Senior Consumer Technology Researcher in Manchester

CONTRACT TYPE: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract.

DEPARTMENT: BBC R&D.

LOCATION: Salford Quay House – 4 days a week in the office.

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £41,500 - £51,500 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

As Senior Consumer Technology Researcher, you will research and demonstrate consumer technologies to leaders and teams across the BBC Group, as well as key external stakeholders and business partners. You will design and deliver research and demonstration sessions that turn media and technology trends into practical, engaging examples and insights, helping BBC teams understand their relevance, implications and opportunities. From connected TVs and streaming platforms to AI apps and generative content, you will help colleagues explore how audience experiences and the wider market are changing – identifying opportunities, challenges and priorities that can help the BBC reinvent, grow and engage future generations.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

We are Blue Room – the BBC’s consumer technology research and demo lab – and part of the Advisory team within BBC Research & Development. We help teams across the BBC Group understand the consumer tech and content shaping audience choices and behaviours in a rapidly changing technology and media market. We’re looking for a Senior Consumer Technology Researcher to join the team. This is a creative, influential and collaborative role where you will help teams across the BBC respond to a fast‑changing market, growing competition, rapid developments in AI and financial pressure. Your work will support BBC R&D’s vision to enable the BBC and its audiences to thrive in an increasingly internet‑only, AI‑enhanced and highly competitive future.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Research and demonstrate consumer technology and media trends
• Design and produce practical demonstrations, sessions and events
• Present and deliver sessions to BBC staff, stakeholders and guests
• Generate and assess insights from our attendees
• Report and advise actionable learnings for the BBC
• Build and develop relationships that increase use and value of Blue Room
• Represent and promote the Blue Room, R&D Advisory, BBC Media Tech and the wider BBC Group

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• You have experience as an analyst, technologist, journalist or similar roles
• You are knowledgeable about relevant consumer technologies and media trends along with an awareness of the commercial and regulatory context
• You enjoy presenting and demonstrating in‑person and remotely and are at ease engaging with senior stakeholders and large groups
• You are comfortable communicating business and technical concepts to experts
• You can adapt to explain complex concepts to non‑technical audiences

DESIRABLE

• You have expertise in research, design or storytelling
• You show attention to detail
• You care about public service media
• You are natural at networking and building relationships
• You are a team player with a sense of fun

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.