Executive Producer, Today in Focus: The Latest

The Guardian; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Volunteer days

Season ticket loan

Life cover

Dental insurance

Parental leave

Diversity policy

Job summary

The Guardian is seeking an Executive Producer for Today in Focus: The Latest to lead a small team producing a daily video podcast for audio, video and social channels. You will decide the day’s top story, book guests, and record quickly for a global audience.

This full-time 12-month fixed-term contract requires strong editorial leadership, multi-camera direction, and YouTube strategy to grow reach and impact.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a team of video and/or social video producers.
• Experience editorial decision making on daily news podcasts/radio shows/broadcast news.
• Experience using video editing software, ideally Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Experience directing multi-camera video shoots in a studio setting.
• Thrives under tight deadlines delivering daily audio/video output.
• Understanding of YouTube channel management.
• Understanding of community engagement across social channels.
• Understanding analytics on YouTube and social channels.
• Passion for news and popular culture; awareness of evolving video podcast landscape.
• Understanding of Today in Focus and differentiation strategy.
• Understanding Guardian News & Media Ltd editorial aims.
• Diversity perspective is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a small team of video producers on a short daily video podcast.
• Commission stories for the podcast daily and lead editorial meetings.
• Oversee guest booking, scriptwriting, episode structuring and edit sessions.
• Oversee studio and remote video recordings and operate studio cameras when needed.
• Ensure high editorial standards and creativity.
• Follow legal guidance and ensure media-law compliance.
• Optimize YouTube content with keywords, headlines and descriptions.
• Plan team rota and arrange cover when necessary.
• Work with designers to create and optimize thumbnail images.
• Collaborate with hosts and guests to develop on-air talent.
• Support Today in Focus strategy and collaborate with Guardian podcast teams.
• Analyse data on YouTube and social content performance.
• Contribute to Guardian podcast team and showcase journalism and values.

Skills

Team management

Editorial decision making

YouTube channel management

Analytics

Audience engagement

Multi-camera directing

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Job description

Join our team at the Guardian and be a part of a diverse and inclusive global organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism, and holds power to account. Our team of award-winning journalists, cutting-edge commercial professionals, and industry-leading digital experts are committed to making a difference and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. We offer a challenging and exciting environment for career development, with a focus on training, growth and fostering an inclusive culture.

We are looking for an executive producer to join Today in Focus: The Latest. You will lead a small team editing and producing the daily podcast for audio, video and social channels.

On a tight deadline, you'll be deciding what the day's most interesting story is, booking in a guest to explain it to the Guardian's global audience, and recording it – all within a few hours. And be it global politics, the climate crisis, culture, or pure human-interest stories, no subject is off-limits. You can explore the show's catalogue here.

This is a full-time 12-month fixed-term contract.

About the role

• Lead and manage a small team of video producers working on a short daily video podcast
• Commission stories for the podcast each day and lead daily editorial meetings
• Oversee guest booking, scriptwriting, episode structuring and edit sessions
• Oversee studio and remote video recordings, including operating studio cameras where necessary
• Ensure the highest levels of creativity and editorial standards
• Follow legal guidance and ensure compliance with media law and regulations
• Ensure YouTube optimisation on all video content - keywords, headlines, descriptions etc
• Plan team rota and arrange cover where necessary
• Work with designers to commission and optimise thumbnail images
• Work with hosts and podcast guests to develop on-air talent
• Work with the head and deputy head of podcasts in developing video and social strategy and continue to grow the ambition for the podcast
• Work in conjunction with the Today in Focus team to ensure Today in Focus: The Latest complements the output and collaborate with other Guardian podcast teams as required
• Analysing and responding to data on how YouTube and social content is performing
• Play an active part in the Guardian's podcast team and look for opportunities to showcase our journalism and values

About you

• Experience of managing a team of video and/or social video producers
• Experience of editorial decision making on daily news podcasts/radio shows/broadcast news
• Experience of using video editing software, ideally Adobe Premiere Pro
• Experience of directing multi-camera video shoots in a studio setting
• Experienced in creating daily audio/video output under tight deadlines
• Understanding of YouTube channel management
• Understanding of community engagement across social channels
• Understanding of analytics on YouTube and social channels
• A passion for news and popular culture and an appreciation of the evolving video podcast and social media landscape
• An understanding of Today in Focus and what makes a good story for the show, and how to differentiate Today in Focus: The Latest
• Understanding of the editorial aims and values of Guardian News & Media Ltd
• Ideally, you'll have a demonstrable ability to bring a diverse perspective to this role

We actively encourage applications from groups traditionally underrepresented in the UK media.

Due to the requirements of a fast-paced daily production schedule, this position is fully office-based.

The salary range for this NUJ position starts at £60,748, with the final offer determined by the successful candidate's skills, experience, and responsibilities.

Benefits at the Guardian

• You'll have six weeks of annual leave per year (plus bank holidays) with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age).
• We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving.
• Season ticket loans are also available.
• You are entitled to life cover, income protection, and eye tests.
• You can also opt in to dental insurance.
• We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place.
• We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.

Culture and wellbeing

We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace. We became the first major media organisation to achieve B Corp status.

We offer tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including access to our employee benefits platform which provides tailored support for health and wellbeing. In addition, we also offer free yoga and pilates classes. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.

Our canteen has views overlooking the Regents Canal and caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Learning and development

We encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.

We value honesty in your application.

AI generated content must not be presented as your own work. Please review our guidance on the use of AI in your application here.

We appreciate the time taken to prepare each application we receive. We do not use AI-assisted technology to review applications; every application is reviewed by a member of our recruitment team. Thank you for bearing with us during the screening process.

All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to help your application, this includes providing documents in accessible formats or personalising the process to better support your needs.