Head of Documentaries Job at BBC Studios

Job Description

Working to the Director of Factual, BBC Content and supporting the BBC’s Value for All strategy, the Head of Documentaries will be responsible for growing both new and existing documentary content brands, and setting an editorial strategy that effectively drives the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain, as well as its ambitions to reach, portray and represent all the UK.

Job Responsibility

Working to the Director of Factual, drive the documentary commissioning strategy, providing creative and collaborative leadership across the genre, inspiring and enabling creativity through others, and fostering an innovative approach to new content at the BBC
Leading a small team of high performing commissioners as well as nurturing and developing new commissioning talent
Collaborate with teams across the BBC to ensure strategy delivery considers a wide range of audiences, platforms, and commissioning opportunities, in particular collaborating with and commissioning in partnership with Nations
Mentor and coach Commissioning Editors and nurture and develop commissioning talent
Act as the editorial contact for suppliers and be responsible for cultivating and managing supplier relationships in line with the documentary strategy
Ensure commissions from suppliers are based on a sound understanding of diversity, cost, quality, rights exploitation and funding needs
Strong understanding of the production pipeline working with suppliers in productive collaboration to deliver projects on budget and on time for iplayer release requirements
Own a strong development pipeline, encouraging a risk-taking and innovative approach to ideas development which delivers against the commissioning strategy and changing audience and platform requirements
Manage and nurture relationships in all their diversity and be aware of new emerging talent, using own experience and gravitas to attract and develop talent, directors and producers as BBC partners
Ensure that content and activity complies with the BBC’s editorial standards and guidelines and other key policies and commitments

Requirements

Deep expertise in the field of documentary production or commissioning, with a significant understanding of the domestic and international markets and of trends within the broadcasting industry and media sector as they apply to documentaries
Significant editorial leadership experience, with the ability to provide inclusive, collaborative leadership and develop high-performing teams
Adept at managing senior and executive level stakeholders and establishing positive and collaborative relationships across departments
A track record of initiating and managing successful external partnerships and of building successful relationships with both emerging and high-profile documentary talent
A thorough understanding of the way in which programmes are commissioned, financed and produced, with extensive experience in managing significant budgets and understanding key financial drivers
Broad and comprehensive understanding of the BBC’s legal and contractual agreements and regulations as they apply to programme making, broadcasting and digital media, or ability to rapidly acquire this via comparable experience

What we offer

Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package
Flexible 35-hour working week
25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days
Defined pension scheme
Discounted dental, health care and gym
Excellent career and professional development
Support in your working life, including flexible working

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Head of Documentaries

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