Recruitment

Pack
Head of Industry
About Sheffield DocFest
Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most
influential markets for documentary projects. We champion and present the breadth of
documentary form – film, television, immersive and art – in the vibrant city of Sheffield
each June. We offer makers and audiences a place for inspiration, debate, development,
learning and challenge. Our programming represents our core values – creativity,
empathy, freedom, inclusivity and internationalism.

Sheffield DocFest is run by International Documentary Festival Sheffield, an

independent registered charity (no.1184849).
Equal Opportunities
Our jobs are like our festival, open to all.

We believe that documentaries, and those working in the arts and in media – including
ourselves - have a part to play in creating a society which is proud of its diversity and its
multi-cultural heritage.

Our programme-centred approach to inclusiveness puts diversity at the forefront of its

activity. Through the documentaries we showcase and the talent we develop, we aim to
celebrate diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

Equally, we are committed to providing a welcoming, accessible, inclusive and positive

experience for all festival attendees, team members and volunteers – regardless of age,
disability, sex, gender, sexuality, marital/civil partnership status, pregnancy/maternity/
paternity, race, religion/belief, or socio-economic background. We’re proud to be a
Disability Confident committed employer, supporting disabled people in the workplace.
Sheffield DocFest is BFI Diversity standards approved, an organisation that encourages
equality of opportunity and addresses under-representation in the screen industries.
Head of Industry
Reporting to: Creative Director

Direct report Industry Programme Producer, Talks & Sessions Producer

Key collaborators: Managing Director, Head of Finance, Partnerships Manager, Film

Programme Producer, Publications Editor
Other key internal Senior Management team, Charity Trustees
stakeholders:
Key external Film Industry representatives from the UK and worldwide: public and
stakeholders private funds and other decision makers, producers, distributors,
festival sponsors and partners
Salary £38,000 - 42,000 dependent on experience, pro rated to 0.8 FTE
Contract Part time, permanent

Location: Hybrid options available with the requirement to be based in

Sheffield between March - June annually
This role will require the post-holder to travel nationally and
internationally
Hours Averaged 0.8 FTE, working variable hours with a full-time
commitment to the festival between March-June annually

During the festival longer hours are to be expected and time off in
lieu will be given in retrospect
Holidays 25 days per annum (pro rated to 0.8) plus bank holidays
Other benefits The Workstation Quarter Card membership. Access to the employee
assistance programme
Flexibility Flexible working, including part time and job share options will be
considered for all suitable roles

4
Key Responsibilities
The Head of Industry is responsible for delivering Sheffield DocFest Industry Programmes and
interventions across the festival marketplace and talent development. The role contributes
toward strategic development of industry programmes and partnerships, represents the festival
at key markets and events, and provides editorial oversight to the industry sessions programme.

Industry Development
● Reporting to the Creative Director, devise and deliver the festival’s Industry Programme,
ensuring it encompasses a wide range of opportunities for documentary makers and
industry professionals of all levels of experience and with consideration for
interdisciplinary practice across film, TV, audio and immersive
● Continuously establish and model best practice regarding inclusion and access in all
industry programmes, talks and sessions and ensure that inclusion is embedded across
all festival activity
● Ensure all industry programmes are delivered to schedule and according to budget
● Collaborate with and support the Senior Talks & Sessions Producer, contributing ideas
for topics and speakers for sessions relevant to industry delegates
● Oversee the industry pitches delivered by Senior Talks & Sessions Producer and Podcast
Producer, and develop relevant partnerships for pitch programmes
● Develop training and talent development activities that support and develop UK and
international documentary talent, and maximise the potential of interdisciplinary and
convergent approaches and trends; and make or contribute toward applications for
these programmes to potential funders and sponsors
● Propose, invite and select expert speakers, professionals and mentors for training and
talent development programmes and industry sessions, both during the festival and for
year-round initiatives
● Oversee the flow of information for the programme to the marketing and
communications team to ensure that the Industry Programme sections of the website
are always up-to-date with the relevant information and that relevant opportunities
such as pitches or calls for applications are well communicated across festival channels
and partnerships
● Keep the Creative Director and senior team updated on current status of the
programme, working collaboratively to ensure that all other sections of the Festival –
Film Programme, Alternate Realities, Talks & Sessions are informed and crossover
opportunities are maximised
● Participate in and actively contribute to strategic planning for the festival, including
Festival Debrief Days, Festival Planning Days and departmental and business plans

5
 ● Regularly brief and engage the whole festival team with significant and relevant industry
developments

Festival Marketplace
● Oversee the MeetMarket, Alternate Realities Talent Market and Amplify UK Production
Talent Market, including promoting the call for applicants, project and talent selection,
match-making and meeting scheduling and delivery of the markets during the festival
● In consultation with the festival Directors and the Industry Consultant, appoint external
assessors with relevant expertise and perspectives to be involved in the selection
process for the markets
● Oversee the project selection process, working closely with the Industry Consultant,
Industry Advisers and Industry Programme Producer
● Oversee the industry invitations including market participation and hospitality offers,
ensuring industry guest invitations are sent out according to the timeline and
followed-up
● Oversee delivery of all Marketplace sessions at the festival, such as round tables, 10
Minute Meets, Talent Market, snap chats, conferences and strategic meetings, and other
new developments; and monitor for continued relevance, introducing new elements
where needed
● Manage the Industry team to ensure the online application and assessment processes
for all the market initiatives are highly functional and streamlined
● Oversee tracking for market projects/talents industry programme alumni, maintaining a
database of outcomes and liaising with the Communications team when market alumni
have succeeded with projects pitched during the festival
● Consult with the Programming team to ensure that projects which have gone through
MeetMarket / Alternate Realities Talent Market and other industry and training
initiatives are tracked and considered for the programme
● Collaborate with the Film team to track the progress of projects while still in
development and production, attend relevant works-in-progress / rough cut screenings.
● Liaise with other film, TV and documentary festivals, film and TV schools, filmmakers to
track projects and identify new and emerging talent
● Ensure all marketplace deliverables are tracked, reported and evaluated to meet the
requirements of key funders and establish a culture of continuous improvement

Festival delivery
● Work with colleagues in Finance, operations and senior management to ensure the
timeline for the Industry Programme’s key deadlines, milestones and deliverables is well
managed and communicated

6
 ● Liaise effectively with Production and Operations, and registration, teams on the
schedule for the Industry Programme activities
● Oversee all industry-facing initiatives for international delegations, coordinating with all
departments to ensure delegations make the most of the festival, managing relevant
Industry team members to ensure all delegations receive great communication and that
their activities are properly devised and run smoothly
● Manage the industry programme budget, including industry guest hospitality, ensuring
spend is within budget and problem areas are quickly identified and resolved, meeting
regularly with the Head of Finance about departmental income and expenditure
● Support and liaise regularly with the Hospitality team to ensure travel and hotel
bookings for industry guests is managed to budget and deadlines
● Brief the HR Coordinator to ensure temporary project role descriptions are clear and fit
for purpose, identify strong and returning team members, and enable timely
recruitment for the festival industry team
● Liaise with the Head of Production and Operations to identify venue
requirements, liaising with venue owners and Venue Coordinators in the lead-up to and
during the festival
● Oversee reporting for the Industry Programme, including internal debriefings and
external evaluations; ensure all surveys for all industry programme participants are
properly distributed, actioned, and that results are collated, analysed and reported on
both for internal and external use; and collaborate with the Finance team to capture
necessary information for financial reporting for grants
● Be responsible for archiving the programme after the Festival
● Write relevant sections of the Final Festival Report, ensuring accuracy and capturing
strong outcomes for the festival edition

Partnerships
● Maintain relationships with key partners and stakeholders of the festival, and develop
new industry partnerships working with the Partnerships Manager, Fundraising
Consultant/s and festival Directors
● Recommend prospective partners and contribute to fundraising efforts: identifying new
opportunities, support on key industry programme proposals, and writing relevant bids
in order to unlock new funding for the industry programme at the festival as well as
year-round initiatives
● Work closely with the Creative Director and Partnership Manager on attracting, and
recruiting, sponsored international delegations to the festival
● Attend meetings with funders, stakeholders and other partners where relevant

7
People Management
● Line manage the permanent Industry Programme Producer and any other direct reports
to ensure they remain on task, are well briefed and are supported to fulfil their role,
ensuring weekly 121s are maintained and festival systems are used to best capacity
● Conduct appraisals as required to ensure skills gaps and development opportunities are
identified and actioned
● Undertake regular review of Industry team job descriptions and functions in order to
delegate tasks and track deliverables effectively and efficiently, improving wellbeing and
festival processes
● Be an adaptable team-player, willing to lend expertise, assist colleagues and support the
festival leadership team

Leadership
● Represent and advocate for the festival at key internal and external events and markets;
contribute toward festival editorial and press assets, act as a spokesperson for the
festival on industry matters, as directed and agreed by the Managing Director
● With festival Directors, develop and articulate the festival brand and industry identity in
the national and international documentary ecosystem
● As a member of Senior Management Team (SMT) engage with critical business issues,
business planning and strategy in a constructive and supportive manner
● Model best practice behaviour towards colleagues and act as an ambassador for the
charity in all external dealings
● Commit to and uphold Sheffield DocFest values: creativity, empathy, freedom, inclusivity
and internationalism

Other
● Any other duties as reasonably required to fulfil the role and responsibilities

8
Requirements
● 5 years experience in the documentary screen industry (E)
● Strong working knowledge of structures pertaining to documentary funding, sales,
distribution, exhibition in the UK and internationally (E)
● Proven knowledge and networks in the UK and internationally in the documentary and
cultural sectors (E)
● Experience managing large-scale, intricate projects with multiple participants and
stakeholders, and/or comparable film festival experience (E)
● Excellent spokesperson, strong communication and presentation skills encompassing
written and performative (D)
● Passionate about supporting emerging talent and creating opportunities for people
presently underrepresented within the industry (E)
● Strong team player ethos, commitment to developing team members and the
organisation for the better (E)
● Integrity with the ability to inspire confidence, be trustworthy and diplomatic, as well as
a convincing negotiator (E)
● A proven track record of taking action on diversity and inclusion (D)
● Computer literate, proficiency in office IT systems and database management (E)

How to Apply
You are invited to apply for this role by submitting an up-to-date CV plus either:
(a) a covering letter (1 or 2 pages) that addresses the job description and criteria above; or
(b) a video letter (of up to 7 minutes in length), explaining what attracts you to the role and
what you would bring to it.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role prior to applying please contact,
Sophie Newing, HR and Access Coordinator at: recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

Please address applications to: Sophie Newing, HR and Access Coordinator email:
recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

9
If you require further information (including requests for printed forms/access support), please
contact us on 0114 276 5141 or email recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

We monitor the diversity of our workforce and for the purposes of reporting to our key funders
we ask that you help us by clicking on the link below to complete the questionnaire
anonymously.
https://forms.gle/Q1G8CyhmndZYLRU2A

Deadline for applications: 12:00 GMT on Wednesday 6 December 2023

Interviews: Week commencing 11 December 2023

10
 Contact
Sophie Newing, HR & Access Coordinator
recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

Address:
The Workstation
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S1 2BX
+44 (0) 114 276 5141

www.sheffdocfest.com
#SheffDocFest
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter: @sheffdocfest