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Senior Documentary Producer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

WGBH

SENIOR PRODUCER & EDITOR, Documentaries

Boston, MA · On-site

As PBS's flagship investigative documentary series, we seek both to foster a work environment and ... The Senior Producer and Editor will work closely with the Executive Producer, the Senior Director ...

Syracuse University

Senior Video Producer

Syracuse, NY · On-site

$72K - $80K/yr

The Senior Video Producer serves as both a technical expert and creative director, guiding faculty ... Documentary filmmaking or broadcast journalism experience. * Familiarity with Canon/Blackmagic ...

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Senior Documentary Producer information

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$46K

$115.4K

$172.5K

How much do senior documentary producer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior documentary producer in the United States is $115,438.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,500.00 and $134,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Documentary Producer vs Documentary Producer?

AspectSenior Documentary ProducerDocumentary Producer
CredentialsExperience, industry knowledge, possibly advanced certificationsEntry to mid-level experience, relevant education
Work EnvironmentLeads projects, manages teams, oversees productionSupports production tasks, assists in project execution
Employer & Industry UsageMedia companies, production studios, broadcastersSimilar settings, often as entry or mid-level roles

The main difference is that a Senior Documentary Producer has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and oversees entire projects, while a Documentary Producer typically supports production tasks and assists senior staff. Both roles are vital in documentary filmmaking, but the senior position involves greater oversight and strategic decision-making.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior documentary producer?

To thrive as a Senior Documentary Producer, you need advanced storytelling skills, experience in film or broadcast production, and a strong portfolio of completed documentaries, often supported by a degree in film, journalism, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard editing software (like Adobe Premiere Pro or Avid), budgeting tools, and production management systems is typically required. Leadership, creative vision, and excellent communication are vital soft skills for guiding teams and managing complex projects. These abilities ensure the successful delivery of compelling, high-quality documentaries that engage audiences and meet production objectives.

What is a senior documentary producer?

Senior Documentary Producers are experienced professionals responsible for overseeing the creation, development, and production of documentary films or series. They manage the project from concept to completion, including budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating with directors, writers, editors, and other crew members. Senior Documentary Producers also ensure that the documentary's vision aligns with the intended message and standards of the production company or network. Their role often involves making crucial editorial and logistical decisions to deliver a compelling and factual documentary. They typically have years of experience in film production, storytelling, and team management.

What are some common challenges faced by senior documentary producers during production, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Documentary Producers often encounter challenges such as managing tight budgets, navigating complex legal and ethical considerations, and coordinating large, multidisciplinary teams. Overcoming these challenges requires strong communication, detailed planning, and adaptability—especially when dealing with unpredictable filming environments or sensitive subject matter. Building a collaborative team culture and maintaining transparent relationships with stakeholders and subjects are essential strategies for ensuring a successful production.
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What cities are hiring for Senior Documentary Producer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Documentary Producer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Documentary Producer jobs? The most popular types of Documentary Producer jobs are:
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Senior Documentary Producer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Documentary Producer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Locum Tenens, 2% As Needed, 54% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 15% Nights. Highlights an 67% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,438 per year, or $55.5 per hour.

SENIOR PRODUCER & EDITOR, Documentaries

WGBH

Boston, MA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

At GBH, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are hybrid and work both from home and onsite. Our current hybrid approach requires staff to work onsite a minimum of two days each week, every Tuesday and Wednesday, Hybrid staff are also welcome to come in additional days each week or may be asked to come in on other days by their manager.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

GBH's Documentaries Unit is dedicated to creating long-form non-fiction content for national broadcast and digital platforms. We are committed to upholding the core public media values of accuracy, integrity, and fairness while producing impactful documentaries that inform, challenge, and inspire the public. The Documentaries Unit consists of GBH's flagship brands: FRONTLINE, NOVA, and American Experience. Our mission is to produce exceptional, journalistically sound documentaries that illuminate critical issues, foster civic dialogue, and serve as an essential resource for education and a well-informed community.

FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains, and changes our world. We've been American television's top long-form news and current affairs series since 1983, and we've won every major journalism and broadcasting award available. As PBS's flagship investigative documentary series, we seek both to foster a work environment and to produce journalism that values inclusiveness and reflects the broad perspectives of the American public.
NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television, demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. Our work is regularly recognized with the industry's most prestigious awards.In addition, science educators across the country rely on NOVA for resources used in the classroom as well as in museums, libraries, and after-school programs.
American Experience is PBS' flagship historical documentary film series. The duPont, Emmy, and Peabody Award-winning series is the go-to source for smart, relevant, and insightful history. The rigor, precision, and journalistic integrity we bring to each story we tell serve as the foundation for one of the most exciting ways for anyone to engage with American history.

JOB OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief for FRONTLINE and Documentaries, the Senior Producer and Editor will act as a trusted editorial advisor and collaborator and will work with content producers to deliver editorial output for FRONTLINE and American Experience across multiple platforms-from development through production to publication. The Senior Producer and Editor will work closely with the Executive Producer, the Senior Director, Digital Media, as well as FRONTLINE's Senior Editorial Team to conduct rigorous review of editorial content for these series, including long-form films, short videos, podcasts, interactives, web-based interviews, transcripts, etc.

TheSenior Producer and Editor will advise producers and reporters on editorial issuesthroughout production and overseeresearch and vetting across platforms to ensure that editorial content meets both FRONTLINE's and American Experience's high editorial and legal standards,assuring that the reputation for these series remains unassailable.

This position serves a critical editorial gatekeeper across FRONTLINE's and American Experience's platforms before content is distributed to millions of people worldwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Act as a liaison and a main point of contact for FRONTLINE and American Experience with independent film production teams, GBH staff producers, production partners, and other news organizations to produce documentary programming and other forms of quality editorial content.
  • As assigned by the Executive Producer, provide editorial oversight and review of FRONTLINE and American Experience productions.
  • Act as a key liaison with FRONTLINE's Special Counsel and GBH's Legal team on editorial output across platforms; assess and resolve fair use and other legal issues.
  • Oversee editorial vetting of content before broadcast or publication and ensures all legal issues are addressed.
  • Produce for the Transparency Project and ongoing publication of archive interviews for FRONTLINE.
  • In partnership with the EP and Senior Director, Digital Media, develop and direct editorial strategy and overall direction of American Experience reboot in consultation.
  • In collaboration with GBH's Senior Director of Digital Media, manage and oversee all digital content including, short-form videos across platforms, long -form archival interviews, and future podcast content for American Experience.
  • Provide editorial review of archival films for rebroadcast and for YouTube distribution for American Experience.
  • Communicate internally with other GBH stakeholders about American Experience's editorial planning and programming strategies.
  • Offer editorial feedback on program listings and titles, essays for American Experience programming.
  • In collaboration with the Managing Director, Operations and Special Projects, vet and evaluate potential series funders for American Experience; create sponsorship packages.
  • Field and evaluate story proposals and treatments on behalf of the Executive Producer, advise on viability.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILL SET

  • Dedication to fair, rigorous and impactful investigative journalism.
  • Excellent writing, organizational and communication skills; an enthusiastic collaborator.
  • Proven ability to manage and maintain relationships within institutions and across different institutions.
  • Capacity to oversee new initiatives within an organization.
  • Ability to identify fresh, impactful stories best told in documentary form.
  • A deep understanding of film production and journalism standards and experience in 'film fixing' to meet such standards.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
  • 10 - 15 years of relevant work experience in journalism.

JOB SPECIFICS

Staff position

Hybrid position

LOCATION

1 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135

Thispositionis located in Boston, MA, and requires on-site presence.

Salary Range$110,630 - $140,600Compensation offered within this range is determined by skills, experience and internal pay equity.
GBH is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve are diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, GBH does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment, or promotion based on race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Application Process Assistance
GBH will reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. To initiate an accommodation request, contact the Human Resource department by sending an email tohuman_resources@wgbh.orgor by calling 617-300-2000.

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