Head of Production

Job Summary & Responsibilities:

As the Head of Production for the MotorTrend Studio Programming and Development team, you will drive the production department's definition and implementation of processes, protocols, and best practices. As part of your responsibilities, you will manage a team of producers, production managers, coordinators, and crew and take overall responsibility for budgeting, actuals tracking, and production schedule for content produced by the Studio. You will also be responsible for evaluating new production-related processes and providing thoughtful advice on potential risks and issues in a wide range of management areas, including potential vendors, crew members, payroll, permitting, and overall production policies set forth by the Studio. Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Managing and tracking budgets for all in-house Studio productions and projects. This includes bidding, pre-production budget setting, as well as overseeing the actualizing/auditing budgets after principal photography has wrapped to ensure all is being properly forecasted and tracked.
• Manage the procedures of the payroll team that manages freelancers for all Studio made productions
• Managing production teams to stay within designated production budgets at all times, unless written approval is given by Executive Producer.
• Ensure team is staying within legal working parameters for production.
• Enforce production guidelines, schedules and budgets for production staff to follow throughout production life.
• Provide weekly updates to Executive Producer regarding current productions.
• Conduct meetings with necessary production staff to discuss production progress and update internal and external staff on the progress of current production objectives.

• Manage, train, and resource freelance and staff production teams.

• Provide project costing, actualization reports and running updated production schedules weekly, or as often as requested to Executive Producer.
• Acts as the day-to-day contact with Producers & Production Team.
• Provide support, directives and problem solving to all production staff throughout duration of production
• Manage and implement best industry practices across the Studio productions
• Visit sets to as needed to maintain relationship with workers, provide encouragement, develop face to face relationships with talent and to improve practices.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• This position may include supervising one or more employees where applicable. Supervisory responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Review and approve individual timecards (as needed) and time-off requests to ensure optimal staffing levels.
  • Effective, fair and consistent performance management
  • Fairly and consistently ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.

Education/Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in a similar Production management role
• 5+ years in an on set management role

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Strong leadership skills to manage large teams and relationships
• Well-organized, self-directed team player
• Outstanding ability to think strategically, predict problems before they arise and resolve issues in a collaborative fashion.
• Vast understanding of budgeting, knowledgeable of industry standards (Excel, AICP, AICE, HotBudget).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills/scheduling.
• Maintains a positive and professional attitude at all times.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to sit for prolonged period of time and view computer screen.
• The ability to safely visit sets in varying types of geographical terrain and temperatures.

Equipment/Software Used:

• Microsoft
• Google Workplace
• Zoom

Work Environment:

• Work is performed fully remote.
• Work also will be performed visiting set and El Segundo office visits.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles that will be performed in California. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of MotorTrend's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $122,500.00 - $175,500.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, MotorTrend provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).