Director – Risk, Safety, & Duty of Care

ITV America (ITVA) is the largest independent producer of non-scripted content in America through its production companies Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV, Outpost Entertainment, High Noon Entertainment, Gurney Productions, Thinkfactory Media, and ITV Entertainment. ITVA is a reality television powerhouse with hundreds of hours of cutting-edge and innovative unscripted programming, airing on various major networks and streamers. We produce leading content including Hell’s Kitchen, Queer Eye, Love Island, Pawn Stars, and Real Housewives of NJ, just to name a few.

The Director – Risky, Safety & Duty of Care, works closely with ITVA Production teams to ensure that each production has a well established risk management plan with the proper safety guidance in place with regard to both routine and extraordinary activities. Likewise, establish Duty of Care protocols and procedures for each production that addresses any potential need or concerns surrounding the medical and psychological welfare of our talent and crew. Advise and consult with ITVA Senior Management on ways to effectively mitigate risk and produce content in a safe and conscientious way.

Roles & Responsibilities

General

• Key internal Risk Management Stakeholder and Advisor to ITV America
• Develop and implement Risk, Safety and Duty of Care protocols in the US
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the US / UK insurance program
• Work closely with the ITV UK Risk Management group to create global synergies
• Establish and implement proper UK reporting workflows in consultation with Business & Legal Affairs
• Assist in establishing and/or progressing UK initiatives as needed and agreed within the US group
• Assist in the maintenance and continued development of new and existing ITV platforms (e.g., SPOT, Compass, etc)
• Create a collaborative and supportive environment across the US production teams
• On-call to respond to crisis management situations as they arise across the productions
• Attend the following regular meetings:
• Production Kick-Off Meeting
• Productions In Progress (PIPs)
• Weekly Production Meetings
• ITVA Leadership Meeting
• Global Risk Operations Meeting

Production Risk & Safety

• Meet individually with each production team to understand the needs of the production in order to advise and develop an appropriate risk management plan
• Review creative for each production – both at a series and episodic level – and provide feedback and guidance
• Assess the security needs of the productions and any gaps that may exist (i.e., international travel, high profile talent, etc)
• Assist in vetting and hiring dedicated Risk & Safety resources, where necessary, for various productions
• Conduct safety training either virtually or on set, on an as needed basis
• On-location Risk & Safety presence, as needed, to provide production support
• Establish and maintain a current library of safety memos / bulletins to be utilized across the productions
• Develop and implement appropriate incident reporting guidelines across the productions and maintain oversight of the process
• Work closely with ITV’s Insurance Brokers to:
• Create a solid understanding with regard to each of the production’s activities
• Ensure that all production activities are covered under the insurance program and/or that supplemental insurance is acquired by the production teams where necessary
• Provide proper guidance and information with regard to workers compensation and/or other claims
• Track production claims to help ensure they are moving through the system and processed in a timely manner
• Promptly report any concerns that would compromise the safety and security of our productions, whether related to staff, activities or otherwise
• Promptly report any concerns that would compromise the safety and security of our productions, whether related to staff, activities or otherwise
• Production Duty of Care
• Meet individually with each production team to understand the creative, logistics and circumstances involved in each production as well as the specific talent, participants and crew involved
• Alongside the production teams, develop bespoke DOC guidelines to be implemented on each production, taking into account the individual needs of the project.
• Ensure that DOC guidelines meet or exceed network requirements
• Collaborate with Heads of Production on any costs that may be associated with implementing DOC guidelines so that a proper budget can be established and approved by the network where necessary
• Establish and maintain DOC written resources to be available to talent and/or crew as needed
• Establish and maintain relationships with existing Psychiatrists and Psychologists
• Assist in vetting and hiring dedicated DOC resources such as Talent Management, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, etc.
• Primary contact and liaison to ITV’s Chief Psychological Officer, Dr. Matthew Gould
• Work closely with ITV’s Casting Department in establishing appropriate protocols including reporting and monitoring on camera talent and participants
• Requirements
• Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (desired, but not required) • 4+ years of relevant risk management experience, creating and enforcing safety policies, and managing duty of care
• A background in or understanding of television or film production
• Understanding insurance programs, and the legal guidelines around production safety and security
• OSHA / General Entertainment Safety
• Injury & Illness Prevention Program
• Other relevant Entertainment Industry Training

Desired Qualities & Characteristics

• Practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving, tempered by an appreciation of risk and legal/psychological complexity
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Ability to influence in a collaborative way, leading with transparency and serving as a trusted advisor
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgement, whether independently or in collaboration with colleagues
• Ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through and meet deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with the flexibility to be both firm and empathetic as needed
• Ability to quickly establish rapport and excellent working relationships with creative and non-creative colleagues
• Proactively seeks and implements innovative ways of working
• Strong analytical and computer skills (Google Mail, Google Docs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

ITV America