DV Director (Blue Peter) Talent Pool

BBC; Salford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company is seeking a self-shooting Director for Blue Peter, the world's longest-running children's show. The role involves developing captivating stories and content for digital platforms while maintaining high production values. Candidates must have experience with professional camera setups, and a keen understanding of youth-oriented content development is essential. This full-time position will be based in Salford, contributing to innovative and exciting productions.

Qualifications

• Experience as a self-shooting DV Director, PD, or Shooting AP.
• Ability to develop engaging stories for both TV and online platforms.
• Experience managing crews and overseeing schedules and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Develop engaging stories reflecting Blue Peter’s brand identity.
• Script, shoot, and edit content under time pressure.
• Manage crews and nurture junior team members.

Skills

Self-shooting DV Director experience

Professional camera equipment proficiency

Story development for young audiences

Script writing and editing experience

Tools

Editing software

Photoshop

After Effects

Job description

JOB DETAILS

Contract Type: Talent Pool

Department: BBC Studios Kids & Family (Blue Peter)

Location: Salford

Proposed salary range: Market rate - depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience.

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 ROLE

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 self-shooting Directors who are confident in scripting, producing, directing and editing. Candidates must be digitally native and able to emulate styles familiar on platforms like YouTube while maintaining high production values and adhering to editorial guidelines.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

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 Directors are adventurous, accomplished storytellers and film makers who 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.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Develop engaging stories that reflect Blue Peter’s brand identity and captivate young audiences on TV and online, especially YouTube.
• Self-shooter confidently with cameras, lenses, gimbals and complex shoot setups including legal and safety coordination.
• Script, shoot and edit short-form content under time pressure ensuring compliance with BBC editorial guidelines and diversity standards, and ensuring content achieves its stated aims across all platforms.
• Promote a positive inclusive working culture, manage crews on location, nurture junior team members and oversee schedules, budgets and resource coordination.
• Work closely with Producers to take content from proposal to final delivery, ensuring quality, safety and adherence to all guidelines.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experience as a self-shooting DV Director, PD or Shooting AP; creating short-form content for broadcast from concept to delivery, ensuring compliance with editorial and diversity guidelines.
• Confidence and proven ability to use professional camera equipment including various cameras, lenses, gimbals & minicams.
• Proven ability to develop engaging stories that work both on television and are capable of standing long enough as impactful online features.
• Awareness of younger audiences and experience in shaping content for online platforms as well as TV.
• Experience writing scripts and paper edits for short form content.
• Experience taking content through the edit.
• Experience working on and setting up complex shoots often involving liaising with Insurance & Safety teams.
• Experience managing crews and junior team members and overseeing schedules and budgets.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Working knowledge of editing software and other post-production tools like Photoshop or After Effects.
• Experience working with children.

BBC STUDIOS TALENT POOLS

This talent pool gives us an opportunity to reach out and engage with freelance Directors who want to work in our film. Those successfully selected will form a database of talent for us to refer to when opportunities arise on Blue Peter.

Being in the pool does not guarantee you will be guaranteed to work. We may hire directly from the pool if someone has the exact skills required, or we may reach out for expressions of interest. You can also submit interest when another opportunity arises. If no one in the pool is suitable, we may advertise more widely and the role will go out to market; you are welcome to apply then.

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

Full-time

VANITY

1 position