Kew, London, United Kingdom | Posted on 17/10/2025
Whisper is a leading global production company, specialising in sports, unscripted and branded entertainment.
Our diverse team of over 270 members works in offices across the UK and beyond, producing top‑level sports content such as Formula One, UEFA and the Paralympics, as well as branded content, prime‑time documentaries and entertainment quiz shows for a range of broadcasters.
In 2023 Whisper won a BAFTA and was nominated for an International EMMY. It is co‑owned by Sony Pictures Television and is a seven‑time Broadcast Best Places to Work.
We are looking for an experienced Development Executive to join our Documentary team and take responsibility for driving development of our award‑winning documentary slate across feature documentaries, docuseries and factual/unscripted formats.
The position would suit a Senior Development Producer or Executive who is self‑motivated, resilient, passionate about storytelling and eager to develop brilliant original content.
Must have a proven track record of developing, packaging and producing successful premium documentary content with broadcasters, streamers and distributors worldwide.
Must have established relationships in the industry with streamers, broadcasters and production companies.
Whisper is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, communities and lived experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive development of Whisper’s award‑winning documentary slate across feature documentaries, docuseries, and factual/unscripted formats.
- Lead a collaborative development culture working closely with the Head of Docs, Creative Director, Director of Production and external co‑production partners to bring ambitious, globally relevant stories to life.
- Ensure a diverse mix of formats, genres and voices, identifying gaps and surfacing the next wave of IP/ideas across linear, streaming, digital and audio platforms.
- Guide creative alignment across Whisper departments and keep the development slate responsive to shifting cultural, audience and platform trends.
- Incubate and develop early‑stage concepts in partnership with emerging and established talent.
- Inspire, lead and oversee the documentary team on all projects.
- Deliver creative, engaging and visually stunning pitch decks in response to RFPs or client briefs.
- Write first‑class content and develop treatments that showcase Whisper’s credentials while upholding brand standards, values and guidelines.
- Demonstrate technical competency with Keynote, Photoshop and InDesign.
Please note that responsibilities may be amended, added to, or removed to reflect the changing needs of the production or organisation.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- 5+ years of experience working at a senior level in development teams.
- Proven track record of developing, packaging and producing successful premium documentary content with broadcasters, streamers and distributors worldwide.
- Established relationships in the industry – streamers, broadcasters and production companies.
- Originality of thought, clear creative thinking and practical understanding of how ideas can be formatted for production.
- First‑class literacy and copywriting skills, with a strong attention to detail.
- Ability to operate in a broadcast or content production environment.
- Understanding of an RFP/ITT and ability to translate this into pitch decks.
- Capability in handling varied workloads, prioritising and delivering to deadlines while responding positively to changes and conflicts.
- Strong communication, collaboration, organisation and problem‑solving skills.
Location
The base for this position is Kew, London.
Working Days
5‑day week: 4 days in office and 1 day WFH. The team will plan a schedule based on production requirements. Lieu days will be given for any days worked over a five‑day week. Whisper offers the option of flexitime hours subject to production requirements.
