About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels & streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences in every corner of the globe.
We work with outstanding creative talent who are responsible for platform-defining shows from Strictly Come Dancing to Bluey, Eastenders, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
The range and quality of our content is unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena.
From BAFTAs to RTS Awards, BBC Studios is Britain's most awarded production company and the only producer with three of the top ten shows on IMDB; we're the home of bbc.com, the widest-read English language news website in the world; and the UK's largest distributor of British content.
About BBC Studios NHU
BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU) is the best-known and most loved producer of natural history content in the world, responsible for some of the most globally successful factual content of the past 10 years. With groundbreaking technology and innovation we reveal to audiences around the world the extraordinary wonders of nature through exceptional storytelling, jaw dropping imagery and cutting-edge science.
Our output includes everything from breath-taking landmarks (Frozen Planet II; The Green Planet; Seven Worlds, One Planet; Dynasties II; Blue Planet II; Planet Earth III), returning series and technically challenging live shows (Springwatch; Blue Planet Live), to Prehistoric Planet - the ground-breaking AppleTV+ Original, The Americas for NBCU, and Ocean Xplorers for National Geographic Disney+. Programmes made by the NHU denote quality, innovation, craftsmanship and world-class storytelling.
This is a career defining opportunity for an experienced and passionate business leader. This is a new critical senior business and operations role in the Natural History Unit. The Director of Commercial and Operations will work in partnership with the Head of Unit, to develop and implement strategic plans for future growth and transformation whilst leading on all business functions across the unit - production, operations and commercial activity, with responsibility for delivery of key business objectives and the strategic planning and delivery of the NHU long range business plan.
The Role
• Work in partnership with the Head of Unit to define and deliver the business and commercial strategy for the genre ensuring key milestones are hit.
• Responsible for the management of the P&L and delivery of the Long Range Plan.
• Lead on Change and Transformation of the business.
• Have high level oversight of all commercial, production and operational activity identifying and prioritising improvements and efficiencies wherever possible.
• Work in partnership with the Head of Unit and Head of Production to deliver the revenue and profit targets for the year, driving all financial planning and business optimisation for future years of the long-range plan.
• Develop strategies with the NHU leadership team to agree the short and long-term plans for their areas and how these contribute to the overarching business plan and goals for the unit.
• Lead commercial deal planning on behalf of the NHU across multiple areas of the business aligning on both long-term strategic planning as well as in year activity.
• Working closely with legal and business affairs and production to secure the best possible terms for the business, balancing revenue, brand and partnership upsides. These would include deals with key talent and IP owners, commissioners, co-producers, distributors, etc.
• In collaboration with key professional areas (Finance, Legal and Business Affairs, HR, Talent) and the Head of Production, ensuring business performance and progress against the long-range plan is clearly presented to COO Factual, MD Factual etc in a timely manner.
• Manage business relationships with key strategic partners, building strong relationships and delivering the best possible partnerships, ensuring commercial opportunities and return are maximised.
• Act as the company's business expert for the NHU, keeping abreast of all relevant media companies, their senior management and decision makers. Understanding the business landscape and market trends to develop corporate reputation and exploit business development opportunities.
• To identify and progress new business activity as markets develop and working closely with Head of Unit to ensure that editorial strategy is aligned to market needs.
• Responsible for engaging with all parts of the BBC Group and BBC Studios as required, ensuring that the NHU is represented where appropriate.
• Ensure timely communication of the pipeline to relevant areas of BBC Studios.
• Upskill other teams through the free flow of information and insight and a highly collaborative approach.
• Lead, motivate and develop the performance of direct reports including production, operational and commercial leads and business teams, building a high-performance culture with the skills and capabilities needed to deliver the required results into the future.
• Attend international markets, visit key BBCS locations and broadcast partners in territory as required.
• Represent BBC Studios as an industry expert at appropriate internal/external press and conferences.
• Contribute to the wider development and leadership of the unit, promoting and championing an inclusive culture of collaboration, creativity and diversity.
What Does it Take?
Job Scope
Life at BBC Studios
We don't focus simply on what we do - we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you've read about our values and behaviours here.
The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce, that represents the audiences we serve, and encourages applications from candidates from any background, especially people from diverse communities. Equity of opportunity is important to us, and we endeavour to make our processes equal, fair and meritocratic for everybody.
Package Description
Band: F
Requisition: 18982
Start date: March 2025
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Bristol
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Interviews will be held wb 6th January 2025.
What will you gain from working at BBC Studios?
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. If you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please contact us on reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk.
* The salary benchmark is based on the target salaries of market leaders in their relevant sectors. It is intended to serve as a guide to help Premium Members assess open positions and to help in salary negotiations. The salary benchmark is not provided directly by the company, which could be significantly higher or lower.