisers who support them
• Language skills other than English are an advantage but not a necessity