Development Researcher, ITV Studios - Freelance, 6 Months

Development Researcher

ITV Studios - Global Creative & Production Support
Freelance - 6 Months, Full Time
White City, London, UK

For more information please email

Your work matters to millions.
Shaping culture is in the DNA of ITV. So, it’s not surprising that you’ll find us in every home in the UK, our productions are famous all over the world and we’re at the forefront of the digital streaming revolution. 

When you join us, you enter a fun working environment. With opportunities to learn, to grow and make a real difference. Small enough that your impact’s felt in the business, but big enough that your impact reaches millions of people. 

Come develop your skills, change TV and the course of your career. Don’t just watch it. Be part of it. Join ITV.

Your impact sends ripples.

The team
ITV Studios Global Creative and Production Support team are responsible for the formats pipeline at ITV Studios, from the initial idea to the global rollout of the biggest formats. As the Development unit of the team, we work with all the labels to get the biggest ideas with the most potential to market. 

The role
We are looking for a skilled Development Researcher to help our team drive the formats pipeline of ITV Studios across the globe.

The candidate will have experience working in a non-scripted development team and a detailed knowledge of the current TV formats landscape. The candidate will be able to generate new ideas and manipulate existing formats into new shapes for different markets.

The role requires strong writing and presentation skills, requires the flexibility to work across multiple genres from formatted factual to big studio entertainment, quiz shows to reality, and all things in between.

Key Responsibilities

Format Development

• Redeveloping formats and designing attractive format decks.
• Actively sharing new developments and older catalogue formats for different labels to pitch in their territories
• Writing succinct treatments to be pitched to commissioners.
• Helping to prep pitch materials for UK & International broadcasters.
• Bringing new ideas for the team to pitch.
• Attending, organising & helping to produce run-throughs.

Briefs and Lists

• Sourcing and saving assets (i.e. treatments, sizzles, format docs) for channel briefs / studio requests.
• Helping to provide lists of formats for specific briefs.
• Tracking all briefs.

Tracking the ITVS Creative Pipeline

• Attending label calls: Taking and sharing notes.
• Tracking the ITVS Development pipeline.
• Helping the team and the labels maintain an accurate and up to date slate on ITV Create.
• Staying on top of pitches to UK broadcasters.

Internal Ideas Hub

• Managing submissions via the ITVS Internal Ideas Hub.
• Keeping the spreadsheet up to date with all of the relevant information.

Other Tasks

• Translating international format decks.
• Writing up Format Pitchsliders in preparation for the monthly round table meeting.
• Staying up to date with ratings and watching content that we are working on.
• Answering general format queries from the ITV Label.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• At least 6 months working in development team across a wide range of genres
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Experience creating pitch decks and treatments to a high standard
• Demonstrable basic editing skills for cutting sizzles
• Demonstrable ability to come up with programme ideas relevant to ITV Studios

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Ability to redevelop existing IP & international format decks
• Ability to create exciting new ideas with international potential
• Ability to design attractive format decks and write up succinct treatments
• A passion & knowledge of the TV Formats landscape

ITV is for everyone.
ITV strongly encourages applications for this role from disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader, if you meet the minimum criteria for a role and you have declared that you are disabled, we’ll guarantee to take you to the next stage* (minimum criteria above) .

We're happy to discuss any support/personalisation you may need during our application and selection process as part of our reasonable adjustments. D rop us a line if you require anything at .

Find out more

* There may be a few exceptions where we are not able to take all eligible candidates to the next stage due to the volume of applications.


Closing date: 5th December 2023