Video Production Manager (Online Documentary)

We are looking for an experienced Production Manager based in South Africa to lead our Production Coordination function and oversee the smooth delivery of our global shoots.

See below for how to apply - closing date is 9th October.

About CWP

CWP (Content With Purpose) is dedicated to uncovering, creating and sharing stories that truly matter, stories that inspire action, cultivate hope, and highlight how individuals and organisations can contribute to a better society and a healthier planet.

How?

We partner with professional member associations, NGOs and trade bodies to produce and promote sector-focused digital video series. These series feature multi-platform, ‘narrowcast’ content including documentaries, short films, interviews and written material.

Why?

Our vision is a world where everyone feels empowered to play their part in creating a better tomorrow. The digital series we produce support professionals across industries to drive progress towards a better tomorrow.

Who?

Our content showcases pioneers across government, academia, the private sector, non-profits and beyond – individuals and organisations leading the way in sustainable innovation and transformation.

Example Content

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) partnered with Content With Purpose (CWP) to create Travel Redefined: Tourism for People and Planet, a wide-ranging digital film series exploring tourism’s potential to drive positive social, cultural, environmental and economic impact.

https://contentwithpurpose.co.uk/gstc/travelredefined/

The Role

This is a senior, hands-on production management role for someone who is exceptionally organised, commercially minded and experienced in managing a busy slate of documentary, factual or branded-content productions.

You will manage our team of Production Coordinators and oversee the logistics and operational readiness of shoots across CWP’s projects. Rather than personally coordinating every shoot, you will be responsible for making sure the whole production operation works effectively.

You will maintain visibility across the filming portfolio, allocate shoots and workload across the team, ensure productions are properly resourced, identify risks and capacity issues early, and step into more complex or challenging productions when senior support is needed.

You will provide clear leadership to the Production Coordination team, ensuring they understand priorities, have manageable workloads and are consistently delivering to CWP’s production standards.

You will work closely with Producers and the Head of Operations, providing clear visibility of production capacity, costs, risks and upcoming resource requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management & Oversight

• Maintain oversight of CWP’s full global filming portfolio, including upcoming shoots, locations, dates, crew requirements and production status.
• Ensure multiple concurrent shoots are properly planned, resourced and production-ready.
• Allocate shoots and responsibilities across the Production Coordination team according to capacity, complexity and experience.
• Maintain a clear view of team capacity and identify upcoming resource gaps or pressure points early.
• Ensure Producers provide Coordinators with clear and timely production briefs and that projects are sufficiently developed before detailed logistics begin.
• Monitor production progress and ensure key deadlines, documentation and logistical requirements are being met.
• Step into particularly complex, high-risk or time-sensitive shoots where senior production management is required.
• Act as the senior escalation point for production logistics when problems or unexpected changes arise.

Team Management

• Manage the Production Coordination team, providing clear priorities, support and day-to-day leadership.
• Ensure workloads are distributed appropriately and that individual Coordinators are not overloaded.
• Hold regular check-ins with the team and maintain visibility of workload, challenges and upcoming priorities.
• Set clear expectations around production standards, communication and delivery.
• Support the training and development of Production Coordinators.
• Provide constructive feedback and address performance or process issues where required.
• Create a culture of ownership, proactive communication and early escalation.

Shoot Logistics & Standards

• Ensure consistent standards across all CWP productions, including crew sourcing and booking, shoot schedules, call sheets, risk assessments, crew briefs, contributor and location logistics, equipment requirements, travel and location permissions or permits.
• Ensure potential production risks are identified and escalated early rather than at the point of delivery.
• Support Coordinators in solving complex logistical challenges.
• Ensure production documentation is accurate, complete and delivered on time.

Crew & Freelancer Management

• Oversee CWP’s international network of freelance videographers, sound recordists and other production crew.
• Ensure appropriate crew are sourced for productions based on location, experience, availability and budget.
• Support Coordinators with crew negotiations and more complex bookings.
• Help develop and maintain a strong, reliable global freelancer network.
• Ensure freelancer performance and feedback are captured so strong crew can be used consistently across future productions.

Budget & Commercial Management

• Maintain visibility of production and shoot costs across our series.
• Ensure Coordinators are working within agreed production budgets and rate expectations.
• Support negotiation with freelancers, suppliers and production partners where required.
• Identify opportunities to reduce production costs without compromising quality or delivery.
• Flag potential overspends or additional costs early.
• Work with the Head of Operations to improve production forecasting and resource planning.

Processes & Continuous Improvement

• Help develop and improve CWP’s production systems, workflows, templates and processes.
• Identify recurring production challenges and recommend practical improvements.
• Ensure agreed production processes are being followed consistently across the team.
• Help create a scalable production operation as the volume of CWP’s international filming grows.
• Support the development of clearer production benchmarks, capacity planning and reporting.

Experience

We are looking for someone with significant experience in production management within documentary, factual, branded content, television, film or a similar production environment.

You should have:

• Significant experience as a Production Manager, Senior Production Coordinator or similar.
• Experience managing or supervising Production Coordinators or production teams.
• Strong experience managing multiple productions or shoots simultaneously.
• International production experience and confidence working across different countries and time zones.
• Experience organising shoots involving real contributors and real-world locations.
• Excellent knowledge of shoot logistics and production planning.
• Strong understanding of risk assessments, call sheets, schedules, crew requirements, equipment, locations and permits.
• Experience sourcing, booking and managing freelance production crews.
• Experience negotiating crew and supplier rates.
• Experience managing production budgets and maintaining cost control.
• Experience identifying production risks and solving logistical problems quickly.
• Strong communication skills and experience working closely with Producers and wider creative teams.
• Experience managing teams remotely and working within a distributed international business.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise across a busy and changing production slate.
• Experience within documentary, factual or purpose-led content production would be particularly valuable.

Why Join CWP?

• Work remotely from anywhere in South Africa.
• Salary: £32,000–£36,000 per annum / approximately £2,667–£3,000 per month dependant on experience
• Lead and develop a growing production team.
• Work across international documentary productions and global filming locations.
• Work with organisations and contributors tackling some of the world’s most important issues.
• Join a purpose-led certified B Corp and member of 1% for the Planet.
• Have a meaningful role in shaping how CWP’s production operation develops as the company grows.