Head of Production, Video & Audio

Head of Production, Video & Audio

Location: London

Department: The Times & The Sunday Times

Salary Range: Not Specified

Advertising End Date: 04 May 2026

Job Description

The Times and The Sunday Times represent a combined 400 years of covering news and providing comment and analysis on the UK and the world. We are authoritative, credible, responsible and trusted, and part of the nation's cultural heritage.

Your role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Production to lead the operational delivery of our digital storytelling. This newly created leadership position is designed to unify our production standards across Video and Podcasts.

Day to day you will

• Serve as the single point of accountability for the full production workflow, guaranteeing a smooth, scalable process from recording through post-production to final distribution.
• Manage the Production Managers who oversee day to day video and podcast output, allowing you to focus on elevating production standards to a singular, world class Times benchmark.
• Ensure that our technical infrastructure is future proofed for a global audience by identifying and integrating the next generation of production technology, from AI assisted workflows to cloud based collaborative editing.
• Oversee departmental budgets across the slate, planning and allocating spend per series and episode, and reallocating resources as needed to ensure optimal delivery outcomes.
• Establish and oversee robust end of production workflows to ensure all deliverables, paperwork, rights documentation and compliance materials are accurately completed, securely archived and distribution ready.
• Lead negotiations for music licensing, archive access and technical procurement to ensure our teams have the best tools and rights in place.
• Coordinate the strategic development of our physical and virtual studio spaces to ensure they are optimised for the overlapping needs of cinematic video, high fidelity audio and live social broadcasting.
• Act as the primary operational partner to Heads of departments, translating ambitious investigative journalism into viable, high impact multi platform realities.
• Serve as the final authority on health and safety, risk assessments and media law compliance (Copyright, Ofcom, Data Protection) across all non print output.
• Design and manage a sustainable recruitment and freelance strategy, ensuring a diverse, top tier talent pool is available to meet the demands of a 24 hour newsroom.

What we're looking for from you

• Extensive experience leading production at a senior level within a major media organisation or broadcaster, with a deep, professional understanding of video (long and short form), podcasts and social first content.
• A proven track record of management with the ability to move seamlessly between high level operational strategy and the granular details of complex production workflows.
• Significant experience managing large scale departmental budgets, with the ability to forecast spend, optimise resources and deliver maximum value across multiple workstreams.
• A "systems first" thinker with experience designing and implementing production frameworks that bring together disparate teams into a unified, efficient engine.
• A sophisticated understanding of current and emerging media technologies, including the transition toward cloud based production and AI integrated workflows.
• Exceptional communication and diplomacy skills, with the ability to build trust and influence at the highest levels of editorial and commercial leadership.
• Robust knowledge of media law, copyright and usage rights across global territories, alongside a deep commitment to rigorous health and safety and risk management protocols.
• The ability to remain unflappable in a fast paced newsroom environment, pivoting quickly between the immediate demands of breaking news and the long term planning of flagship series.
• A passion for mentorship and a proven ability to build, lead and retain diverse, high performing production and technical teams.

Benefits

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks.
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access.
• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre existing conditions.
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual yoga classes.
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car schemes.
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books.
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times; weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities.
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling.
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%.
• 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year.

Inclusion

We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know.