Design Production Manager (Mat Cover)

Hearst Networks UK is looking for a highly motivated and organised Production Manager to join their dynamic and award-winning team. This role will oversee production, logistics and delivery of day-to-day creative work for brands, and support shoot Campaigns and Special Projects.

The Creative Team is responsible for the development and execution of a range of content for Hearst Networks EMEA. The team devise and deliver all the on-air and off-air campaigns, short form, branding and promos for Sky History, The History Channel EMEA, Crime + Investigation, Freeview channel BLAZE, our streaming services, History Play and C+I Play and our FAST channels – Mystery TV, Inside Crime, World War TV, Deal Masters and History Hunters.

This is a 8-month FTC maternity cover. The role will be hybrid, based in the London office 3 days each week, working across all brands.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day production for the design team and manage design-led special projects across on-air, digital platforms and print, ensuring work is delivered to the highest standards.

• Act as the primary point of contact for design-led projects, managing briefs, expectations and deadlines, and maintaining strong communication with stakeholders.

• Coordinate and manage resources to ensure projects are planned and delivered to brief, on time, and to budget (where applicable). Maintain effective project and team management tools.

• Work closely with the VP of Creative, managing ad-hoc requests and leading weekly approval meetings.

• Oversee operational workflows and resourcing for the Picture Desk team, ensuring workloads are balanced, new business projects are accurately scoped, and processes are continuously improved. Work closely with the Director of Production on new business planning.

• Manage the creative approvals process for the Picture Editors with the VP of Creative.

• Collaborate with the Heads of Brand Design and Motion Design, Campaign Producers, Production team and Picture Editors, to ensure effective communication and seamless project management.

• Liaising closely with the Marketing team and other key stakeholders across the business.

• Report to the Director of Production and ensure smooth operations, timely project delivery and effective team resourcing. Escalate concerns and manage the freelance design pool and onboarding process.

• Maintain budgets, track costs, raise POs, and reconcile invoices.

• Troubleshoot processes, seek improvements and efficiencies, and be open to new technologies.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following competencies:

• Deciding and Initiating Action

• Planning and Organising

• Working with People

• Persuading and Influencing

• Adapting and Coping

Minimum Requirements

• Highly organised and able to prioritise work effectively, while managing multiple demands.

• Proven experience managing and coordinating projects and materials to deadlines, in various formats.

• Experience in a production management role in a design or creative environment.

• Excellent administrative, time management and organisational skills.

• Proven track record in booking and arranging resources effectively.

• Experience costing, managing and maintaining budgets.

• A strong team player and a highly effective communicator, confident in managing stakeholder requests and balancing team workload demands.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team, builds positive, collaborative working relationships and supports others.

• Proactive and diplomatic, responds confidently and calmly to challenges and manages last minute changes with flexibility.

Desirable Requirements

• Familiarity with cloud-based booking and project management systems (e.g. Resource Guru, Trello).

• Experience working in a design agency or creative team within a broadcast production environment.

• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to persuade and influence others effectively.

• Experience in freelance resource management, including on-boarding processes (training given)

• Raising POs and invoice reconciliation in SAP Concur (training given)

• Ability to troubleshoot design workflows and processes and suggest improvements.

• Knowledge or interest in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and new technologies

About Us

Hearst Networks EMEA runs a family of global TV brands with our head office in the UK and offices in Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain and South Africa. We are an ambitious and creative team who strive to build strong brands for our territories.

Our work environment appeals to self-motivated and flexible thinkers who are great collaborators and always strive to discover what is next creatively. We are customer focused and sustain and build a diverse range of brands. Each year we create cut-through campaigns working with a wide range of on-screen talent including Damien Lewis, Ross Kemp, Vicky McLure, Emilia Fox, Joseph Fiennes, Sheila Atim and Amanda Holden. Always striving to deliver against marketing briefs we also work with great talent behind the camera including Rankin, Dan Burn-Forti, Leigh Kelly and Tom Van Schelven.

Hearst Networks UK are fully accredited as a Great Place to Work 2024/25. The company was voted Broadcast magazine’s ‘Best Place to Work in TV’, and we were awarded BDA ‘Channel of the Year’ for Sky History.

As an inclusive employer, we value the diversity of our teams and want our workforce to reflect our wider society. We encourage and welcome applications from people from under-represented backgrounds and are keen to make sure we are inclusive and accessible to all. We will ask you if you require any adjustments or assistance for meetings and communications with you if you are invited to interview.

Hearst Networks EMEA Values

Curiosity is what drives us to question, explore, and innovate. We approach challenges with an open mind, ready to grow and evolve as the world changes around us. When we stay curious, we keep learning, discovering fresh opportunities, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Courage is showing up as your true self, with confidence and heart, even when the road ahead feels uncertain. It’s about owning our choices, stepping beyond our comfort zone, and creating new paths and opportunities to explore for both our company and yourself.

Care is part of everything we do - how we treat each other, approach our work, connect with our partners and the world. It’s about creating a culture where everyone feels included, respected, and truly supported. By acting with care, we nurture trust within our teams, building meaningful relationships throughout our company.