Director of Production - Creative Development

Dotdash Meredith is seeking a Director of Production - Creative Development to join its central Video Strategy team. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Creative Development, the Director of Production will oversee the many logistics of video production with a focus on new concepts – from producing varied creative videos in a range of complexities and topic areas, to building and maintaining workflows for video production, leveraging internal resources for executing high quality video and everything in between.This YouTube-first production leader will be highly influential, with a proven track record of producing hit celebrity and non-celebrity content and coordinating a high volume of video productions at a matrixed organization. This position is based in New York City.The Director of Production will be responsible for helping shape and execute a YouTube-first content slate across all DDM brands, including People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle and Allrecipes. They should be able to manage various internal systems for production, while collaborating across teams to build and maintain workflows for talent bookings, casting, pre-production, production, and post-production. They will connect YouTube production teams to the requisite internal resources or freelance support as needed. This individual must display an ‘all hands on deck’ and ‘can-do’ attitude. They will help to optimize production and be the force that guides producers and directors to bring great ideas to life in ways that are on-brand, connect with strategy, and efficiently utilize resources. We are looking for a natural team leader with an excellent eye for detail, an ability to juggle various productions at once, experience mentoring junior team members, and a creative voice. The Dotdash Meredith video team produces hundreds of videos across many brands and categories, so this is a unique role for a passionate producer to flex both producorial, organizational and managerial muscles across an exciting scope of content. Responsibilities

• Manage a team of creators focused on developing and executing innovative longform formats for YouTube.
• Shepherd YouTube videos through all phases of production including development, pre-production, production, post-production, finishing/delivery.
• Manage publishing and shoot schedules to meet output objectives and commitments; ensure video producers are on track.
• Collaborate with stakeholders from the earliest conceptual stages to ensure the best creative and production approaches are employed.
• Contribute strategic vision that delivers outstanding video on budget and on time; have ownership over the final product and be driven to do more with less.
• Coordinate with external and internal talent bookers to lock shooting locations and confirm bookings with celebrity talent.
• Source, evaluate, and build relationships with quality vendors and freelancers; juggle an ever-changing cast of directors, producers and crew.
• Coordinate asset delivery; maintain all project documentation from budgets to contracts.

Experience

• Exceptional understanding of, and experience in, everything that goes into making highly successful YouTube video for digital publishers, that reach massive audiences.
  • A deeply comprehensive nuts-to-bolts understanding of producing small scope video projects at a high volume, often on short turnarounds. 
• Extensive experience on set with A-list level talent.
• Extensive experience on set with expert talent, such as academics and specialists.
• Experience overseeing productions and, both local and remote, producers in all stages of the production cycle.
• Hands-on experience dealing with booking celebrity talent, coordinating with talent representatives as well as PR representatives from relevant studios, production companies during press cycle.
• A proven ability to shift gears, wear multiple hats, and juggle many productions at various stages with minimal supervision.
• Flawless organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail and master of logistics. You foresee complications, make quick decisions, and troubleshoot on the fly.
• A working knowledge of internet video trends and popular digital publishers.
• 6 years experience producing, with at least 4 years relevant experience producing YouTube-first video at a publisher, production company, or equivalent.