The posting
Job Description
Workplace: Salford (this is an office-based role unsuitable for hybrid working, although there may be ad hoc days that can be worked from home).
Lead Production Specialist
ITV Granada Reports
Permanent | Full-time
The role
We have a fantastic opportunity to join our management team as a Lead Production Specialist at ITV Granada Reports. You will have the skills, knowledge and experience to inspire and motivate colleagues to deliver a first-class service across live broadcast news, streaming and online content. This is a position for someone who wants to make their mark in our industry as a highly effective manager.
Lead Production Specialists within the Production Team work as part of a multi-disciplined team providing technical, craft, operational, support and administrative skills across all areas of the news and programmes service as well as providing our live and recorded content to ITVX. The Lead Production Specialist will be operational as required, but has a number of other responsibilities, including but not limited to deputising for the Operations Manager, line managing and leading our Production Specialist/Camera team, overseeing PS skills training, leading on projects as required, and being an advocate for new technology. The successful candidate will also share responsibility for the Production Specialist rosters. It would be an advantage to have a deep understanding of the different editorial roles and the ability to devise and oversee training and operational schedules as required.
Lead Production Specialists will have at least one core skill in the following areas on appointment but ideally will have skills in, or wider knowledge of, others:
- Live studio and location operations, including Directing, Vision mixing, Sound, Gallery PA-ing, Autocue, Newsroom and Studio Cameras and Floor Management
- Media ingest & transfer, Playout
- Production Technology Support assistance
- Scripts, Scheduling, Rosters, Logging, Clearance and Returns and other Programme support
- ITVX/Digital support
- Editing and templated Graphics
- Studio systems technical operation, first-line fault finding and maintenance and issue reporting
- Server management and Media storage
They will also be required to:
- Deputise for the Operations Manager as required
- Work with the newsroom leadership team to ensure a ‘one team’ approach is taken to delivering the editorial strategy and creative vision for the region.
- Line manage other colleagues whilst leading our multi-skilled team, providing technical, craft, operational and administrative skills and support across all areas of the news and programmes service.
- Oversee skills training for our Production Specialists.
- Oversee the PS roster and devise operational schedules as required.
- Lead projects as needed.
- Be an advocate for change, inspiring new approaches and the effective use of new technology within our live gallery and studio operation that maintains a culture of innovation within the Production Specialist team.
- Maintain a culture of health and safety risk management within the Production Specialist team to ensure and foster a safe working environment for colleagues.
- Ensure the team knows what is expected of them, i.e. setting and reviewing SMART objectives. Carrying out ‘talking performance’ conversations.
- Encourage and provide development opportunities.
- Give constructive, open, honest and clear feedback. Give recognition and inspire the team to do their best work.
- Listen to team members and value their input, taking on board their thoughts and views and offering pastoral responsibility where required.
The successful candidate will be ready to embrace and champion changing technologies and practices. You will be friendly and approachable, respectful of all your colleagues, and you’ll have the ability to maintain a positive attitude, even when under pressure, working to deadlines or in a live environment.
You will have the opportunity to develop your own skills and to move between different duties daily as the needs of a busy and vibrant operation require.
You will need to show commitment to working as part of a successful team, sharing the responsibility for supporting production within the available resources with a creative mindset to achieve the best outcomes. You will need to be a superb communicator who is quick-thinking with strong decision-making skills, often acting on your own initiative.
ITV Granada is a richly diverse region, and we're looking for a person who will help ensure our coverage is as representative of the people and backgrounds of all those who live here as possible.
The working pattern may incorporate late shifts (typically 2300 finish) as well as early morning (typically 0500 start). You are expected to provide your own means of transportation to and from your main workplace.
The rostered hours for this role may include weekend work when required.
To be considered for this opportunity, you will need to demonstrate the following skills:
Minimum role criteria:
- Experience of working in a live production environment
- Experience of line managing or managing projects
- A core skill in one or more of the following areas: Editing, Sound, Directing, Programme Timing, Vision, Media ingest & transfer, Rostering, Production Technology Support
- A good knowledge of the whole production process
- The ability to be proactive
- Confident and clear communication skills
- Proven ability to learn and apply new skills
Key role criteria:
- Proactivity, drive and resilience
- A positive attitude to work
- Confident communication
- Excellent attention to detail
- Candidates should demonstrate passion, enthusiasm, a knowledge of ITV, an understanding of news production technology, an awareness of production methods and should be informed about the news agenda both nationally and for the region/nation.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do at ITV Granada Reports, and we want to ensure we reflect our audience both on screen and in our workforce. ITV is for Everyone, and we encourage applications from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people and People of Colour to apply for this role.
Newsrooms are busy and pressurised environments, involving live news production, which often requires colleagues to make quick decisions under pressure. We also need people who are able to use their initiative.
We need to test these abilities at the interview stage to understand how candidates will react when operating in a pressurised environment. This is a fundamental requirement of the role. We will always consider any request for reasonable adjustments as part of the interview process, for example sharing key themes when that is requested in connection with a neurodivergent condition, whilst still ensuring that we are able to test a candidate's ability to operate in the specific environment of a newsroom.
Closing date: Friday 13th November 2026
Please note the notice period for this role is 3 months (this will include any new contracts/ secondments)
