Researcher, Landmark Series NHU in Bristol

JOB BAND: B

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract

DEPARTMENT: BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU)

LOCATION: Bridgewater House, Bristol with at least 4 dpw in the office.

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £38,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

START DATE: mid/late January 2026. Interviews will be held in early January 2026.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ROLE IS SUBJECT TO GREENLIGHT.

BBC Studios Natural History Unit is embarking on a spectacular landmark production following on from the recent success of Asia, Americas and Kingdom. We are looking for a number of experienced and enthusiastic Researchers to work on this major project for a 3rd party broadcaster.

Key Responsibilities And Impact

• Researchers will need to be highly creative and organised with great storytelling skills.
• They will have the ability to take an innovative, ambitious and imaginative approach to discovering, developing and pitching outstanding content ideas.
• As well as researching and setting up filming for blue-chip natural history sequences, they will be a good team-player offering practical support to the Producers throughout the series, including on location.

Essential Criteria

• A demonstrable passion for the natural history genre.
• Experience working on behaviour-led landmark natural history for a mainstream audience.
• Track record of finding new and emotionally-engaging behavioural stories for television.
• The ability to generate and develop achievable creative ideas for programming output and to pitch ideas with the necessary supporting documentation.
• To work collaboratively and to be a good team player, but with the confidence to work well independently.
• Resilience and stamina to sustain performance when under pressure from a high volume of work and conflicting priorities, whilst reporting to multiple line managers.
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to build relationships with a variety of people from different backgrounds - including scientists, park rangers, trackers and fixers.
• Experience in setting up international filming shoots, with an understanding of the importance of safe management of shoots.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Spanish and/or Portuguese spoken to a high level.
• A specialist knowledge and experience of working in challenging environments.
• Experience of working on blue chip behavioural shoots on location.
• A willingness to spend long periods on location.
• Proven knowledge and an interest in cutting‑edge camera technologies and techniques to produce visually new stories.
• Experience with new media and digital content.
• Experience in self‑shooting contributors and generating behind the scenes content.

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates who are selected for interview will be asked to prepare an example of an original wildlife story. Please do not provide stories at this stage of the application process.

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.

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.