Head of Communications (BBC Sport)

BBC; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

BBC Sport is one of our biggest and most recognisable brands. We’re looking for a senior communications leader who can proactively shape coverage of our content in a creative, impactful way while also promoting and protecting the reputation of BBC Sport and the wider BBC.

We’re looking for someone who can lead, develop, and motivate a multi-disciplinary team of communications professionals, provide effective communications advice to senior editorial stakeholders, handle the most serious and sensitive reputational issues, collaborate with other teams across the business, and generate positive coverage of our output.

You will devise and develop the communications strategies for BBC Sport. You’ll need to understand the changing media landscape, have a network of contacts across the media, and have proven experience in using digital channels in communications campaigns. You will be tasked with reaching audiences in new and different ways whilst working to BBC Communications standards and strategies.

This senior role reports directly to the Senior Head of Communications and is based in Salford with hybrid working.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver the overarching communications strategies for BBC Sport while leading a talented team of multi-disciplinary communications specialists who work on content publicity, digital and social campaigns, and reputation management issues. Ensuring all strategies are audience-focused, creatively driven, and measurable.
• Act as a communications adviser to the Director of BBC Sport, along with commissioners and senior heads across both genres. Supporting Directors through media engagements and providing thorough briefings when and where necessary.
• Handle a substantial volume of media issues and hold a range of relationships with key media and influencers.
• Work with third parties such as rights holders, governing bodies, and independent production companies.
• Work with senior colleagues across the BBC, including the wider Corporate Affairs department, Marketing, and Audiences.
• Constantly look for new ways to reach audiences and deliver creative campaigns and engagement activity with a focus on reaching younger and underserved audiences across the UK.
• Have a passion for our Sport output ranging from daily digital content, quadrennial events such as the Olympics to weekly output like Match of the Day, podcasts, and documentaries.

Are you the right candidate?

We are looking for a creative leader who has significant experience of working in a busy press office in a high-profile organisation. Overseeing a varied slate, you’ll be adept at managing multiple campaigns and issues simultaneously, with the ability to direct resource and focus where needed.

You’ll have a proven track record of handling high-profile reputational issues and working with numerous stakeholders. You’ll have a passion for our Sport output ranging from quadrennial events such as the Olympics to weekly output like Match of the Day, podcasts, and documentaries. Content sits on a variety of platforms including linear channels, iPlayer, apps, and websites.

You will also oversee communications, both proactive and reactive, for sport on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, and BBC Sport News.

You’ll need to be experienced in leading a successful team, operating under pressure in a complex organisation, and know how to effectively provide senior-level counsel to stakeholders on programming, new initiatives, PR strategy, and issues.

About the BBC:

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons 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.

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Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.