Forward Planning Researcher Talent Pool (Blue Peter) in Salford

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.

First broadcast in 1958, Blue Peter is the world’s longest-running children’s show, loved for its presenters, pets, competitions, campaigns, and iconic crafts. The Blue Peter film team create short‑form VTs for the show, shot across the UK and delivered against tight deadlines. We look for experienced Researchers who have a track record in both developing and pitching new story ideas, as well as helping set‑up future shoots. You will need to be confident in scheduling, planning and location scouting. We also look for candidates who are digitally native, able to emulate styles familiar on platforms like YouTube while maintaining high production values and adhering to editorial guidelines.

The Blue Peter film team consists of 2 x Researchers and 2 x Directors who work from our offices in Media City, Salford. Blue Peter Film Team Forward‑planning Researchers share the show’s passion for excitement and discovery. From spending a night in a haunted house with Danny Robins, to unearthing dinosaur bones in Canada, and racing supercars at breakneck speed, they bring bold, high‑stakes content to life every week. They play an instrumental role in planning complex shoots across the UK, casting contributors and finding locations as well as handling insurance and health & safety paperwork.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• The Forward Planning researchers on the Film Team are responsible for coordinating multiple complex shoots, planning logistics, scouting locations and booking contributors.
• We’re looking for experienced Researchers who are confident communicators that have experience working with talent and/or contributors, and enjoy coming up with ideas and organising them into action.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proven experience planning and coordinating film shoots across UK, ensuring seamless execution under varying conditions.
• Experience in sourcing and casting contributors, securing locations, and managing complex logistics to support production requirements.
• Experience in developing and pitching potential story ideas.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with production teams, prioritising and delivering multiple projects within tight deadlines.
• Strong forward planning and organizational skills, anticipating challenges and preparing for complex filming setups to minimize risk.
• Ownership of compliance processes, including insurance and health & safety documentation, adhering to legal and organizational standards.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Shooting experience, ideally with Sony FX6.
• Experience working with children.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

This talent pool is an opportunity for us to reach out and engage with freelance Researchers who want to work in our film team. Those successfully selected for the pool will form a database of talent for us to refer to when opportunities come up on Blue Peter. Unfortunately, being in the pool doesn’t mean you’ll be guaranteed to work with us. When we have opportunities we may hire directly from the pool if someone has the exact skills and experience required. If it’s a more general opportunity we will reach out to the pool and invite expressions of interest. If you’re not available, don’t worry, we accept this is going to be the case and you can just submit interest the next time something comes up. There may be occasions where no one in the pool is suitable or we want to advertise more widely, in which case the role will go out to market. If this happens you are welcome to apply.

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.

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.

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.

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

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