Executive Producer, Drama

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Channel 4 Drama aims to commission and broadcast the most talked-about and original drama in the UK, commissioning new work from both established and up-and-coming drama writers, in order to be a surprising, thought-provoking, entertaining alternative to the drama output on other channels. We strive to be true to the Channel's remit, balancing the popular with the provocative. That includes Russell T Davies’ landmark drama about the HIV epidemic It’s A Sin; Helen Walsh’s gripping thriller The Gathering; Queenie – the sharp and funny adaption of the novel of the same name by Candice Carthy Williams; renowned director Ben Wheatly’s Generation Z and most recently for 2025, Brian and Maggie by James Graham. We are also the home of the award-winning, progressive soap Hollyoaks - one of the flagships of the department's output. Through drama, we are always encouraging audiences to look at the world in a new and different way. 

Key Responsibilities

• Be the lead and point of contact for the production, guiding projects from start to finish
• Awareness of budget and impact on creative decisions
• Oversee story and script development
• Provide notes and feedback on story, script and during post production
• Deliver shows on budget and to brief
• Problem solve efficiently. Ensure that any issues are identified as soon as possible. Work effectively to resolve
• Make decisions and contribute to discussions re key creative and technical hires
• Recognise the best talent to work in specific roles on specific productions
• Communicate effectively with key stakeholders. Keep all necessary personnel and team members updated and ensure all information and feedback is given effectively and on time 
• Ensure C4 expectations are clearly and effectively communicated to all partners
• Work closely and effectively with internal C4 Teams such as Marcomms team, schedulers, Business Affairs and Finance and drama team colleagues. 

Essential Skills and Experience

Technical & Professional Skills

• Proven production experience as a seasoned a producer or executive producer.
• Strong editorial judgment
• Extensive experience of the production process beyond script, e.g. casting and the edit
• Strong understanding of legal/compliance guidelines and functions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to give clear feedback in a business and creative context
• The ability to be flexible with communication style, depending on what is most effective for the talent
• Resilient and tenacious, with energy and stamina
• Strong editorial judgment.

Autonomy/Judgement/Decision Making

• Strong prioritising and time management skills, demonstrable ability to work to hard deadlines
• Will be often be working with teams based in a different location so needs to be autonomous and proactively manage communications to ensure continued effectiveness and efficiency
• Proactive and responsive.

Relationship Management

• Demonstrable experience of managing relationships with on- and off- screen talent.

Complexity/Problem Solving

• High tolerance of stress, comfortable with ambiguity
• Problem solving often needed around issues of compliance
• Problem solving in character and story in both storylines, script and rough cuts
• Discussing any casting issues with Executive Producer and Casting Director
• Role holder will need to assess the impact of any contentious material on the general public
• Desirable Experience and Skills
• Development as well as production experience
• Energetic, effective and efficient 
• Detail oriented.