Producer Director Senior NHU

BBC; Bristol; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company is looking for a dynamic TV Producer/Director to develop and direct deep-sea documentaries. Candidates should have extensive production experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for marine biology. The role involves overseeing the entire production process and leading a team at the Bristol studio. Ideal candidates will have the ability to work under pressure and manage relationships with scientific experts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a TV documentary producer/director.
• Ability to self-shoot emotional content for international broadcast.
• Expertise in building and maintaining networks in marine biology.

Responsibilities

• Manage production from pre-production to post-production.
• Lead a team including Assistant Producers and researchers.
• Establish relationships with deep-sea research institutes.

Skills

Documentary production

Project management

Communication

Research skills

Filming under pressure

Job description

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND : D

CONTRACT TYPE : Fixed Term 6 months

DEPARTMENT : BBC Studios NHU

LOCATION : Bridgewater House Bristol

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE : 65400 - 87200 depending on relevant skills knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

ABOUT 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.

ABOUT BBC STUDIOS NHU

BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU) is the leading producer of wildlife programming creating award‑winning content with a world‑class reputation.

Our output ranges from ambitious landmarks (Planet Earth III and Dynasties) to children’s programming (Deadly Dinosaurs and Andys Adventures) as well as ground‑breaking travel adventure formatted presenter‑led and event programming such as Prehistoric Planet for Apple TV and the BAFTA‑winning Springwatch for the BBC.

We are dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and bringing these stories to a global audience. We are currently seeking a talented and experienced TV Producer to join our team for an exciting new project focused on the mysteries of the deep sea.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are looking for a dynamic and resourceful TV Producer / Director with a proven track record in presenter‑led science and natural history television, ideally with identifiable experience managing on‑screen talent in challenging situations for National Geographic / Disney productions. The primary objective of this role is to develop and direct the capture of emotionally intelligent animal‑led stories told through the connection and passion of on‑screen talent. The successful candidate will take one programme through the offline edit and post‑production to delivery to channel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Establish and maintain relationships with deep‑sea research institutes, marine biologists, and other scientific experts.
• Research and development: conduct thorough research alongside the production team to identify compelling stories and scientific discoveries related to the deep sea.
• Project management: oversee all aspects of production from pre‑production planning to post‑production editing.
• Team management: lead and manage a team including Assistant Producers (APs) and researchers (primarily in person at BBC Studios NHU Bristol).
• Filming coordination: organise and manage the logistics of complex boat‑based shoots including SCUBA diving, submersible and ROV work involving on‑screen talent.
• Creative storytelling: create engaging storyboards and narratives that maximise the presence of on‑screen talent, making deep‑sea animal characters endearing and relatable to the audience.
• Compliance and safety: ensure all filming activities comply with safety regulations and environmental guidelines.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proven experience as a TV documentary producer/director with a proven ability to tell engaging and heartfelt stories involving characters that might seem alien or hard to relate; ability to self‑shoot emotional human‑led content to a high standard for international broadcast.
• Demonstrated passion for the deep sea and the ability to build and maintain networks within the scientific community, particularly in marine biology and deep‑sea research.
• Proven capability to successfully conduct filming under highly challenging conditions managing multiple stakeholders and on‑screen talent to capture narratively engaging stories while managing sensitive relationships with scientists and suppliers.
• Ability to work under pressure with excellent communication and project management skills.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience with tag/on‑board and specialist camera systems and innovations for filming in new and interesting ways, including the use of on‑board and supplementary lighting.
• Experience producing and finishing formatted natural history programming for National Geographic / Disney.
• Passion for the creatures and landscapes of the deep sea and connections within the deep‑sea science and research community.
• Experience filming on research vessels using submersibles and ROVs.
• Positive past relationships with National Geographic production execs.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience along with transferable strengths, we would love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

CONTRACT TYPE

Full‑Time (Fixed Term 6 months)