Researcher, Landmark Series NHU – EXTEND

BBC Group and Public Services; West of England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

BBC Studios Natural History Unit is seeking an experienced researcher to work on the Landmark Series NHU – EXTEND. You will research and set up shoots, develop ideas and support production management on location and on set in Bristol.

The role requires creative storytelling, on-location experience, and strong collaboration with producers, fixers and experts. The BBC Extend programme invites applicants who identify as disabled under applicable acts; flexible adjustments available.

Qualifications

• Experience working across multiple episodes on landmark natural history series.
• Knowledge of cameras and lenses; interest in new tech for visuals.

Responsibilities

• Research and set up shoots for blue-chip natural history sequences.
• Support production management, producers and assistants on location and in Bristol.

Skills

On-location research

Story development

Camera knowledge

Job description

Researcher, Landmark Series NHU – EXTEND

Job Requisition ID: 55057

Job Closing Date: 28th October 2026

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 [e-mail].

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

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.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered.

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.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about BBC Studios

Life at BBC Studios

• A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annualleave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy anextra five days.
• Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions).
• Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access,life assurance and accident benefit.
• BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group’s science-based Net Zero targets here .
• Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.