Sustainability Production Executive

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:

The Commissioning department is responsible for selecting and helping shape all the content we distribute on our linear channels and across our digital platforms. 

They are responsible for the development and delivery of our programme slate, and this role will help support them to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible and within C4’s expectations for sustainable productions.

JOB PURPOSE:

Channel 4 has set ambitious climate targets to reduce carbon emissions across all operations. In order to reach this ambition we must tackle emissions arising from the production of television. This role supports our production partners to reduce their carbon footprint, spotting opportunities for improvement early on and monitoring adherence to best practice.   

Working closely with: 

• Director of Commissioning Operations, to embed sustainable practices into production
• Commissioning Editors from across various genres, to ensure sustainability is accounted for through the commissioning process from start to finish
• Production Finance, to ensure carbon emissions and reduction efforts are tracked and management with corporate systems
• Sustainability Manager, report on progress against targets and ensure production activities align with the channel’s science based targets and net zero strategy
• Production companies to support decarbonisation activities
• Suppliers of low-carbon alternatives available to productions
• BAFTA albert, to ensure efforts are captured on sustainable reporting tools
• Green consultancies and their input with Channel 4 suppliers where appropriate.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide subject matter expertise in sustainable productions, supporting content being commissioned
• Raise awareness of C4’s climate targets and encouraging the widespread transformation necessary to meet targets across production
• Work closely with Commissioning across all genres to understand editorial and creative requirements of each commission, to then approach sustainability challenges and solutions from a commissioning perspective, ensuring editorial requirements aren’t compromised
• Embedding decarbonisation initiatives across commissioning slate, accounting for the impact of changes on production and budget
• Work closely with producers to ensure decarbonisation initiatives are practical properly costed, and achieve emission reductions
• Work to set Channel 4’s best practice Sustainable Production guidelines, providing support for commissioning teams and productions to ensure editorial standards aren’t compromised.  Review and update all supporting documents and training for indies and commissioners.
• Support Commissioning to manage and reduce any higher carbon production plans.
• Support C4’s commitment to the climate content pledge.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• Knowledge and experience of BAFTA albert’s sustainable production tools.
• Previous experience in a broadcasting/media role and understanding of sustainable TV content production.
• Understanding of the production process and the pressures on production companies, and how these can impact delivery.
• Knowledge of the commissioning process.
• Strong prioritising and time management skills, including demonstrable ability in working to hard deadlines.
• Highly organised and with an excellent eye for detail.
• Knowledge of a range of independent production companies and a breadth and depth of programming across genres
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to give clear feedback in a business and creative context and convey complex information in simple terms.
• Ability to lead and inspire others.
• Proven experience of establishing partnerships at an individual or team level.
• Evidence of resilience when faced with challenges.
• Keen interest in sustainability.

DESIRABLE:

• Ability to manage and review sustainability data, strong numeracy skills.
• Demonstrable experience of conducting and maintaining a strong network of external relationships within independent production companies.
• Knowledge of Carbon accounting frameworks namely the GHG protocol.
• Experience in data and reporting tools to communicate sustainability metrics effectively.