Content Editor (Topical and Live) – BBC (Greater Manchester)

Job Reference: 13731
Band: E
Salary: £50,481 – £58,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Contract type: Continuing contract
Location: Dock House, MediaCityUK, Salford

NB – This role requires working alternate weekends in Dock House overseeing output and leading teams.

Interviews: This is a two stage interview process.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
Benefits – We offer a negotiable salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

Job Introduction

BBC Audio North is the single biggest supplier of BBC radio programmes and podcasts made outside of London. We love audio and make lots of it – a rich mix of content spanning multiple genres including religion, consumer, investigations, documentaries, music and arts. Our teams have opportunities for collaborating, developing ideas and their careers across the department serving BBC UK Radio networks, the World Service and BBC Sounds.

We are part of BBC Audio which has around 500 editorial staff who create and deliver more than 90 hours of original audio every day. Our podcast and radio programmes are heard across the UK and around the world. We work with some of the biggest names in music, entertainment and journalism, collaborating with world class partners to reach new audiences and create impact.

A key objective for Audio North in 2024/25 is expansion of our topical and live speech output to reflect the lives of different audiences across the UK. Our current titles include Sliced Bread, R4 Sunday, You and Yours, Beyond Belief, In Touch and World Service documentary strand Heart and Soul. We’re looking for an enthusiastic and editorially confident Content Editor who shares our ambition to reach more listeners – on air and digitally – with relevant journalism.

Reporting to the head of Audio North, this role will be based in Dock House, Salford. You will work on topical and live speech output in two areas of Audio North – consumer and religious journalism.

Main Responsibilities

We are looking for a Content Editor to provide inspirational leadership and editorial oversight for all aspects of content production. You will inspire content makers to deliver outstanding output for a range of commissioners, as well as reinvent long-running returning programmes and pitch for new commissions. You should have a knowledge, passion and interest in consumer and/or religion journalism with a track record of innovation in appealing to new audiences. You will be committed to developing diversity in our content and workforce, and have ideas on how you will do it. You will help manage budgets with production management colleagues and keep the business on track. You should have a wide knowledge of the UK and Global audio markets, trends and developments. The Content Editor is expected to take a lead in devising and selling new programmes and formats. Working with the Consumer and Religion Editors you will be responsible for shaping and complying editorial, social and digital content, including visualised content.

Are you the right candidate?

You will have a proven track record of strong journalism, including an expertise in producing and supervising legally and editorially complex stories. You will be confident making quick decisions on topical stories that ensures our journalism makes an impact.
You will have a proven ability to generate inspiring ideas suitable for a demanding creative environment.
You can lead others to take creative risks, within the parameters of the BBC Guidelines, thus making innovative, compelling and exciting content.
You are able to communicate a clear editorial vision for the content across all platforms and have a track record in effective use of social media
You will be able to demonstrate you can effectively lead, motivate and manage a diverse team working in the fast paced environment of live and on demand programmes.
You will help develop junior members of the team; giving appropriate guidance, on-the-job support and regular feedback. This includes managing development and performance of assistant producers in the Consumer and Religion teams
You will be a good communicator with experience of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with high profile individuals, partners and organisations inside and outside the BBC.
You will have highly developed planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage several areas of work at one time, deliver to deadlines and to react positively to changes and conflicting priorities.
Presenter management is a key skill and you will be confident in dealing with big names, directing them appropriately.