Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About the DFC
We're thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity to lead the Documentary Film Council (DFC) as our first Chief Executive Officer. Launched at Sheffield DocFest in 2023, the DFC is the first national membership association dedicated to documentary film and TV in the UK. Our mission is to represent the British documentary sector to industry and government and to support the development and growth of the UK’s documentary community.

It’s no secret that our sector is facing unprecedented challenges. Addressing these challenges requires a national organisation with a remit to represent the sector and advocate in its interests. As a charitable co-operative - the first of its kind in the UK screen industries - the DFC is independent, member-owned and governed by a Board of Trustees who are elected by, and accountable to, its members.

Since it launched, the DFC has:

• Attracted an initial membership of nearly 1000 professionals from across the sector, from Oscar and BAFTA award-winning talent to sales agents, distributors, curators, critics and researchers.
• Submitted evidence to the UK Parliament on the critical issues facing our sector.
• Gained a seat on the UK Screen Sector Task Force.
• Established strong working relationships with the BFI and DCMS to help shape UK documentary film policy.
• Created the first national documentary Directory to boost visibility and facilitate connections between filmmakers and commissioners, distributors, and exhibitors.
• Supported Documentality in addressing mental health and wellbeing in the documentary sector.
• Organised elections for the first ever elected board of representatives in UK documentary film history.
• Launched the UK’s first national online forum to foster open communication and support new talent to enter the industry.

We’ve achieved all this and more as a voluntary organisation. We’re now looking to recruit the DFC’s first ever CEO to lead the organisation into the next phase of its development.

Who we’re looking for
The ideal candidate - or candidates, given that we’re open to a jobshare - is an experienced and respected professional from the documentary industry with an established reputation and passion for leadership and community-building. You will be a figurehead for the documentary sector, able to represent the documentary community at the highest levels in industry, government and the media, and advocate for the vital social, cultural and economic contribution that the documentary sector makes to our society.

As well as growing the DFC’s membership across the nations and regions of the UK, you will take a leading role in engaging with policymakers and stakeholders across the screen industries. This will include working with the DCMS, BFI, Ofcom, broadcasters, streamers, screen agencies and our sister organisations in the documentary sector, all to enhance support for documentary across the board.

An important note on remuneration
This role will initially be compensated with an honorarium rather than a salary (see Further Particulars). Although we are engaged in discussions with several potential funders and our financial position is stable, the DFC is not yet in a position to support paid staff. Indeed, overseeing our transition from a volunteer-run body to an institution run by a paid team will be an essential part of your work.

We are aware of the implications this has for equality and diversity, and for the amount of time candidates can commit to the role. To mitigate this, we are committed to working with the successful candidate as flexibly as possible. Ideally, we are looking for a commitment of approximately two days per week -potentially as a secondment and/or shared by two people working one day each - for a period of at least one year (preferably more), but this is entirely negotiable based on candidates’ other commitments.

We know this is a big ask, and wish we could advertise this post with the salary it deserves. However, we are determined to reach that point, and do not want to delay this process any more than we already have. We cannot build a brighter future for documentary in the UK without a national organisation laser focused on that work, and which is run by and for the people it represents. The DFC is that organisation and together, we’re already making a difference. We’ve built our membership, we’ve elected our board and now we’re ready for our first CEO.
We can’t wait to hear from you.

Fiona Fletcher,

Chair of the DFC Board of Trustees,
Newcastle,
October 2025

Further particulars

This section provides a summary of what is required by this post. It also forms the selection criteria on which the decision on whom to shortlist and then to appoint will be made. Please ensure that you demonstrate how you meet these criteria in your application.

Post: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Accountable to: DFC Board of Trustees
Responsible for: DFC Leadership Team
Location: Remote, with annual attendance at Sheffield DocFest and occasional travel
elsewhere in the UK and internationally.
Working hours/pattern: Negotiable according to the rhythms of other commitments; ideally candidates will commit to a minimum average of two days per week for at least one year, with a view to moving to a paid permanent position and increasing the time commitment.
Honorarium: £2,500 per annum plus travel and expenses.

Role outline
The DFC’s CEO is the most senior executive position within the organisation. The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership and development of the organisation and, with the support and oversight of the Board of Trustees, takes a leading role in the design and delivery of the DFC’s mission and strategic direction. As the main public face of the DFC, the CEO is responsible for representing DFC members and the wider UK documentary sector to government, industry and the media.

The CEO manages the DFC’s Leadership Team (currently comprised of volunteers) and is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day-management of all aspects of the organisation. The CEO has an ex officio seat on the DFC Board and is the primary connection between the Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. The CEO works closely with the chair of the DFC’s board to ensure trustees remain active and engaged, and that there is a clear chain and culture of accountability from the Board of Trustees to the members.

The CEO is also responsible for ensuring that the DFC is compliant with its obligations as a charitable co-operative. This includes overseeing elections and other democratic procedures and preparing, with support of the trustees, the Annual Report and Accounts.

Essential criteria

• Expert knowledge of documentary film and television in the UK, the issues and
  challenges the sector faces and its position within the wider screen industries.
• Established networks and a proven track record of leadership in the documentary sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a demonstrable ability to represent and advocate for DFC members and the documentary sector to industry, government and the media in person and online.
• A proven track record of fundraising success and an ability to understand and interpret financial data and performance metrics.
• Experience managing substantial budgets.
• Knowledge of co-operative governance structures and a passion for open, transparent and democratic institutions.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a collaborative leadership style based on teamwork, emotional intelligence, empathy and generosity of spirit.
• A proven track record of commitment diversity, equity and inclusion.

Desirable criteria

• Experience managing charitable and/or cultural organisations.
• Experience of organisational development.
• Experience of policy and advocacy work, ideally running campaigns at national level.
• A background in strategic partnership development.

Key features of the role

• Provide strategic direction to the DFC and manage its day-to-day business in line with the organisation’s mission and values.
• Lead the DFC’s policy and advocacy work: liaising with sister organisations across the documentary sector in the UK and internationally and leading discussions with policymakers at DCMS, BFI, Ofcom, broadcasters, streamers, screen agencies and adjacent bodies.
• Represent the DFC on the UK Screen Sector Task Force.
• Actively engage with the media and trade press to promote the documentary sector and its needs and represent the DFC membership within the screen industries and beyond.
• Attend festivals, markets and events in the UK and internationally to represent and promote the UK documentary sector and build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across the screen industries.
• Lead fundraising efforts and partnership development.
• Work alongside the DFC’s Board of Trustees and accountants to deliver Trustees’
  Annual Report, Accounts and Annual General Meeting.
• Oversee the DFC’s governance structures and procedures and foster an inclusive, open and accountable culture within the organisation, from the trustees to the members.
• Manage the recruitment of volunteers, contractors and staff.

Deadline for applications
The deadline for applications is midnight, Sunday 7 December 2025.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to a two-stage interview process: stage one interviews will take place online (online) w/c January 12; stage two interviews will be in-person in London w/c January 19 (stage two interviews will also be available online for those unable to travel - please make this known in your application to enable us to plan in advance).

How to apply
All applicants must be full voting Members of the DFC. Unless we’ve agreed an alternative application format with you, you should email a CV and cover letter to info@documentaryfilmcouncil.co.uk with the subject line ‘CEO Job Application’. The cover letter should be no more than two sides of A4 and should set out why you want the role and how you meet the essential criteria.

We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive documentary sector and are particularly keen that senior roles are accessible to everyone with the relevant skills and experience. We will offer a guaranteed interview to all candidates who meet our Essential Criteria and who identify as Global Majority, Black, Asia, or Minority Ethics, D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, Disabled, neurodiverse or working class.

We are very keen to support applicants with access requirements, for example people who are D/deaf, hard of hearing, Disabled, neurodiverse or visually impaired. Please contact us to let us know how we can help. For example, we can cover the costs of a BSL interpreter for a meeting prior to preparing an application, or arrange for alternative application formats such as video applications or slide decks. We’ll be guided by you.

After you apply
You will receive confirmation that your application has been received within one week of submitting. We will inform candidates about the outcome of the shortlisting process within two weeks of the application deadline.

Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. For more information about how the Documentary Film Council processes data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.