Senior Manager, Production Management - Longform

Job Description

Senior Manager, Production Management - ABC News Longform (Project)

ABC News Longform is substantially growing its production output to produce narrative non-fiction content and news specials for the ABC network, Hulu and other Disney platforms. We are seeking an experienced Production Manager on a longterm project basis to manage news specials for the ABC News portfolio, with an emphasis on projects for ABC News on Hulu. This Senior Manager will oversee production management for 8-12 specials each year and assist other projects/series on an as needed basis including podcasts. These specials will include topical crash specials and longer term planned specials. Reporting to the Executive Director Production Management, the Sr. Manager Production Management will oversee production management activities for all News specials working in collaboration with the executive producers for each program and line producers assigned to individual projects. The Sr. Manager will be familiar with different production models including in-house, co-productions, and third-party commissions and will work with the Executive Director Production Management to recommend the best structure for each project. The Sr. Manager will manage production logistics and staffing for each special; and will manage financial reporting for each special working closely with colleagues in Finance and the PMD teams assigned to each show. In addition to Specials, the Sr. Manager will also assist the department in building and reviewing budgets and schedules for narrative non-fiction limited series, recurring series, podcasts, and feature documentary films.

The Sr. Manager will work in collaboration with the Executive Director Production Management and individual project executive producers to identify a staffing plan for each project and work with the Director of Production Staffing, HR, Operations, and Finance to on board and manage production staff. The Senior Manager will oversee all aspects of production from pre-greenlight through post production and asset delivery, and work in close collaboration with edit operations and delivery teams. The Senior Manager will also consult with the teams responsible for insurance, rights and clearances, risk management, and labor issues to insure project compliance from pre-production through delivery.

Responsibilities:
• Act as a Studio production manager for news specials overseeing the Line Producer and Production Manager teams assigned to each project.
• Directly manage complex productions and ensure network creative, technical and business goals are delivered, facilitating solutions as day-to-day production changes occur.
• Build initial budgets and schedules for each special
• Manage production logistics for each special and facilitate information flow across departments including key dates, hiring, and other compliance-related time-sensitive information
• Track production costs in close collaboration with Finance and the PMD team assigned to each project
• Coordinate with Executive Producer and Production Staffing to develop a staffing model for each project and work alongside Operations to facilitate efficient onboarding of production teams as they are hired
• Coordinate closely with Edit Operations and Delivery teams to ensure project specifications for each delivery platform are met and schedules and budgets are adhered to
• Support the creation and implementation of production handbooks and communicate requirements to all creative and production teams
• Manage union obligations that are triggered by production and works closely with labor counsel to ensure compliance
• Communicate with risk management, insurance and tax compliance teams to ensure all projects are in compliance
• Coordinate closely with Finance team to ensure transparency of budgets
• Assist the department on startup of projects across the portfolio including building budgets and schedule and serving as a temporary project Line Producer as needed.
• Serve as a project Line Producer as specials are starting up or wrapping out on an ad hoc basis.

Basic Qualifications:
• 8+ years of production management experience, including experience as a line producer or executive producer
• Expertise in building production budget and schedules
• Expertise in production methods and the latest production technology
• Expertise in production rates and staffing needs for different types of projects
• Experience with quick turnaround news specials
• Experience working across a diverse set of project types
• Experience managing a portfolio of projects at the same time
• Experience with labor unions and compliance
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function in both a quick turn news environment and a longer term documentary production environment
• Calm under pressure and a willingness to be flexible to determine how best to work with different production teams

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in a production company or studio/network production management capacity
• Understanding of different distribution platforms
• A passion for non-fiction content, with both a news and documentary focus
• MovieMagic budgeting proficiency

Required Education
• BA or equivalent work experience

About General Entertainment Content:

The General Entertainment Content group creates original entertainment and news content for the Company's streaming platforms and its cable and broadcast networks.

This position is with American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., which is part of a business segment we call General Entertainment Content.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rbp7vo-18-219-189-247-42 in your application.