Head of Production, Scripted in London

Salary is dependent on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. 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

Reporting to the Director of Production, Scripted, the Head of Production is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of in-house production labels within BBC Studios Scripted, overseeing a diverse portfolio of productions across development, production and post, as well as partnering with BBC Studios’ wholly owned scripted labels to deliver production management benefits across the portfolio. This role requires an experienced and strategic production leader, capable of working with multiple labels and a complex production portfolio, while delivering operational excellence, strong financial performance and supporting creative ambition across BBC Studios Scripted.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of drama productions, ensuring delivery across development, production and post is aligned with creative ambition, budget and schedule.
• Work in close partnership with BBCS editorial leadership to support the creative vision of slates, contributing to long-term planning, prioritisation and sustainability of the production pipeline.
• Work in close partnership with the wholly owned scripted labels to deliver production management benefits across the portfolio.
• Ensure production resources, operational planning and editorial ambitions are aligned ahead of greenlight, providing clear visibility of production feasibility, financial implications and delivery requirements.
• Lead financial performance, with responsibility for finance plans, budgeting, forecasting and cost control across multiple productions, ensuring effective management of spend and delivery of margin.
• Create finance plans, negotiate and oversee budgets ensuring margins are built in and delivered, with clear accountability for financial outcomes.
• Support Production Executives in the management of their productions, ensuring consistency of approach, strong governance and the sharing of best practice.
• Ensure development teams are supported with up-to-date financial and operational insight, enabling proposals to be aligned with broadcaster expectations, budget parameters and delivery requirements.
• Jointly accountable with editorial and senior stakeholders for compliance with BBC policies, legal and regulatory requirements, including Health & Safety, Risk Management, Editorial Policy, Duty of Care and Safeguarding, in order to minimise the risk to BBC Studios.
• Drive effective risk management across productions, implementing robust planning and mitigation strategies across a varied and evolving slate.
• Foster strong working relationships across BBC Studios, including Business Affairs, Finance, HR, Commercial and Talent teams.
• Represent BBC Studios in relationships with broadcasters, streamers and distributors, while maintaining strong partnerships with key suppliers, facilities and external production partners.
• Champion inclusive working practices and contribute to BBC Studios’ Diversity & Inclusion strategy, ensuring it is embedded across all productions and teams.
• Support and implement sustainable production practices, ensuring alignment with environmental targets and carbon reduction initiatives across the slate.
• Work with the Director of Production to drive consistency and efficiency in production management processes, embedding best practice, innovation and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY

• Play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of BBC Studios Scripted production, contributing to slate planning, growth and long-term business objectives.
• Lead and support senior production management teams, ensuring clear accountability and strong performance management.
• Drive a culture of consistency and continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, innovation and collaboration across productions.
• Lead with a calm and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, ensuring solutions are proportionate, timely and delivered collaboratively across teams.
• Foster a culture of ownership and professionalism, where individuals take accountability for outcomes, remain composed under pressure and prioritise solutions over problems.
• Act as a senior operational voice within BBC Studios Scripted, contributing to wider production management discussions, sharing knowledge and best practice across productions.
• Drive continuous improvement through the adoption of production systems, workflows and emerging technologies that enhance efficiency, consistency and production delivery.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Experience at Head of Production or Production Executive level within scripted television, with experience across development, production and post in different budget bands.
• Proven track record of managing multiple productions or a slate, with responsibility for complex budgets, schedules and delivery across varying scales.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience of overseeing P&L performance, forecasting, cost control and delivering margin across a portfolio.
• Demonstrable leadership experience managing senior production management teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with editorial teams, corporate departments and external partners.
• In-depth understanding of production governance, compliance, Health & Safety and risk management.
• Strong strategic capability, with the ability to balance creative ambition with operational delivery across a diverse and evolving slate.
• Commitment to embedding BBC Studios’ values and behaviours, including inclusive leadership, respectful team cultures and continuous development.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Redeployment

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

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC. At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about BBC Studios Life at BBC Studios. A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra five days. Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions). Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access, life assurance and accident benefit. BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group’s science-based Net Zero targets here. Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture. Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis. Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. 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.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

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.