Lead Director - Good Morning Britain

ITN is one of the UK’s leading independent content production companies, trusted for over 70 years to tell the world’s most important stories. From BAFTA- and Emmy-winning journalism and impactful factual content to creative entertainment and branded storytelling, ITN brings truth and innovation to every platform. Making over 70 hours of live programmes a week and reaching 1 billion digital views a month, we are a content powerhouse that has an ambition to keep growing, with audiences across the UK and around the world. Our people are at the heart of our success. With a reputation built on integrity and creativity, ITN continues to evolve with an ambitious growth strategy — investing in new technology, premium content, and future talent. We’re proud to foster an inclusive, collaborative culture where everyone can thrive and help shape the next chapter of ITN’s story. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer where everyone’s contribution matters. We’re committed to building a culture that reflects the audiences we serve — one where people feel included, supported, and inspired to do their best work.

How We Work

At ITN, how we work is as important as what we do. Our values describe what you can expect when you work here — and what ITN expects of you.

• Ambition – We set bold goals, take ownership, and keep learning. We look for new opportunities and better ways to make an impact.
• Courage – We speak up with honesty and respect, challenge ideas constructively, and value open, direct communication.
• Team – We collaborate, celebrate others’ successes, and make sure every voice is heard. We put the team’s success first. We also recognise the importance of balance and wellbeing, so we welcome flexible working, part-time roles and job shares across all areas of ITN.

The Role

The Lead Programme Director, an important member of the GMB Editor’s Leadership Team, is responsible for leading the live broadcast of Good Morning Britain, ensuring editorial, creative and technical excellence across every transmission. This role requires an experienced live multi-camera director with a strong background in news and/or magazine-style programming, able to lead complex gallery operations and teams confidently under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the programme direction of Good Morning Britain, ensuring the programme is delivered to the highest creative and technical production standards.
• Direct the live programme, coordinating production, editorial and technical teams to deliver a polished, cohesive output.
• Work closely with the GMB Editor and other senior editorial leads to shape the show’s visual style, tone, and pace, bringing creative ideas to enhance the viewer experience.
• Working alongside the Head of Technical Production, Studios Operations Manager and Studios Team Leaders, the Lead Director for GMB provides the primary link between GMB Editorial leads and Technology.
• Plan and prepare for each broadcast, including technical checks, rehearsals, and contingency planning for breaking news or late changes.
• Make quick, confident decisions under pressure during live transmission, adapting to technical issues or editorial developments as needed.
• Provide clear leadership and communication to studio and technical crews before, during, and after transmission.
• Support the professional development of directing and technical staff through coaching, feedback, and mentoring.
• Champion a positive and resilient gallery culture, even in high-pressure environments.
• Maintain compliance with editorial, legal, and regulatory standards at all times.
• Contribute to planning and delivery of special broadcasts, outside events, and major news moments as part of the wider output team.
• Collaborate closely with Technology colleagues to identify and implement improvements to technical operations, innovation, and production workflows.
• Actively participate in reviews and debriefs to drive continuous improvement across production, editorial, and technical delivery.

Work pattern:

The Lead Programme Director will typically direct the live programme three to four times per week, with one to two days focused on planning, project work, and operational development. Working patterns may vary depending on production needs, and a flexible approach to scheduling is essential. While this role is primarily focused on the delivery of Good Morning Britain, there are expected to be opportunities in future to work across other ITN output as part of the wider Studios team role.

Key Requirements

• Calm, decisive, and clear under pressure, with strong live decision-making skills.
• Working well under pressure with high profile presenters.
• Excellent communicator, able to lead teams confidently in a fast-paced gallery environment.
• Extensive experience with news production systems, including newsroom computer systems (NRCS) such as Avid iNews, and MOS-based video playout tools like Avid Command.
• Familiarity with other control room systems, such as vision mixers, audio desks, and playout servers, is preferred.
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work closely across editorial, production, and technical teams.
• Strong editorial judgement and a clear understanding of compliance responsibilities.
• Creative thinker with an eye for visual storytelling and innovation in live production workflows.
• Committed to continuous improvement and supporting the development of others.
• Flexible and resilient, with a positive approach to change and evolving production needs.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at ITN. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. Reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process will be offered, if required, due to a disability or health condition. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application, or at any stage throughout the process, if this is something you want to explore.