Production Manager

AlAin News; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Ain News is seeking a senior, technically advanced Production Manager to lead its complete production and post-production engine room, overseeing editors, graphic designers, and camera operators from filming to final multi-platform delivery.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong technical command of editing tools and workflows, and the ability to manage budgets and schedules while ensuring UAE media compliance.

Qualifications

• University degree in Film, Media Production, Broadcasting, or related field.
• Professional certifications in editing software are highly advantageous.
• Minimum of six years in senior or leadership production roles.
• Expert-level proficiency with non-linear editing and color grading.
• Arabic native, strong English language proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end production and post-production pipeline from filming to delivery.
• Manage and develop a multi-location post-production team and coordinators.
• Define editing workflows, project structures, codecs, and export presets.
• Oversee budgets, vendor billing, and asset management.
• Ensure compliance with UAE media regulations and digital platform specifications.

Skills

Arabic language (native)

English language (professional)

Team management

Problem solving under pressure

Digital content workflows

Education

Film/Media degree

Editing software certifications

Tools

Premiere Pro

Final Cut Pro

DaVinci Resolve

After Effects

Job description

Al-Ain News is IMI's multilingual digital news platform, delivering around-the-clock coverage of regional and international news. The platform combines breaking news, live updates, analysis, opinion, explainers and video to provide audiences with reliable, accessible journalism.

Available in Arabic, Al-Ain News serves audiences across multiple regions through a network of editorial teams and regional bureaux.

Role Summary

We are seeking a senior, technically advanced Production Manager to lead our complete production and post-production engine room. In this supervisory role, you will manage a highly talented team of editors, Graphic Designers, cameramen across every stage of the pipeline—from initial filming to final multi-platform delivery.

This position requires a hands-on leader who has extensive floor experience, possesses strong technical command of production tools, and thrives on managing workflows through technical expertise rather than just administrative oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Pipeline Build & Ownership: Design, optimize, and manage the end-to-end production and post-production pipeline (filming, editing, motion graphics, review, technical QC, and final delivery) for high-volume daily output.
• Team Leadership: Manage, schedule, and develop the post-production team while coordinating field filming logistics across multiple locations.
• Format Standardization: Maintain and own production master templates, enforcing exact pacing guidelines, graphics packages, subtitles, aspect ratios, and social platform specifications.
• Capacity & Resource Allocation: Balance daily crew and editing assignments against the active content calendar; proactively coordinate with the multiple departments to eliminate production bottlenecks.
• Technical Supervision: Define editing workflows, project structures, codecs, and export presets; provide direct troubleshooting for complex editing, graphics, or asset issues when teams stall.
• Fiscal Oversight: Monitor and reconcile production house vendor billings, talent day-rates, and equipment asset tracking against monthly operation budgets.
• Performance Analytics: Review video performance metrics alongside the Growth team to proactively optimize visual sequencing styles for higher viewer retention.
• Crisis & Problem Solving: Rapidly resolve technical, staffing, and scheduling conflicts on the floor to maintain uninterrupted production under tight daily publishing schedules.
• Tools, Infrastructure & Vendors: Manage the software stack, media storage systems, review tools, and hardware equipment lists; evaluate and advise on technical upgrades to reduce turnaround time.
• KPI Management: Establish, track, and optimize department-wide performance indicators (KPIs) regarding post-production turnaround times, asset retrieval efficiency, and pipeline delivery speeds.

Qualification

• Education & Certification: University degree in Film, Media Production, Broadcasting, or a related field; professional certifications in industry-standard editing software are highly advantageous.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of six (6) years of experience in a similar senior or leadership capacity (e.g., Head of Production, Production Manager, or Post-Production Supervisor) within a broadcast TV or digital production house environment.
• Technical Command: Expert-level proficiency in non-linear editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve), color grading, After Effects workflows, camera formats, log footage, shared storage systems, and media asset management. Must be able to actively teach and correct, not just assign tasks.
• AI Integration: Demonstrated familiarity with AI-powered post-production tools for automated captioning, logging assistance, smart-cropping, and asset localization workflows.
• Team Management: Proven track record of supervising large, diverse, and multi-location creative teams (editors, designers, and camera operators) with strong interpersonal skills.
• Digital-First Output: Solid background in managing high-volume, short-form vertical and horizontal content optimized for digital and social media ecosystems.
• Field Expertise & Compliance: Practical background in filming and directing on-set or in the field is preferred, alongside a deep understanding of local UAE media laws and cultural standards.
• Resilience: Demonstrated ability to problem-solve calmly and effectively under high-pressure, time-sensitive environments with rigid daily deadlines.
• Language Fluency: Native-level fluency in Arabic with a strong professional command of English.