Job Package

• Band: F
• Contract: Permanent
• Location: London (with travel to Bristol and Salford bases)

We are really proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and so if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please do contact us on reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk with ref: 12778 in the subject.

Job Introduction

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit for a Head of Production for the newly formed Audio Unit in BBC Studios. This senior production management role, working in partnership with the Director of Audio, the Commercial & Business Development Director and Senior Editorial colleagues,  will manage a newly formed audio production business, delivering content to the BBC, Audible, Apple and elsewhere. The Head of Production will play a key role in the leadership of this unit, with line management responsibility for a production management team across London, Bristol and Salford.

This is a critical role in overseeing the delivery of a breadth of outstanding content, from impactful investigative serials such as Believe In Magic and Things Fell Apart; long running prestige Radio 4 series such as Desert Island Discs and In Our Time; and an extensive slate of award-winning Comedy and Drama output.  The Audio Unit has a mission to create and deliver compelling, premium audio to a wide-ranging global audience.

Main Responsibilities

The role has specific responsibility for financial management and delivery of productions, Health & Safety and for the quality and efficiency of production management processes.

• Implement production strategy, providing excellent leadership to the Production Management team
• Working in close partnership with editorial colleagues to oversee a pipeline of programmes and development ideas
• Responsible for consistency of approach in managing productions, sharing knowledge and best practice across the company, working in close collaboration with other Heads of Production
• Deliver significant input into decisions regarding the financial and operational performance of all productions
• Responsible for the financial performance of a P&L, managing an annual overhead budget and profit margin
• Negotiate and oversee budgets ensuring quality and maximising project value, ensuring margins are built in and delivered
• Implementing the Diversity and Inclusion strategy for the business unit, making sure all direct reports understand it
• Responsible for ensuring development teams are provided with up-to-date buyer price point information, and supported to ensure proposals are aligned with available funds, realistic timescales and opportunities for commercial exploitation
• Responsible for planning and managing relevant capacity in line with strategic objectives
• Jointly accountable with senior editorial colleagues for ensuring an understanding of, and compliance with, relevant policies, guidelines, legislative and regulatory requirements (with particular emphasis on Health & Safety, Risk Management and BBC Editorial Policy), in order to minimise the risk to BBC Studios
•  Accountable for ensuring production teams have clear understanding of timescale, rights and clearances required on each project
•  Responsible for allocation of funds in line with the budget: approving, setting, reviewing and monitoring costs and forecasts to ensure effective risk management of spend
•  Ensure all Audio governance is adhered to – including greenlight, start-up and any HR or legal approvals
• Responsible for leading or supporting negotiations for on-air talent and key contributors where necessary
• Ensure adequate training, development and performance management arrangements are in place for the production management team
• Foster close working relationships with Editorial, Commercial, Business Affairs, HR and Talent Teams

Are you the right candidate?

• This role would suit an experienced Production Executive with at least 3 years’ experience in a senior role leading a team
• Can demonstrate excellent external and internal relationship-building
• A track record of budgeting and managing complex output with significant duty of care considerations, complex deliveries and multiple stakeholders
• Be fully networked with an in-depth knowledge of the freelance production talent market
• Excellent leadership, communication and performance management skills with experience of leading and managing teams across a broad range of output and locations
• Driven, ambitious person with commitment to collaboration, diversity and inclusion
• Extensive experience of leading end-to-end production management
• Excellent technical knowledge and understanding of production processes and workflows
• Proven experience of long-term planning and management around complex schedules and budgets
• Extensive experience of managing and monitoring Health & Safety on productions
• A leader with strong commercial instincts and a decisive and strategic mind
• Assertive and influential whilst having empathy for the needs of the others; committed to building a positive and creative team culture
• Substantial and up-to-date knowledge of the audio market and audio platform trends
• Experience of integrating sustainable working practices into productions

Please click here to view the Job Description