Producer Director Senior NHU

Overview

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £65,400 - £87,200 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

WE ARE BBC STUDIOS

A globally renowned media company borne of the BBC. We make and distribute the world's most sought-after TV, audio and digital content.

Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.

BBC Studios' Natural History Unit (NHU) is the leading producer of wildlife programming, creating award-winning content with a world class reputation. Our output ranges from ambitious landmarks (Planet Earth III and Dynasties) to children's programming (Deadly Dinosaurs and Andy's Adventures), as well as ground-breaking travel, adventure, formatted, presenter led and event programming such as Prehistoric Planet for Apple TV+ and the BAFTA winning Springwatch for the BBC. We are dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and bringing these stories to a global audience. We are currently seeking a talented and experienced TV Producer to join our team for an exciting new project focused on the mysteries of the deep sea.

Purpose of the role

We are looking for a dynamic and resourceful TV Producer / Director with a proven track record in presenter led science and natural history television, ideally with identifiable experience managing on screen talent in challenging situations for National Geographic / Disney+ productions. The primary objective of this role is to develop and direct the capture of emotionally intelligent animal led stories told through the connection and passion of on-screen talent. The successful candidate will take one programme through the offline edit and post-production, to delivery to channel.

Your key responsibilities and impact

• Establish and Maintain Relationships: Build and manage strong working relationships with deep sea research institutes, marine biologists, and other scientific experts.


• Research and Development: Conduct thorough research, alongside the production team, to identify compelling stories and scientific discoveries related to the deep sea that lend themselves to emotional human character (on-screen talent) involvement.


• Project Management: Oversee all aspects of production, from pre-production planning to post-production editing.


• Team Management: Lead and manage a team, including Assistant Producers (APs) and researchers, primarily in person, at BBC Studios NHU, Bristol.


• Filming Coordination: Organize and manage the logistics of complex boat-based shoots, including SCUBA diving, submersible and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) work, involving on-screen talent.


• Creative Storytelling: Creating engaging story boards and narratives that maximise the presence of on-screen talent, getting the most out of potentially challenging deep sea animal characters that must be endearing and relatable to the audience.


• Compliance and Safety: Ensure all filming activities comply with safety regulations and environmental guidelines.

Your skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Proven experience as a TV documentary Producer / Director with a Proven ability to tell engaging and heartfelt stories involving characters that might seem alien or hard to relate to. Proven ability to self-shoot emotional human led content to a high standard for international broadcast.


• Demonstrated passion for the deep sea and the ability to build and maintain networks within the scientific community, particularly in marine biology and deep-sea research.


• Proven capability to successfully conduct filming under highly challenging conditions, managing multiple stakeholders and on-screen talent to capture narratively engaging stories whilst managing sensitive relationships with scientists and suppliers.


• The ability to work under pressure with excellent communication and project management skills.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with tag / on-board and specialist camera systems and innovations for filming in new and interesting ways, including the use of on-board and supplementary lighting.


• Experience producing and finishing formatted natural history programming for National Geographic / Disney+.


• Passion for the creatures and landscapes of the deep sea, and connections within the deep sea science and research community.


• Experience filming on research vessels using submersibles and ROVs.


• Positive past relationships with National Geographic production execs.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about BBC Studios

Life at BBC Studios

• A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra five days.


• Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions).


• Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access, life assurance and accident benefit.


• BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group's science-based Net Zero targets here .


• Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss:

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: , registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.