Director of Content Development

Twin Cities PBS

Twin Cities PBS, one of the most celebrated public media organizations, has an immediate opening in its National Productions Department for a Director of Content Development. Recent productions from this area include: America Outdoors, Facing Suicide (premiering September 2022), When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time, The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's- and more.

https://www.tpt.org/


Position Details

Director of Content Development
Job
Full-time
9/7/2022
Twin Cities Metro
St. Paul, MN

The Director of Content Development identifies, researches and develops content ideas for national productions, special projects and long range content initiatives, with a focus on long-form broadcast, digital first and multi-platform projects. The position interacts with producers, production companies and network counterparts to solicit ideas, track network needs and trends, develop and write effective pitches for a broad range of new content. The Director of Content Development will research, develop and write one sheets, treatments and fleshed out, beautifully designed decks that will clearly lay out the full scope of the creative vision from stories and characters to style & tone.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Research and identify promising, compelling, mission-centered stories for development. (30% of time)

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with outside producers and commissioning editors. 
  • Work with experts, producers and production companies to solicit and identify strong, on-mission content ideas. 
  • Research key subject matter areas (especially within TPT content pillars) to find great stories with high potential. 
  • Identify and develop content around promising on screen talent (both presenters and characters). 
  • Track content trends across networks to identify and follow up on opportunities.
  • Engage directly with PBS and other networks to identify priorities and ideas for their specific needs. 
  • Create and maintain an Internal National Productions Department Development Slate.

Create highly compelling pitch materials (30% of time)

  • Work with researchers, producers and production companies to create one pagers, beat sheets and detailed treatments. 
  • Hire and work with production companies, producers and graphic artists to create highly designed and compelling decks. 
  • Hire and work with production companies, producers and editors to create dazzling and dynamic pitch reels. 
  • Coordinate with team members to ensure that pitch materials are supported by solid budgets, schedules and other deliverables. 
  • Pitch projects internally, and participate in pitches externally, as warranted.

Special Projects and Long Range Content Initiatives (25% of time)

  • Generate ideas and provide critical support for development of special projects and local and national initiatives. 
  • Attend cross-platform planning meetings and meet with editorial leads to help define initiative plans. 
  • Research relevant content area to identify themes and opportunities. 
  • Write proposals to lay out scope and detail of content initiatives.

Recruitment & Editorial DEI goals (10% of time)

  • Work to ensure that content development includes a broad diversity of experts and ideas, as well as a sharp focus on stories that might have been ignored or forgotten in the past. 
  • Identify and recruit diverse talent both in front of the camera and behind it. 
  • Identify stories and themes within stories that speak to the BIPOC experience through authentic BIPOC voices. 
  • Meet or exceed the DEI goals of both TPT and PBS.

Other Duties as Assigned (5% of time)

  • Participate as an active member of the Content Team. 
  • Contribute to shared goals and collaborate with colleagues on achievement of priorities. 
  • Represent TPT’s creative point of view, uphold organizational standards and production guidelines on all projects. 
  • Complete other tasks as assigned.

Required Experience:

  • 5 years of editorial content development experience, with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of finding, developing and pitching broadcast and digital content. 
  • Hands-on experience in creation of decks, treatments and pitch documents. 
  • Deep industry contacts.

Preferred Experience:

  • 7 years of editorial content development experience, with demonstrated proficiency in all aspects of finding, developing and pitching broadcast and digital content. 
  • 3+ years as a producer or in a development role in factual content. 
  • 2+ years of editorial management experience (overseeing story development or content creation). 
  • Demonstrated track record of successfully developing and pitching projects to major networks. 
  • Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on media, film, or relevant liberal arts focus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Proven networking capabilities with networks, experts, and and producers. 
  • Proven knowledge of story structure and treatment / proposal writing. 
  • Passionate about the power of digital and broadcast content to entertain, inform and make a difference. 
  • Excellent editorial judgment and ability to recognize compelling stories. 
  • Strong writing ability with focus on creating successful pitches with exceptional oral & written communication, editing, and interpersonal skills. 
  • Excellent people skills and ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with executives, creatives & external partners; ability to solve problems and interact with a wide variety of personalities. 
  • Strong design sense for creating decks and similar products. 
  • Ability to find and recognize opportunities and pursue them with focus on audience and end user needs. 
  • Strong Research Skills. 
  • Strong project management skills, including ability to prioritize responsibilities and give attention to details and project specifications. 
  • Ability to connect with, network and engage diverse populations. 
  • Commitment to advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) priorities within the organization.

Salary Range: $120K - $130K Annually Depending on Qualifications

Remote Eligible

Twin Cities PBS is not an employer in the state of California



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