Assistant - Channel4 - London

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The award-winning Legal and Compliance Department advises the Channel’s editorial staff and its programme makers on all content-related legal and compliance issues in the making and broadcast of programmes and other content on all Channel 4 platforms, before and after broadcast. In addition they provide guidance on ethical issues and best practice in relation to the making and broadcast of our programmes.

The aim of the department is to enable the broadcast of bold programmes and cross-platform activities, whilst minimising the risk of legal attack or regulatory difficulty after transmission. This requires a close working relationship of trust and co-operation between producers and the Channel’s editorial and legal staff. This can range from attending meetings and viewings across genres, advising teams on filming in hostile environments, watching live programmes to ensure any problems are dealt with immediately, to advising on ground-breaking programmes such as Dispatches, whilst remaining in the confines of the regulatory codes.

JOB PURPOSE

Carries out crucial organisational and administrative support to six lawyers in the Legal & Compliance department.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organisation of diary management for lawyers including co-ordinating meetings & viewings, including arrangement of business travel.

• Dealing with and responding to calls/emails and queries from production companies and Commissioning etc. in lawyers’ absence

• Correspondence from copy typing

• Preparing PowerPoint presentations for internal and external training seminars

• Attending and supervising edits of tapes of programme clips for internal and external training seminars

• Administration and set up of the Masterclass training programme

• Maintaining an up to date record of injunction applications and ensuring they are circulated to the lawyers in the team

• Handling requests for copies of programmes and transmission reports from Solicitors and Police and drafting letters where necessary

• Filing and archiving

• Learning about compliance issues in order to direct general enquiries from production companies, commissioning and other areas of the Channel, including regularly attending internal and external training seminars

JOB FACTORS

Essential Requirements

• Extensive diary management experience – with the ability to juggle and prioritise rapidly changing schedules

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, in order to interact confidently and effectively

• Proven track record of operating as a PA in a busy department

• Demonstrates excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and initiative

• Significant experience of MS Office – Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel

Technical & Professional Skills

• Substantial administrative experience preferably gained in a busy media or legal environment

• Copy typing experience is important as well as speed and accuracy

• Experience of handling confidential/sensitive material

• Required to work closely with the Commissioning department so must have an interest in C4 programming output and understanding of the programming remit

Autonomy/Judgement/Decision Making

• Follows well established procedures but has discretion to vary and tailor these accordingly

• Seeks advice when sensitive and confidential programme matters and related documents are raised

• Must be able to prioritise workload to tight deadlines and conflicting demands as and when they arise

• Priorities in the workload are set by the manager and lawyers

Managing Resources

• The role supports the departments other Personal Assistant

• Will assist in research projects on the internet and internal Pirate applications

Relationship Management (internal, external, 3rd parties)

• Works most closely with lawyers and immediate team and should adopt a relaxed, friendly and co-operative approach when dealing with those outside the department e.g. Commissioning and external contacts

• Required to deal with calls/email queries from production companies and regulatory bodies so must show some diplomacy in dealing with them as well as screening and redirecting queries as appropriate

Complexity/Problem Solving

• When problems arise the job holder must be confident in managing and prioritising their workload

• Problems are mainly familiar or are variations on a theme legally

Business Impact/Strategic Perspective

• The objectives in the role are typically short term and immediate and the role is not expected to assist in the formulation of business strategy

• Some knowledge of regulatory bodies and regulatory code such as OFCOM is useful in Assistants work