Job description
Reports to: Senior Picture Editor
Department: Marketing
Location: Leeds
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
The Pictures Team is responsible for all of Channel 4’s imaging needs. It forms part of the Marketing department, responsible for the promotion of Channel 4 and its programming. The team works very closely with a number of other departments – including All 4, in the supply of imagery to showcase Channel 4 on platform, and Press & Publicity to whom the team supplies images to support in the publicising of Channel 4’s programmes in earned press and media coverage.
The team supports these areas, and many more, by working with commissioners, producers, talent and the country’s best photographers to develop concepts for photo shoots on location and in a studio. The team is then responsible for producing, editing, art-working and distributing imagery from these shoots to effectively represent Channel 4 and its programming.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure brand, series, episodic, vector logo assets are present for each series worked on and that they adhere to best practice guidelines
- Design and create eye-catching imagery, utilising existing assets, for all Channel 4 content; reversion original images to meet the required deliverables of the team’s various stakeholders. Recreate programme logos where these have not been supplied
- Create engaging key art, sometimes with minimal original imagery. Take the lead of the full process of key art creation: making mood boards and devising a creative concept, liaising with internal and external stakeholders, building a deck and presenting routes, before creating the key art – or for more complex designs, commissioning a professional retoucher
- Put the viewer at the heart of decisions. Seek out opportunities to collaborate with Product, Picture Commissioners and other stakeholders to advise on platform requirements and creative routes that support our digital first strategy, taking the lead on the concept creation process where appropriate
- For shows that are high-priority on All 4, take an active role in the creative development of ideas for photoshoots with Picture Commissioners
- Be a DAM guardian for the Picture Editing team, ensuring correct captioning, tagging and storing of created images in the team’s asset management system. Identify issues, remedy these and share knowledge among colleagues
- Take ownership of brand guidelines and templates supplied by external brands. Identify the relevant aspects to create template guidelines and circulate these among colleagues. Flag potential issues the team might have and propose creative solutions, communicating with the brand in question and other stakeholders
- Where team capacity allows, manage requests for in-house design projects from start to finish such as posters, invites and press packs
- Have a good understanding of priorities across the channel in terms of shows, projects and campaigns and share this knowledge with the wider Pictures team
- Ensure internal and external requests for the supply of images are responded to promptly and effectively
- Represent Picture Editors among stakeholders at all levels of the business; giving team updates, promoting the team’s work and seeking important information that can be shared
- Have the ability to upskill and train new starters, Picture Editing apprentices and more junior members of the team
- Demonstrable picture-editing and image creation experience
- An understanding of how images are used beyond the picture editing process; where they go on to and how they are used
- Skilled in retouching, design and image-creation
- Detailed knowledge of graphic design principles
- Fluent in the use of Adobe CC suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Bridge) and an eagerness to continually expand knowledge
- Ability to critically assess imagery and come up with and implement creative solutions to fix technical problems
- Ability to create effective artwork with minimal source material
- Adept at producing professional presentations, creative decks, mock-ups and mood boards
- Comfortable using a variety of workflow technology, such as MacBook, Word, Excel, Outlook, Miro, Monday, and able to learn how to use new technology confidently
- Creative confidence and the ability to achieve buy-in from stakeholders at all levels on preferred creative routes
- Confidence and willingness to take creative risks
- Great relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate confidently with people inside and outside of Channel 4 and at all levels
- Great organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively when managing multiple tasks
- Confidence to speak up about anything that need addressing within the Picture Editing or wider Pictures team
- Understanding of digital asset management systems
- Basic understanding of copyright law and how it relates to imagery
- Understanding and passion for the Channel 4 brand, remit and Future4 strategy
- Be a strong team player, embracing team spirit and work on making the Pictures Team and Channel 4 the best place to work
- Please outline how you meet the ‘Essential Experience & Skills’ outlined in the Job Description (Max 500 words)
- Please can you provide us with a link to your digital portfolio or examples of your work that demonstrate your experience in picture editing and image creation.