BFI Doc Society Talent Support Manager

BFI Doc Society Talent Support Manager

Reports to Luke Moody, Shanida Scotland, Sandra Whipham

About DOC SOCIETY

We are an innovative non-profit organisation founded in 2005 that works with the most inspiring independent documentary filmmakers all over the world. We are a team of around 20 people working from offices in London and New York.

Our mission:

We bring people together to unleash the transformational power of documentary film. We stand in solidarity with filmmakers and work to unite them with new friends and allies, building new models globally. We aim to innovate, share and innovate again.

A commitment to anti-racism, economic justice and climate justice is embedded in all we do and how we do it.

Our driving principle:

Great documentaries enrich the lives of individuals. They have a unique ability to engage and connect people, transform communities and improve societies.

Equity and Inclusion:

We want Doc Society to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and to do their best work. Doc Society’s promotion of diversity and inclusion is clearly reflected in all of our documentaries and across all of our programmes. We are fully focused on equality and believe in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other characteristics that make us who we are. For this reason we strongly encourage applicants from under-represented groups.

MAIN PURPOSE OF POSITION

Doc Society is the delegate partner of the BFI for documentary filmmaking until 2025 and distributes a £6 million National Lottery fund on its behalf. Included in the fund is the Support Programme, focused on supporting filmmakers to access this fund, develop their own networks and build on the films they make. The Support Programme Manager will manage the Support Programme’s strategy, delivery and budget. The Support Programme Manager will have the overview of the Support Programme’s work and ensure its smooth running. They will ensure support is available to potential applicants, with a focus on equity, inclusion and talent development.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Support Programme

  • Strategise on the concepts and delivery of existing and new BFI Doc Society Fund Support Programme elements, including Labs, Inclusivity initiatives and grantee events.
  • Connect with existing and potential talent support partners remotely and at live events
  • Deliver key new talent support initiatives alongside Head of BFI Doc Society Fund and the BFI Doc Society Team
  • Managing official delegations of UK documentary filmmakers to attend key international festivals: including liaising with funding partners, open call and assessment processes and evaluation
  • Work with the Head of BFI Doc Society Fund to curate Labs, live and virtual events
  • Build out the Fund’s talent development strategy, including tracking talent from partnership events, applications, 1-2-1s and other support activities
  • Work with Doc Society Directors and Head of BFI Doc Society Fund to build out equity based initiatives across the Fund and Support Programme
  • Work closely with BFI NETWORK regional talent executives on aligned activities to help reach local filmmaking talent
  • Engagement with issues impacting the wider documentary and independent UK film sector
  • Identifying key resources and opportunities to share with documentary filmmakers

BFI Doc Society Fund Internal:

  • Ensure smooth running of all the processes involved in running the BFI Doc Society Support Programme with a focus on equity and inclusion.
  • Manage all aspects of any Support Programme online applications alongside partners, including BFI International and the Doc Society BFI team amongst others
  • Work with Doc Society’s Creative Director and other colleagues to maintain Fund pages on www.docsociety.org ensuring advice and information is up to date
  • Support the BFI Doc Society team and be familiar with funded projects.
  • Contribute to writing the Doc Society newsletter as required
  • Contributing to the provision of accessible formats for information on the fund for applicants.

Communications

  • Outreach: proactively connect Doc Society to UK filmmakers and advise them on the film fund and application process
  • Working with Doc Society’s Engagement Manager on marketing and outreach to the UK documentary filmmaking community, including work on Doc Society social media platforms as required
  • Planning, and producing panels and talks at festivals and taking part as required.
  • Pull together Fund statistical reporting from applications and grantees
  • Co-ordinate BFI quarterly reporting and create and maintain the systems for the smooth running of this process
  • Pull together reports on activity for BFI including for the mid-term review in Autumn each year

Knowledge, Skills, Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of Doc Society’s mission and work and enthusiasm for independent documentary film
  • Experience delivering workshops, training, skills development, or labs for creative communities (eg. artists or filmmakers) online and/or in person
  • Demonstrable enthusiasm for creative and collaborative partnership building
  • Budget management
  • Strong communication skills

Preferred

  • Public speaking experience
  • Knowledge of filmmaking networks, particularly outside of London
  • Experience of embedding EDI practices within talent support, communication and outreach
  • Engaged with challenges and support programmes in the documentary film field

Experience of fundraising and reporting to external funders

Terms

  • Optional office working at 180 Strand (if in UK)
  • 28 days including bank holidays and extra days on top between Christmas and New Year when we close the office
  • Employer pension contribution after 3 months
  • Fixed term to March 31 2026, subject to continued programme support

SALARY

£30,000 - £40,000 dependent on experience

The role is normally based in central London, however a number of team members are currently working remotely from home and we welcome applications from anywhere in the UK.

The salary of £35k is weighted for London applicants. Those based outside of London will offered a support package for remote working costs and London travel, on a lower base salary.

If your skills & experience fit the above requirements and you would like to take the next step, please provide a CV and covering letter via the following Airtable links below by Tuesday 21st November.

We would also appreciate you filling out our Equality Monitoring Form, which is anonymous, so we can better track who we are reaching.

How to apply

The closing date for applications is 21st November 2023.

To apply, please follow this link

and then answer the Equality Monitoring form.

First interviews will be held week commencing 27th November 2023

Interviews in the first instance will be by Zoom. We may request a follow-up interview in person.

Should you have not heard from us by 30th November 2023 you should assume that your application has not been successful. We will be unable to give feedback to applicants not selected for an interview.

We would like the post-holder to start as soon as possible.