Scriptwriter/ Director (KOMI Studios)

KOMI Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

KOMI Group seeks an experienced Scriptwriter/Director to lead vertical drama projects at KOMI Studios, shaping narratives from concept to screen and directing on-set performances for mobile audiences.

You will collaborate with producers and editors to ensure pacing, character arcs and visual storytelling meet budget, schedule and creative standards. Flexibility for overtime and travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience writing narrative scripts, supported by writing samples or produced work in a social-first entertainment environment.

Responsibilities

• Write and develop original scripts for short-form and episodic vertical dramas.
• Develop ideas from concept through to production-ready scripts and completed shoots.
• Create strong hooks, memorable characters, natural dialogue, compelling conflict and satisfying narrative payoffs.
• Improve existing concepts and scripts by strengthening narrative structure, pacing, character motivation and emotional impact.
• Develop recurring characters, longer-term story arcs and scalable formats capable of supporting full vertical drama series.
• Direct original scripted content, ensuring the story, tone, performances and visual execution meet the agreed creative brief.
• Translate scripts into clear and achievable creative plans, including blocking, shot selection, coverage, pacing and performance direction.
• Direct actors to deliver natural and emotionally credible performances, including supporting less experienced performers where required.
• Lead creatively on set, communicating clearly with cast and crew and making confident decisions under production pressure.
• Work closely with producers and production teams to ensure creative ambition is achievable within available budgets, schedules, locations, cast and resources.
• Adapt scripts and creative decisions where required to solve practical production challenges without compromising the central story.
• Ensure sufficient coverage, continuity and technical quality is captured to support an effective edit.
• Review footage and edits, providing clear and actionable feedback to ensure the finished content delivers on the original narrative and creative intention.
• Use audience-performance data, editorial feedback and production learnings to improve future scripts, shoots and repeatable storytelling principles.
• Help establish consistent script-development and directing processes, including templates, review stages and creative quality standards.
• Contribute to raising the overall creative standard of KOMI Studios by sharing knowledge, giving constructive feedback and supporting the development of the wider team.

Job description

The Role

KOMI Group already has the audience. Now we want to build the shows they cannot stop watching. We reach more than 150 million people worldwide. Across more than 80 owned social brands, we have a combined following of over 50 million, and our content generates between 4 and 5 billion views every month. Our original scripted content already attracts millions of views, but we see that as only the beginning. Our ambition is to make KOMI Studios the home of the best drama made for social. We want to create unforgettable characters, returning series and original worlds that audiences follow from episode to episode and season to season. Stories built for how people watch today, distributed wherever they choose to watch, and developed into valuable intellectual property that belongs to us. We are looking for an experienced and ambitious Scriptwriter/ Director to help set the creative standard for the next stage of KOMI Studios. This is a hands-on creative role spanning both the writing and directing of our original vertical dramas, taking ideas from initial concept and script development through to performance, production and final edit. Initially, you will help strengthen our existing three-minute vertical dramas through better narrative structure, character development, dialogue, pacing and emotional payoff, while also taking responsibility for bringing those scripts to life on set. You will direct cast and crew, shape performances and visual storytelling, and work closely with producers and editors to ensure every production is creatively strong, practical to deliver and designed specifically for vertical audiences. Longer term, you will play a central role in developing recurring characters, connected storylines and full multi-episode vertical drama series. This is an opportunity to help shape a growing studio, establish its creative identity and build original shows capable of reaching millions of viewers around the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Write and develop original scripts for short-form and episodic vertical dramas.
• Develop ideas from initial concept through to production-ready scripts and completed shoots.
• Create strong hooks, memorable characters, natural dialogue, compelling conflict and satisfying narrative payoffs.
• Improve existing concepts and scripts by strengthening narrative structure, pacing, character motivation and emotional impact.
• Develop recurring characters, longer-term story arcs and scalable formats capable of supporting full vertical drama series.
• Direct original scripted content, ensuring the story, tone, performances and visual execution meet the agreed creative brief.
• Translate scripts into clear and achievable creative plans, including blocking, shot selection, coverage, pacing and performance direction.
• Direct actors to deliver natural and emotionally credible performances, including supporting less experienced performers where required.
• Lead creatively on set, communicating clearly with cast and crew and making confident decisions under production pressure.
• Work closely with producers and production teams to ensure creative ambition is achievable within available budgets, schedules, locations, cast and resources.
• Adapt scripts and creative decisions where required to solve practical production challenges without compromising the central story.
• Ensure sufficient coverage, continuity and technical quality is captured to support an effective edit.
• Review footage and edits, providing clear and actionable feedback to ensure the finished content delivers on the original narrative and creative intention.
• Use audience-performance data, editorial feedback and production learnings to improve future scripts, shoots and repeatable storytelling principles.
• Help establish consistent script-development and directing processes, including templates, review stages and creative quality standards.
• Contribute to raising the overall creative standard of KOMI Studios by sharing knowledge, giving constructive feedback and supporting the development of the wider team.

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience writing narrative scripts, supported by relevant writing samples, produced work or a portfolio, within a social-first entertainment environment desirable.
• Proven experience directing scripted content, actors or narrative productions, supported by a showreel, portfolio or relevant production credits.
• A strong understanding of narrative structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, conflict and emotional storytelling.
• A strong understanding of visual storytelling, including performance, blocking, shot composition, coverage, continuity and pacing.
• Experience working within digital production, television, drama, film or another professional scripted-content environment.
• Experience producing content for platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok or YouTube is especially desirable.
• The ability to take an idea from concept and script through to practical on-set execution.
• Confidence directing actors and communicating performance notes clearly, constructively and sensitively.
• An understanding of how scripts translate into production requirements, with the ability to write creatively within budget, location, casting and scheduling constraints.
• Strong creative decision-making and problem-solving skills, particularly within fast-moving production environments.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with producers, cast, camera teams, editors and other production colleagues.
• An understanding of how storytelling and directing techniques must adapt for short-form, mobile-first audiences.
• A professional, approachable and positive attitude, both internally and on set.
• Openness to creative feedback and a commitment to continually improving the quality of the work.
• From time to time it is expected that you will be happy to feature in content, where needed (in front or behind the camera) and a release form will be required to be signed.
• Flexibility and willingness to work overtime/weekends/public holidays should the need arise, time always to be given back in lieu.
• Full driving licence (own transport desirable, not essential).