Senior Production Manager (Documentary Television)

Location: London, UK; hybrid working with three days in the office per week. The role primarily works from the production office and may require attendance at shoots, recces, production meetings and post-production facilities, including travel and work outside standard office hours when production requires it.

Right to work in the UK is required. hirify.global does not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Company

Full Story Films is hirify.global’s in-house documentary and current affairs production unit, combining hirify.global News journalism with award-winning production expertise for investigative current affairs, premium features and series.

What you will do

• Manage programme budgets, production schedules, forecasts, cost reports, expenditure, commitments and cash flow, recommending corrective action when required.
• Oversee production finance with the Production Accountant, including purchase orders, invoices, expenses, payroll preparation and contracting.
• Source and negotiate crews, facilities and suppliers; arrange travel, accommodation, filming equipment, locations, access, permits and permissions.
• Prepare contributor releases, material and location agreements, call sheets, risk assessments, insurance arrangements, safeguarding measures and escalation procedures.
• Manage sensitive productions, vulnerable contributors, challenging or hostile locations, compliance requirements and editorial, legal, financial and operational risks.
• Coordinate edit schedules, post-production workflows, clearances, viewings and delivery paperwork, while improving production systems and supporting collaborative teams.

Requirements

• Substantial production management experience in current affairs, factual or documentary television, including a strong track record managing complex investigative productions from development through delivery.
• Confident ownership of programme budgets, cost reporting, forecasting, cash flow and financial controls.
• Working knowledge of production insurance, contracting, rights and clearances, data protection, health and safety, safeguarding and contributor duty of care.
• Experience managing productions involving sensitive subject matter, vulnerable contributors, complex access or challenging locations.
• Experience managing and developing production staff and negotiating with freelancers, facilities and external suppliers.
• Ability to identify, assess, escalate and mitigate editorial, legal and financial risks.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end production and post-production workflows, technical delivery requirements and secure media handling.
• Excellent planning, organisation, prioritisation, communication and problem-solving skills, with accuracy under pressure and a calm, decisive approach.
• Experience with international filming, hostile-environment arrangements or high-risk access, plus flexibility to travel and work outside standard office hours when required.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working with three office days per week at hirify.global’s Osterley Campus.
• Pension package with up to 9% employer contribution.
• Private healthcare with mental health support, digital GP and dental insurance.
• Free NOW package, discounts on hirify.global products, Share Save and Tech schemes, and hirify.global VIP rewards.
• Inclusive working environment with reasonable adjustments available for candidates who need them.

Hiring process

• Successful applicants must complete a criminal record check.
• Applications are subject to verification of the required UK right to work; visa sponsorship is not available.