Commissioning Executive

Vacancy No

VN2802

Location City

Leeds

Location Country

United Kingdom

Reports to: Commissioning Editor, with a dotted line to Head of Drama

Department: Drama

Location: Leeds

Job Grade: M

Department Description

Channel 4 Drama aims to commission and broadcast the most talked-about and original drama in the UK, commissioning new work from both established and up-and-coming drama writers, in order to be a surprising, thought-provoking, entertaining alternative to the drama output on other channels. We strive to be true to the Channel's remit, balancing the popular with the provocative.

That includes A Woman of Substance, reimagined by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley with a bold feminist sweep, Trespasses, adapted by Ailbhe Keogan with tense, intimate precision, and Helen Walsh’s The Gathering, a sharply observed Liverpool set character driven drama.

We are also the home of award-winning, progressive soap Hollyoaks. Hollyoaks is one of the flagships of the department's output. Through drama, we are always encouraging audiences to look at the world in a new and different way. In order to achieve this, we seek to create a departmental environment which is adventurous, inspirational and a welcome partner for all voices in the UK scripted industry, with professional and respectful relationships with independent production companies.

This job would suit someone collaborative and energetic, with a genuine passion for continuing drama and an appetite for nurturing new talent. We are an approachable team with an inclusive outlook, who share a passion for television drama and a belief that the job should be a lot of fun! We welcome applicants from all ethnicities and backgrounds and will happily accommodate any specific needs

Job Purpose

To be executive responsible for C4’s continuing drama, Hollyoaks.

Hollyoaks, produced by Lime Pictures out of Liverpool, consists of some 156 episodes a year and is a central pillar of Channel 4's scripted output. The series is one of the channel’s largest ongoing production commitments, regardless of genre. The series is also a flagship for Channel 4’s Nations and Regions strategy.

The Commissioning Exec acts as primary interface with the production itself, working across all aspects to ensure creative quality, optimal performance and reach, and contractual delivery.

Within the corporation she or he plays a key role in overseeing and working with Channel 4 corporate departments including the Drama Department itself, Press, Marketing and Digital, Research and Consumer Insight, and Business Affairs, Legal and Compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Work to ensure that Hollyoaks is true to its brand DNA, and is aligned with the brand of the Channel.
• Reporting to the Commissioning Editor in the day-to-day, taking responsibility for signing off storylines, scripts, rough cuts and casting for HOLLYOAKS.
• Forming and maintaining a strong, open, effective commercial and creative relationship with the Commissioning Editor, Drama.
• Forming and maintaining strong, open, effective commercial and creative relationship with the Lime leadership team, the Executive Producer, and the Hollyoaks creative and production team.
• Attending HOLLYOAKS long term story conferences, working closely with the Executive Producer and Series Producers to shape, progress and sign off stories in consultation with the Commissioning Editor.
• Working with Channel 4 and the production company’s Press, Marketing and Digital departments to shape, deliver and sign off on promotion and support for the show.
• Organise internal routines on the progress of HOLLYOAKS and including attendance of the Director of Programmes.
• Co-ordination, preparation of, and contribution to, reports, including board, strategy reports and others.
• Signing off on responses to viewer enquiries or Ofcom should they arise, in consultation with the Commissioning Editor.
• Work with the Channel Scheduling on any issues that may arise, and keep in touch about the show’s performance.
• Maintain a good working relationship between Audience Research and production company, using research to inform story and character decisions when needed.
• To oversee new digital commissions developed by 4Studios eg Hollyoaks: IRL and the Hollyoaks podcast ‘Don’t Filter Feelings’.
• Work with Commissioning Editors and Head of Drama to support new writing and talent development schemes.
• Build a pipeline for new talent into Hollyoaks.
• Work within the team to hone the drama strategy and messaging to producers
• Fulfil other responsibilities and duties as required from time to time.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Proven production experience as a seasoned script editor or a producer
• Strong editorial judgment
• Experience of the production process beyond script, e.g. casting and the edit
• Strong understanding of legal/compliance guidelines and functions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to give clear feedback in a business and creative context
• The ability to be flexible with communication style, depending on what is most effective for the talent
• Able to create goals, and put in place the processes to see them through
• Resilient and tenacious, with energy and stamina
• Experience of returning drama a plus

Autonomy/Judgement/Decision Making

• Strong prioritising and time management skills, demonstrable ability to work to hard deadlines
• Will often be working with teams based in a different location, both at Channel 4 and Lime, so needs to be autonomous and proactively manage communications to ensure continued effectiveness and efficiency
• Proactive and responsive

Relationship Management

• Demonstrable experience of managing relationships with on- and off- screen talent

Complexity/Problem Solving

• High tolerance of stress, comfortable with ambiguity
• Problem solving often needed around issues of compliance
• Problem solving in character and story in both storylines, script and rough cuts
• Discussing any casting issues with Executive Producer and Casting Director
• High degree of creativity required when developing ideas and problem solving with highly demanding and unpredictable talent
• Role holder will need to assess the impact of any contentious material on the general public

Desirable Experience and Skills

• Inspirational team player, alignment building and with a clear sense of focus
• Development as well as production experience
• Considerable experience in continuing drama
• Strong editorial judgment
• Sound knowledge and experience of working for younger audiences
• Energetic, effective and efficient
• Detail oriented

Basic salary per annum starting from

£70,438.00

Application questions to complete

Please remember to complete the additional application questions by uploading a Word or PDF attachment. These questions really help us get to know you better and we won’t be able to consider your application without them.

• Please outline how you meet the ‘Essential Experience & Skills’ outlined in the Job Description (Max 500 words)

Benefits

There are a million reasons why it’s great to work at Channel 4, here are just a few of the perks for you;

• Private medical insurance

• Free Virtual GP access for employees

• Free Female Health hormone test each year

• Free Tastecard membership

• Financial guidance 1-2-1’s available each quarter

• Discounted Gym memberships

• Pension

• Life Assurance

• Income Protection

• Holiday Purchase

Hybrid working

From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week.

Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.

Applications Close Date

13 May 2026

Equal Opportunities

Channel 4’s purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK.

We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension's Disability Confident scheme - Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job. If you wish your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please select yes when completing the application questions. For more information, please visit the Disability Confident Campaign website.

For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.

Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under-served and under-represented community of young people/ adults. We commit to offering an interview (and constructive feedback) to applicants who identify as care experienced and meet the essential criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. Applicants should indicate if they wish to apply under our Care Leaver Scheme by selecting the option on the application form.

For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.

We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support whilst employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers. If you have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and require any adjustments, additional support or alternative arrangements during the recruitment and wish to discuss this confidentially, please let us know via the following e-mail ***email_hidden***