Jr Casting Producer – University Challenge

Job title:

Jr Casting Producer – University Challenge

Company:

ITV

Job description

Jr Casting Producer – University Challenge(Subject to commission)Lifted EntertainmentUniversity ChallengeFreelance ContractMedia City , Manchester UKStart date: Monday 2nd September 2024For more information please email [email protected]Your work matters to millions.Shaping culture is in the DNA of ITV. So, it’s not surprising that you’ll find us in every home in the UK, our productions are famous all over the world and we’re at the forefront of the digital streaming revolution.When you join us, you enter a fun working environment. With opportunities to learn, to grow and make a real difference. Small enough that your impact’s felt in the business, but big enough that your impact reaches millions of people.Come develop your skills, change TV and the course of your career. Don’t just watch it. Be part of it. Join ITV.This opportunity particularly welcomes applications from People of Colour, Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent people.Your impact sends ripples.The team…Lifted Entertainment is home to some of the biggest TV shows in the world.From live shows such as Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, to talent shows like The Voice UK, quizzes such as University Challenge and reality formats including Love Island. There isn’t an unscripted genre we do not produce!Our people are everything and they are the ones who work with us to create award-winning, fun – and funny – entertainment shows.The role…The Jr Casting Producer will support the Series Producer in attracting and selecting student teams to appear on University Challenge, with particular focus on improving engagement among currently underrepresented groups. They will also work alongside the SP to find and book guests to appear on the Christmas special series of the programme for distinguished alumni, and manage relationships with these guests before, during, and after recording.The responsibilities for the role are:Student series:

• Supporting the Series Producer in building and maintaining an up-to-date contact list for all higher education institutions (HEIs) eligible to apply for University Challenge.
• Developing and implementing strategies to encourage applications from underrepresented HEIs.
• Liaising with HEI team organisers to provide advice and support regarding widening participation among their student body.
• Supporting the Series Producer in responding to queries from prospective contestants regarding the application process and the programme more broadly.
• Supporting the Series Producer in implementing processes relating to contestant welfare and duty of care, including carrying out background checks on applicants.

Christmas series:

• Generating ideas for appropriate guests, keeping in mind both the editorial style of the programme and questions of diversity and representation, and pitching these ideas to the Series Producer.
• Making approaches to agents and/or guests directly and negotiating bookings.
• Managing lines of communication with booked guests and/or their agents in the run-up to filming, ensuring necessary information and documentation is provided and collected.
• During studio recordings, leading the team working with contestants backstage, to keep the day running to schedule, and to ensure that contestants’ support needs are met (including delivering gameplay briefings, and sharing responsibility with the Series Producer and Production Manager for making sure any reasonable adjustments or personalisations have been implemented).

General:

• To keep the producer and production manager informed throughout the production process of key milestones and production state of play, managing and mitigating events as they arise
• In partnership with production management and finance colleagues, to deliver demonstrable value for money through the efficient use and deployment of resources
• To clear expenses in a timely fashion
• With production management, to ensure all talent sign the relevant release forms
• To demonstrate knowledge of programme compliance issues ensuring the programme is produced at all times within the parameters of the Ofcom Code, escalating issues where concerns arise
• To comply with all appropriate regulations with regard to data protection and the bribery act
• To attend all relevant mandatory training and comply with ITV’s policies, guidelines, legislative and regulatory requirements in order to minimise ITV’s exposure to risk
• To manage upwards effectively and where necessary challenge (respectfully) more senior colleagues
• To manage own workload and performance and work collaboratively and effectively with all colleagues, providing guidance to more junior members when required

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• A good grasp of the programme’s format and style and an awareness of previous contributors on these series.
• Proven experience in the creation of successful strategies and processes required for casting contestants/ contributors for Broadcast Television. Please evidence this in your CV.
• Experience in generating creative ideas for guests/ contestants in line with the editorial style of the programme while also adhering to budgetary constraints. Please evidence this in your application.
• Proven experience of engaging with / dealing with talent agents and successfully negotiating bookings. Please evidence this in your application.
• Demonstrable understanding of production processes including welfare and duty of care in relation to casting.
• Proven ability to communicate advice and criticism clearly and offer guidance to junior team members.
• Be passionate about and familiar with issues of diversity and representation in television and able to demonstrate successful solutions.
• Demonstrable self motivation with good organisational skills required for a television programme in a studio or on location. Please provide evidence in your application.
• Proven experience of taking responsibility for updating and managing information databases on a TV production and regularly reporting to the senior editorial team.
• Demonstrable understanding of potential programme compliance issues and sound knowledge of the Ofcom Code. Please evidence this in your application.
• An exceptional team player with the ability to develop good working relationships and manage upwards to senior members of the team where required, evidenced by previous employment.
• Experienced Casting Assistant Producers, with sufficient relevant experience at Assistant Producer level with a view to taking a first step up to Jr Producer will be considered.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Skilled at dealing sensitively and professionally with a wide range of external contributors and talent
• Ability to show a resourceful and solution-focussed approach to achieving editorial ambition within budgetary and legal constraints
• Organised and deadline-focussed approach to managing workload and conciseness/attention to detail when presenting any written research notes or programme information/logs
• Passion and resilience with the ability to maintain performance levels in the face of ever-changing priorities, workload and challenging situations
• Knowledge and awareness of Higher Educational Institutions and ideas for strategies to increase under representation

ITV is for everyone.ITV strongly encourages applications for this role from disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader, if you meet the minimum criteria for a role and you have declared that you are disabled, we’ll guarantee to take you to the next stage* (minimum criteria above).We’re happy to discuss any support/personalisation you may need during our application and selection process as part of our reasonable adjustments. Drop us a line if you require anything at .about applying with a disability.

• There may be a few exceptions where we are not able to take all eligible candidates to the next stage due to the volume of applications.

Closing date: Sunday 28th July 2024*Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.

Expected salary

Location

Manchester

Job date

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 22:06:05 GMT

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