At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with leaders to drive impactful people strategies and enhance employee experience.
- Company: Join BBC Studios, a global leader in natural history content and storytelling.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to ÂŁ70,000, plus bonuses and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of natural history programming.
- Qualifications: Experience in organisational change and strong coaching skills required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 ÂŁ per year.
JOB BAND: E
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
DEPARTMENT: HR
LOCATION: London Television Centre or Bristol – Hybrid
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £70,000 plus London Weighting (where applicable), depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience plus an on‑target bonus of 15%, depending on company performance. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
WE ARE BBC STUDIOS
A globally renowned media company borne of the BBC. We make and distribute the world’s most sought‑after TV, audio and digital content. Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Be part of a dynamic, collaborative HR community driving meaningful change across BBC Studios. You’ll partner with influential leaders, shape divisional people strategies, and play a hands‑on role in delivering an exceptional employee experience. This is a chance to influence transformation at scale while growing your expertise in a supportive, forward‑thinking environment. This HRBP role supports leaders across the Natural History Unit (NHU) to deliver impactful people solutions aligned with divisional goals. You'll drive cultural and organisational change, advise leaders using data and best practice, and translate strategy into practical action. Reporting to the Head of HR, you’ll help build an engaging, high‑performance environment while ensuring a consistent, future‑focused people experience.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit (NHU) is a world‑leading producer of natural history content, behind some of the most globally successful factual programming of the past decade. Renowned for innovation, creativity and world‑class storytelling, the NHU brings the wonders of the natural world to audiences through cutting‑edge technology, science and exceptional filmmaking. From landmark series such as Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and Frozen Planet II, to live productions and children’s content, the NHU sets the global standard for quality and craft. With a growing international portfolio, the team partners with major broadcasters and platforms including BBC, Apple TV+, NBCUniversal and National Geographic. Working within the NHU means supporting a high‑performing, creative and globally connected business, where innovation, collaboration and excellence are at the heart of everything we do.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT
- Partner with leaders across functions/divisions to deliver people plans aligned to wider organisational priorities.
- Work closely with the Head of HR on divisional people strategy and local implementation.
- Support Production Management in planning workforce needs across multiple titles, including forecasting demand for freelancers, fixed‑term roles and specialist creative talent.
- Coach and advise leaders using insight, data, and tools from Centres of Expertise.
- Operate with autonomy to design effective, best‑practice people solutions.
- Deliver an excellent people experience through projects and pan‑BBC initiatives.
- Support leaders to maintain psychologically safe, inclusive and healthy working environments across editorial, production management, technical and location‑based teams.
- Lead or support transformation, change, and continuous improvement activities.
- Develop and support the wider HR team, including coaching and task‑managing junior colleagues.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
- Significant experience leading organisational and cultural change, with a strong focus on talent, performance, or capability.
- Ability to balance long‑term strategic thinking with hands‑on operational delivery.
- Strong coaching skills and confidence partnering with senior leaders to develop talent and drive performance.
- Skilled in using data and insights to shape solutions across culture, talent, and organisational effectiveness.
- Experience working with unions and managing complex stakeholder environments.
- Appreciation of the realities of unscripted production, including tight editorial deadlines, rapidly scaling teams, remote/location working and multi‑title oversight.
DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED
- Direct HR partnering experience within a production environment or exposure to the media, broadcasting, or creative industries.
- Exposure to environments with a high proportion of contingent or project‑based workers, ideally within factual, unscripted or creative settings.
If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.
DISABILITY CONFIDENT
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
WE WELCOME APPLICATIONS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
HR Business Partner Natural History Unit in Bristol employer: BBC Group and Public Services
Contact Detail:
BBC Group and Public Services Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Business Partner Natural History Unit in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those connected to the Natural History Unit. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest projects from the NHU. Show us you’re passionate about their work and how you can contribute to their mission of storytelling.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of HR Business Partner. We want to hear how you can drive cultural change and support leaders effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Business Partner Natural History Unit in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the HR Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in leading organisational change and working with senior leaders, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since the role involves using data to shape people solutions, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have with data analysis or insights. We want to see how you can leverage data to drive performance!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can bring creativity and innovation to the team, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at BBC Group and Public Services
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the BBC Studios and the Natural History Unit. Familiarise yourself with their recent projects, like Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you connect your experience to their work.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
Since this role focuses on driving cultural and organisational change, prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led such initiatives. Be ready to discuss how you used data and insights to shape solutions, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Be a People Person
As an HR Business Partner, your ability to coach and advise leaders is key. Think of scenarios where you've partnered with senior leaders to develop talent or improve performance. Highlight your strong coaching skills and how you've created inclusive working environments.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world situations. For instance, how would you handle tight editorial deadlines while managing workforce needs? Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.