HR Director

BBC; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public service broadcaster in the UK seeks an HR Director for their News division. The candidate will drive HR strategy across the organization, work closely with senior executives, and lead a team focused on employee engagement and cultural change. Strong experience in HR leadership and organizational transformation is essential. The role requires a hybrid working arrangement with a mix of onsite presence required.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at HR Director level in complex global organizations.
• Strong track record of leading people strategy during organizational transformation.
• Expertise across HR disciplines: organization design and talent development.

Responsibilities

• Translate business priorities into people-focused strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
• Lead the delivery of HR strategy across BBC News.

Skills

Experience in organisational transformation

Strategic advisory skills

HR team leadership

Trade union engagement

Job description

Overview & Context

The BBC is a world-renowned public service broadcaster. With a mission to inform, educate, and entertain, it has grown to become one of the most respected and influential media organisations globally. The BBC is dedicated to delivering exceptional content that enriches people's lives and with a commitment to public service, innovation, and diversity, continues to be a trusted source of information and entertainment for millions of people around the world.

The BBC operates across the UK and in 60 countries globally. It has an annual income of £5bn, primarily made up of the licence fee paid by UK households, along with other sources of revenue, such as commercial operations through BBC Commercial, a global producer and distributor. This unique funding model allows the BBC to maintain editorial independence, pursuing truth with no agenda, backing the best homegrown storytelling by investing in talent both on and off screen, and delivering unmissable content that serves the public interest and that brings people together.

The BBC is the home for a diverse range of content across multiple platforms, including iPlayer, BBC Sounds, television, radio, online, and mobile. Its television channels, including BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC News, provide an eclectic and all-encompassing range of news, drama, documentaries, and entertainment. At the same time, BBC Radio brings music, talk shows, and cultural programming to audiences. Across the UK, the BBC provides bespoke programming and services across each of the Nations and Regions. Globally, the BBC reaches 418 million people on average every week, providing services in 41 different languages.

In 2024, the BBC grew market share more than any other broadcaster or streamer; BBC iPlayer is now the fastest growing streaming platform in the UK, BBC Sounds is the second biggest audio platform in the UK, and the BBC is the home to the most popular radio stations in the UK for both speech and music.

The BBC is committed to innovation and staying at the forefront of the media industry. It invests in cutting-edge technology and digital transformation to enhance the user experience and reach new audiences.

BBC News and Current Affairs

BBC News is the world’s most trusted news provider, delivering impartial, accurate, and timely journalism across a wide range of platforms. As the news and current affairs division of the BBC, BBC News serves audiences in the UK and internationally through television, radio and digital channels.

With a commitment to public service journalism, BBC News plays a vital role in informing, educating, and engaging the public. It operates major domestic and global services and works with colleagues in the Nations and Regions division to provide services for audiences across the whole of the UK. Its mission is to report with clarity; courage; fairness; respect; and transparency.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY

The BBC seeks to appoint an exceptional HR leader to the role of HR Director, BBC News & Current Affairs. The role will report into the BBC Chief People Officer and partner Deborah Turness, CEO BBC News, and will sit on the News Board. The role also sits on the HR leadership team and will play a pivotal role in delivering the overall BBC people strategy.

The HR Director, News & Current Affairs requires a rare blend of strategic acumen and hands-on delivery. It spans HR business partnering, organisational development, talent, capability and skills building, and thought leadership. The successful candidate will also need to be an empathetic and strong people manager and a dynamic leader — able to influence, challenge, and coach senior leaders while creating an environment where people can thrive at all levels.

• JOB DESCRIPTION: MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
• JOB BAND: Senior Leader
• CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
• LOCATION: UK-based. Weekly presence is required in London (2 days), but can be a hybrid role. Travel to other UK sites is regularly required, and some international travel may be expected.
• REPORTING TO: BBC Chief People Officer

Key Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the BBC Chief People Officer and CEO of BBC News to translate business priorities into bold, people-focused strategies that support digital transformation, talent evolution, and cultural change.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to senior editorial and operational leaders, fostering a deep understanding of BBC News’ needs, ambitions, and challenges.
• Lead the delivery of the HR strategy across BBC News, ensuring alignment with the wider BBC people agenda and a strong focus on employee engagement, inclusion, and innovation.
• Champion organisational effectiveness by designing and implementing people solutions that support agile, digitally enabled ways of working and future-fit capabilities.
• Act as a visible and influential leader within the BBC News Leadership Team and BBC HR Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise-level thinking and decision-making.
• Leverage workforce data and insight to guide leadership decisions, shape policy, and identify people-related risks and opportunities.
• Drive excellence in people management and employee experience, ensuring that HR policies and practices are clearly communicated, legally compliant, and reflective of BBC values.
• Lead effective trade union and employee relations, building collaborative, transparent and productive relationships.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex or sensitive employee matters, ensuring consistent, values-led, and legally sound outcomes.
• Inspire and lead the BBC News HR team with clarity and purpose, supporting their growth, development, and contribution across the wider BBC.
• Manage the HR budget effectively, ensuring people investments are commercially sound and deliver measurable value.
• Actively contribute to the broader leadership of BBC News, role-modelling inclusive leadership and championing collaboration, creativity, and diversity at all levels.

ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?

The BBC is seeking to hire an exceptional individual who will deliver against these comprehensive responsibilities. This person will be committed to public service broadcasting, believing in the BBC’s mission and public purpose.

CORE CANDIDATE CRITERIA

• Proven experience operating at HR Director level in a large, complex, global and matrixed organisation.
• A strong track record of leading people strategy during periods of significant organisational transformation.
• Experience partnering with senior executives (C-suite or equivalent) as a strategic and trusted advisor.
• Expertise across core HR disciplines, including organisation design, talent development, capability building, change management, and employee engagement.
• Experience in unionised environments, with evidence of successful trade union engagement and negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing HR teams through change.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk, and compliance in people-related matters.
• A values-led approach with a deep understanding of organisational culture and inclusion.
• Evidence of commercial acumen and sound judgement in managing HR budgets and investments.
• Familiarity with digital transformation and the future of work, including workforce planning and technology-enabled change.
• Consultative approach, and ideally some experience of working within management consulting/human capital consultancy.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Candidate Behaviours Will Encompass

• Operating with high integrity and alignment to the BBC’s public service values.
• Building trust and credibility quickly with senior leaders and stakeholders across complex, matrixed environments.
• Bringing strong judgement, able to balance strategic priorities with practical delivery and risk management.
• Thinking systemically and long-term while taking accountability for immediate, tangible outcomes.
• Demonstrating courage and resilience in the face of ambiguity, complexity, and challenge.
• Leading with humility and self-awareness — combining professional expertise with an open and adaptable mindset.
• Communicating with clarity, empathy, and impact — both in one-to-one settings and large-scale engagements.
• Modelling inclusive leadership, actively seeking out diverse views and ensuring all voices are heard.
• Coaching, supporting, and challenging others to raise performance and unlock potential at every level.
• Acting as a visible role model for continuous learning, curiosity, and innovation.
• Demonstrating commercial and organisational awareness — balancing creativity with cost-consciousness.

Above all, the successful candidate will be passionate about the BBC’s public service mission and capable of aligning people strategy with the bold future of BBC News.

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.

For any general queries, please contact: [e-mail]

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.

Location: United Kingdom (Hybrid)