Studio Director - Freelancer

TVNZ; Auckland; On-site; NZD 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

TVNZ in Auckland is seeking a freelance Studio Director to oversee live bulletins and pre-recorded programming, delivering fast, flexible responses to changing production needs. You will build relationships with News & Current Affairs and other production teams, operate advanced studio systems, and thrive in TV’s busy, 24/7 environment, including weekends and public holidays.

The role requires experience with Mosart, Overdrive, Ignite, and NRCS platforms such as iNews, SAGA, or Octopus.

Qualifications

• Several years of live TV production experience.
• Experience with newsroom systems and control room tech.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong relationships with News & Current Affairs and production stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships within operational teams.
• Demonstrate a flexible approach for rapid response to changing production needs.

Skills

Live TV production

Newsroom operations

Flexibility under pressure

Communication with stakeholders

Tools

Mosart

Ross Overdrive

Ignite

iNews

SAGA

Octopus

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

We are looking for a freelance Studio Director to join our team on a contractor basis, providing studio direction for live bulletins and pre-recorded programming while delivering fast, flexible responses to changing production needs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with News & Current Affairs and other production stakeholders.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships within operational teams.
• Demonstrating a flexible and agile approach that enables a quick response to changing production needs.

TVNZ operates in a 24/7 environment, so flexibility is required, including availability for weekends and public holidays.

To be successful, in this role we are looking for the following

• Experience using automated studio production systems such as Mosart, Ross Overdrive, or Ignite for the delivery of daily news bulletins.
• Broad knowledge of control room systems, including Viz graphics, vision mixing, lighting, sound, and cameras.
• Experience using newsroom computer systems (NRCS) such as iNews, SAGA, or Octopus.
• Several years of live TV production experience.
• The ability to thrive in a busy, fast-paced live television environment.