Branded Content Producer

The role

KQED is building a branded and sponsored content business around digital properties such as Snap Judgment and Spooked, and this is its first dedicated production hire. The producer handles creative development and delivery of sold campaigns, and sets up the workflows and vendor network the business needs. The role sits in the digital video team and works closely with the Sponsorship team. It is a full-time post limited to three years.

What you'll do

• Turn client goals and audience insight into concepts, scripts, scopes, budgets and timelines across video, social, audio, digital and experiential formats
• Deliver first concepts within 48 hours of an RFP, in a template the Sponsorship team can present
• Join pre-sale conversations to present concepts and answer client questions
• Judge whether an idea is feasible creatively, operationally and financially before a deal is sold, including rights and costs
• Act as the main production contact after sale: run kickoffs, present work, handle feedback and manage changes to scope, schedule and budget
• Manage several projects at once from kickoff to closeout
• Track projects, resources and risks, and report on them to leadership and Sponsorship
• Co-ordinate with Sponsorship, Legal, Business Affairs, Editorial, Marketing, Audience Development, Finance, Production Operations and others
• Build pre-production plans, schedules, scopes, budgets and staffing plans
• Hire and manage freelance crews, production companies, talent and vendors
• Use KQED facilities and equipment where possible and bring in outside resources when needed
• Maintain production quality and editorial standards on set and in the field
• Track budgets during production and reconcile expenses at closeout
• Oversee post-production from paper edit to final approval, including revisions, version control, accessibility and quality control
• Assign and supervise freelance and in-house editors within budget
• Manage media, documentation and asset handling
• Deliver final assets to client, platform, accessibility and KQED archive requirements
• Ensure compliance with editorial and brand standards, sponsor-category restrictions, union agreements, and FTC and other disclosure rules
• Keep sponsor influence separate from editorial decisions and escalate conflicts or brand-safety concerns
• Co-ordinate releases, licences, music permissions, insurance and accessibility documentation with Legal and Business Affairs
• Create repeatable workflows, templates, approval processes and documentation for the whole lifecycle
• Identify operational gaps and recommend improvements
• Build and maintain a diverse, vetted roster of production companies, freelancers and vendors
• Work with Audience Development and analytics teams on campaign tracking and performance
• Record what has been learned and contribute to case studies, sales materials and best practice
• Represent branded-content production in internal planning and in discussions with external partners
• Support special projects and new sponsored opportunities as capacity allows, plus other duties as assigned

About you

• At least 5 years producing branded, sponsored or commercial digital content
• Able to develop concepts quickly and present them clearly in decks and client meetings
• Experience of the full production lifecycle: budgeting, scheduling, crewing, leading on set and supervising post-production
• Experience managing client expectations and feedback during production
• Working knowledge of post-production workflows and media management
• An existing network of freelancers and vendors, or the ability to build one quickly
• Experience writing scopes of work, estimates and change orders
• Experience managing several productions with overlapping deadlines
• Strong editorial judgement and the ability to flag brand-safety, disclosure, rights or sponsor-influence issues
• Experience with legal agreements, releases, licensing, insurance and rights clearance
• Experience producing across several digital formats and platforms
• Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working independently in a new function with no established processes
• Desirable: experience at a public media organisation or mission-led brand
• Desirable: familiarity with FTC disclosure standards for sponsored content
• Desirable: short-form social video production (Reels, TikTok, YouTube)
• Desirable: experience in unionised production environments

The process

• Apply with a CV and answer the work authorisation questions
• Write a short response on advancing inclusion and curiosity at KQED

The details

• Salary: $92,068 – $115,085 a year
• Contract: full-time, limited term of three years
• Location: San Francisco; hybrid
• Level: 5+ years' experience

How to apply

Apply through KQED's own job board.