Researcher, Landmark Series NHU – EXTEND

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: B

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, 22 months

DEPARTMENT: BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU)

LOCATION: Bridgewater House, Bristol with at least 3 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 November 2026

Interviews will be held in BBC Bristol Bridgewater House w/c 2nd November 2026.

BBC EXTEND

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You’re broadly defined as disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis.

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact extend@bbc.co.uk.

The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workface that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.

If you’d like more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage. (EXTEND code: EX2324).

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

BBC Studios Natural History Unit is embarking on a spectacular landmark production following on from the recent success of Asia, The Americas and Kingdom. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic researcher to work on this ambitious project.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Join a talented and collaborative production team creating a groundbreaking, sequence-based place-based landmark natural history series for a global audience.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

You will need to be highly experienced, creative, adaptable, and organised team player with a keen eye for a good story and good technical understanding. You 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 both blue-chip natural history and presenter-led sequences, you will be an adaptable team-player offering practical support to Production Management, Producers and Assistant Producers throughout the series, including on location.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Experience working across multiple episodes on at least two sequence based landmark natural history series.
• A proven track record of setting up shoots and extensive experience on location where you have played a central role in capturing sequences for broadcast.
• A comprehensive technical understanding of cameras and lenses and an interest in cutting-edge camera technologies and techniques to produce visually new stories blue-chip natural history sequences.
• Knowledge of and good contacts with leading wildlife experts and organisations across the African continent.
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to build relationships with a variety of people from different backgrounds – from scientists to fixers, and park rangers to drivers.
• Track record of finding and developing new emotionally engaging and achievable behavioural stories that suit the editorial brief.
• Resilience and stamina to sustain performance when under pressure with excellent organisational and planning skills.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• A demonstrable understanding of the importance of safe management of shoots.
• Experience working with presenters and contributors on location and generating behind the scenes content to a high level.
• A specialist knowledge and experience of working in challenging environments.
• A willingness to spend long periods on location.
• Experience with new media and digital content.
• Experience of sourcing, logging archive and understanding archive restrictions.

PLEASE NOTE

Candidates who are selected for an 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.

#BBCSTUDIOS