Head of Editorial Video & Audio, FT Specialist

at  Financial Times

ABOUT US

The FT has an uncompromising mission: delivering independent, quality information, news and services to individuals and companies around the globe. It’s the cornerstone of our reputation and the heart of our ambitions for the future. But for our people, the FT offers so much more than what we do. FT people come from all kinds of backgrounds and work across a huge range of disciplines and locations, and find an empowering, warm and welcoming culture that values curiosity and rewards inquisitive, ambitious thinking. Those who are willing to unite around our mission and live our values will find plenty to challenge, inspire and interest them. Like the audiences we serve, no two FT people are the same; but together we help our audience be better informed and understand the world around them. It’s a job that’s never mattered more, and a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.

REQUIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE

Technical skills

• Skilled videographer, editor and producer
• Skilled producer of podcasts
• Expertise in the latest editing software, for example Adobe Premier Pro and Vimeo
• Able to work in wide variety of settings from on-location filming (in the UK and abroad) to working in a studio
• Experience with graphics
• Experience at filming live events
• Ability to work with journalists, producers and other collaborators to ideate new shows and formats for video and podcasts
• Able to deliver a quick turnaround between filming and editing
• A capable director able to work with and, where necessary, coach on-screen talent and floor manage where necessary
• Expertise in distributing videos and podcasts online, in newsletters and on social media, for example producing engaging thumbnails and social cuts
• Has good working knowledge of different approaches and can source production talent externally if necessary.

Leadership and personal skills

• Able to lead, motivate and develop a team of two producer/editors with individual areas of expertise.
• Able to communicate with senior team members
• Cope with an environment that is sometimes high pressure
• Have strong administration and scheduling skills - including the ability to adjust where necessary

The ideal candidate will have experience of producing accomplished editorial videos in a variety of formats - from documentaries to panel shows, masterclasses, and explainers - as well as engrossing podcasts.

• They will be as comfortable operating ’on the road’ (at live events and other venues in the UK and abroad) as they are in the studio.
• They will be cognisant of the latest AI tools and what we can deploy to improve the quality of our output and our effectiveness.
• And they will be able to help editors effectively distribute those shows on different platforms and using analytics to hone the output over time

THE ROLE / POSITION OVERVIEW

FT Specialist (Europe) is seeking a Head of Video & Audio to drive the creation and distribution of high-quality, engaging editorial videos and podcasts for its nine brands, including Investors’ Chronicle, The Banker and FT Adviser.
At a time when professional audiences are starting to demand more multi-modal content, FT Specialist needs to evolve its current output to reflect the needs of time-poor senior professionals in mainly financial institutions.
Reporting to the Editorial Director, the newly-created Head of Video and Audio will spearhead this exciting development.

The ideal candidate will have experience of producing accomplished editorial videos in a variety of formats - from documentaries to panel shows, masterclasses, and explainers - as well as engrossing podcasts.

• They will be as comfortable operating ’on the road’ (at live events and other venues in the UK and abroad) as they are in the studio.
• They will be cognisant of the latest AI tools and what we can deploy to improve the quality of our output and our effectiveness.
• And they will be able to help editors effectively distribute those shows on different platforms and using analytics to hone the output over time.

In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience of leading a small team of shooters and editors - both full-time and freelance - and helping them to maximise their potential.
Equally, they will be able to build good relationships with the editors and journalists who script and present our shows, coaching them to improve their levels of performance where necessary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overall responsibility for all video and audio produced by FT Specialist (Europe)’s editorial team
• Management of a two-strong team of shooters and editors (plus a network of freelancers)
• Management of the freelance budget
• Management of the production schedule
• Delivery of agreed levels of output - video & audio
• Delivery of agreed ‘key results’ - for example, number of views/listens; ‘quality views’ for video (ie % watching at least 50% of a film)
• Working with the group editorial director, the group managing editor, and individual editors to evolve the quality and effectiveness of the output, using both analytics and professional experience & know-how
• Developing the capabilities of the video & audio team in shooting & editing, as well as journalists/editors as scriptwriters and presenters
• Understanding the audiences we serve and their need for video & audio to help them make smarter decisions and develop their career
• Understanding how competitors and other media owners are using video & audio to improve their content and harnessing the latest best-practice - including the use of AI tools