Commissioning Editor in London

About the Role & Team

The Commissioning Editor will oversee the development, editorial direction, and delivery of Natural History series and specials for National Geographic’s streaming, linear, and branded platforms. This role partners with internal teams and external production companies to shape compelling, visually distinctive programming that meets creative, financial, brand, and audience goals. This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or Friday working from home. You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with producers to implement the Channel’s programming strategy during every phase of production and development.
• Communicate channel needs and strategy to producers, working up proposals to take them through the greenlight process, pre-production, casting, scripting, rough-cuts, fine cut and final delivery.
• Work closely with Production Management to maintain highest editorial standards within budgetary requirements.
• Provide timely feedback to production companies to maintain production schedule and to make sure all contractual obligations are met.
• Deliver shows that are on budget and schedule.
• Coordinate with Marketing, Ad Sales, Communications and Digital to provide necessary information and materials for the development and generation of Cross-Platform Content initiatives and strategy.
• Coordinate with all internal content departments (editorial, social, books, digital etc) to align additional content for individual departments to better monetize the natural history content.
• Work closely with Research to ensure factual accuracy and maintain the highest brand standards.
• Work with analytics/insights teams to strategize topics, titling, audience demographic in order to increase TSV and ratings.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Extensive experience in Natural History development, commissioning, and production, with a strong track record of delivering premium factual content for television and streaming audiences.
• Strong television production management experience, including oversight of complex productions, budgets, schedules, and external partnerships.
• Deep expertise in Natural History programming and factual storytelling.
• Strong editorial judgment and creative development skills.
• Ability to shape early-stage concepts into compelling, audience focused content.
• Proven experience working with production companies and creative partners.
• Strong budget awareness and ability to manage programming investment responsibly.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to provide clear creative direction and editorial guidance.
• Strong knowledge of the production landscape, talent, and key creative executives.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with strong project oversight skills.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free.
• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing.
• Excellent parental and guardian leave.
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.