Temporary Producer III, Acquisitions & Development Lead

OVERVIEW

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Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Intro to Position

As a member of the NPR Visuals Team, the Producer III is an experienced visual storyteller who brings strong editorial judgment and a distinct visual sensibility to NPR’s video work. This role is for a seasoned industry professional responsible for building and curating NPR Studios’ film slate, working across original development and acquisitions. The Producer III will leverage deep industry relationships and a strong understanding of the documentary marketplace, including financing, audience strategy, and distribution pathways. This role plays a central part in shaping NPR Studios identity as a national platform for cinematic digital-first documentary storytelling. Finally, the role will help define the editorial vision and external partnerships that position NPR Studios within the broader documentary ecosystem. This position may occasionally require working nights, weekends and holidays as needed and could require periodic travel. This position reports to the Director of NPR Visuals.

This is a 3-year limited term position.

This is a union represented role covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.    

Application Instructions

• Please submit a cover letter along with your application. This cover letter should speak to how your past experiences formed your approach to documentary coverage and what skills / takeaways you’d be looking to develop / acquire over the course of the assignment.

Responsibilities

Acquisitions

• Identify, evaluate and pitch feature, series, and short documentary projects for acquisition from independent filmmakers, film festivals and production companies.
• Scout and identify acquisition opportunities from film festivals, labs, and fellowships.
• Build and maintain relationships with filmmakers, producers, funders, and institutions within the documentary and public media ecosystem.
• Identify opportunities for co-production, co-financing, and strategic partnerships with public media entities, streamers, and independent producers.
• Track emerging films across key festivals (Sundance, SXSW, Hot Docs, Tribeca, Camden, IDFA, etc.) and labs (Firelight, Film Independent, Chicken & Egg, SFFILM, etc.) to build a proactive acquisition pipeline.
• Evaluate projects for multi-platform potential across NPR’s ecosystem (digital, audio, broadcast, social, and live events). 

Development

• Shepherd original documentary concepts from idea stage through greenlight, working closely with directors and producers for both acquired and in-house productions. 
• Provide editorial and creative notes on outlines and cuts.
• Manage the development slate, tracking project timelines and budgets.
• Help shape NPR Studios’ long-term curatorial vision and editorial strategy
• Source and develop original projects in collaboration with NPR journalists, reporters, and external filmmakers.
• Translate reporting and field journalism into documentary concepts, pitches, and treatments.
• Participate in pitch, proposal, and greenlighting discussions with leadership, including budget, editorial framing, and distribution strategy.

Relationships & Outreach

• Cultivate a pipeline of emerging and established documentary talent.
• Serve as a point of contact for filmmakers, production partners, film festivals, distributors, and broader industry.
• Represent NPR Studios at festivals, film markets, conferences, and industry convenings.
• Build partnerships with funders, labs, media research centers, public media organizations, and cultural institutions to support pipeline development.

Operations

• Maintain a tracking database of submissions, active projects and acquired titles.
• Prepare pitch, proposal, and greenlight materials for leadership to review.
• Work with legal and business affairs to support acquisition negotiations and rights management.
• Collaborate with distribution and audience teams to align acquisitions with rollout strategy.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Requirements

• At least 8 years of film, documentary, or video storytelling experience, preferably with a studio, streaming platform, major network, public media organization, newsroom, or film festival.
• Demonstrated experience of acquiring or developing documentary projects that reached distribution or festival exposure.
• Experience evaluating projects for distribution across multiple platforms (broadcast, streaming, public media, social media, digital).
• Experience with documentary financing structures, including grants, co-productions, waterfalls, and pre-sales.
• Fluency in rights, licensing, and distribution frameworks across short- and long-form documentary.
• Familiarity with the documentary ecosystem including distribution windows and festival circuits.
• Strong understanding of copyright, fair use, E & O insurance, licensing, and ethical journalism practices.
• Demonstrated relationships within the documentary industry (filmmakers, sales agents, producers, funders, distributors, film festivals, public media professionals, etc.).
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud programs used in video production (Premiere, After Effects, PhotoShop, Audition, Media Encoder), is valued, but not required.
• Ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cooperative, cross-departmental team.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a specialization in film, video, media production, photography,  journalism, business, liberal arts, humanities or equivalent work experience.
• Significant participation in or completion of leading  industry fellowships, labs, or continuing education programs may be considered as equivalent or complimentary experience.

Work Location & Requirements

• Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C., Culver City, New York City or Chicago location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in the Washington, D.C. / Maryland / Virginia, Culver City, New York City or Chicago Metro Areas.

Job Type

• This is a temporary position (3-year) full-time position.

Compensation

Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $56.49 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-HYBRID

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

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