The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (‘ABC’) is Australia’s main national public broadcaster, providing television, radio, online and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as overseas through Radio Australia and Australia Plus.
Catalyst is the ABC’s flagship science television show. It showcases significant Australian and international science discoveries that have an impact on the broad Australian public. In response to changing audience demands, along with the aim of creating the greatest possible public impact, Catalyst will change in 2017 from half-hour “magazine-style” episodes—each exploring multiple subjects—to 17 one-hour episodes—exploring a single subject.
Reporting to the Head of Factual, the Executive Producer (‘EP’) will assume end-to-end responsibility for developing, producing and commissioning Catalyst. This includes all internally-produced and externally-commissioned content for distribution on television, iview, online and mobile.
The priorities for the role include:
- developing innovative, high-quality, distinctive, relevant content for multiple platforms;
- building and maintaining external relationships, particularly with Australia’s scientific community and independent production sector;
- driving greater accessibility, particularly through digital and partnerships;
- ensuring the dollars go further and managing the budget;
- leading, inspiring and developing a small team; and
- working effectively across the Television Division and Corporation.
The ideal EP will be an innovative, successful producer with experience gained within the television broadcasting or production industry. While she or he may have worked across multiple genres, a spike in science is imperative. She or he will have good relationships with both the scientific and production communities. The EP will bring a deep understanding of the needs and preferences of Australian audiences and how to cater for these with innovative, high-quality science programming. A Bachelor degree or equivalent—probably in Science, Production or Communications—is desirable.
The position is based at ABC’s head office in Sydney where it will be collocated with other science program makers in the Radio division.
For a copy of the detailed Role specification, please contact Helen Johnson at Challis & Company, the consultants advising the ABC, on +61 2 8039 2223 or at catalyst@challis.co.
Applications close 21 December 2016. Challis & Company is simultaneously conducting an executive search. The ABC supports workplace diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.