Senior Business Affairs Executive - FTC

BBC; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Pension

Healthcare

Parental support

Job summary

BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit is seeking a Senior Business and Legal Affairs Executive on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract based in Bristol. The role involves drafting, negotiating and managing a wide range of production agreements, with a focus on rights, fixer, footage, stills and access agreements, and advising on complex production issues.

You will work closely with NHU production teams, manage internal and external relationships, and help mitigate commercial and IP risks while ensuring

Qualifications

• Proven experience in drafting, advising on and negotiating rights contracts.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, broadcast, production or digital media.
• A proven track record of managing and delivering projects to deadlines, and working independently.
• Experience of analysing, evaluating and presenting complex information clearly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide Senior Executive level business affairs drafting, negotiation and contract management for a wide range of production agreements, including but not limited to fixer, footage, stills and access agreements;
• Advise on more complex production issues including contract terms, foreign production shoots and employment of foreign artists, copyright clearance, framework agreements and contributor fees, ensuring compliance with applicable BBC policies;
• Ensure necessary rights are acquired for primary and secondary programme broadcast and exploitation as required;
• Work closely and collaboratively with the NHU production department and be a trusted go-to advisor to them;
• Build and manage effective and collaborative working relationships both internally within the BBC Group and externally with locations, fixers, agents, commercial partners and rights-owning bodies in alignment with BBC Values;
• Identify, manage, and mitigate commercial, financial, contractual, brand, reputational and intellectual property interests and risks;
• Use IT software and technology as required to manage and produce contractual documentation.

Skills

Rights contracts drafting

Broadcast/media knowledge

Project management

Analytical communication

Job description

Band: D
Department: Natural History Unit Business & Legal Affairs
Contract Type: 12 month - Fixed Term
Salary: £41,600 - £50,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Location: Bristol - Office base is Bridgewater House.

We are ideally looking for someone to be located in Bristol, or willing to commute to Bristol(at least 2 days per week subject to change) with home working.

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

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join the Natural History Unit (NHU)’s Business and Legal Affairs team as a Senior Business and Legal Affairs Executive on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

The NHU is the best-known and most loved producer of natural history content in the world, responsible for some of the most globally successful factual content of the past 10 years. The NHU’s programmes have come to represent the gold standard for natural history filmmaking, winning multiple awards and honours.

The NHU’s BBC output includes everything from breath-taking landmarks (Blue Planet III; Planet Earth III; Frozen Planet II; Asia; Mammals; The Green Planet; Seven Worlds, One Planet; Dynasties II;), to returning series and technically challenging live shows (Springwatch; Blue Planet Live) and award-winning children’s series (Andy’s Safari Adventures). The NHU also has an increasingly diverse portfolio of content that we make for third parties, such as Prehistoric Planet for AppleTV+ Original series, The Americas for NBCU and OceanXplorers, a co-production with OceanX Media and James Cameron, for National Geographic Disney+. The NHU is now part of an exciting new Unscripted group within BBC Studios, which also includes the Factual production teams that make Religion, Science, Docs and other specialist Factual programming alongside Entertainment Productions.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Provide Senior Executive level business affairs drafting, negotiation and contract management for a wide range of production agreements, including but not limited to fixer, footage, stills and access agreements;
• Advise on more complex production issues including contract terms, foreign production shoots and employment of foreign artists, copyright clearance, framework agreements and contributor fees, ensuring compliance with applicable BBC policies;
• Ensure necessary rights are acquired for primary and secondary programme broadcast and exploitation as required;
• Work closely and collaboratively with the NHU production department and be a trusted go-to advisor to them;
• Build and manage effective and collaborative working relationships both internally within the BBC Group (including other legal and business affairs teams within BBC Public Service and BBC Studios) and externally (including locations, fixers, agents, commercial partners and rights-owning bodies) in alignment with BBC Values;
• Identify, manage, and mitigate commercial, financial, contractual, brand, reputational and intellectual property interests and risks;
• Use IT software and technology as required to manage and produce contractual documentation.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proven experience in drafting, advising on and negotiating rights contracts, with a strong understanding of copyright and other key legal contractual and commercial terms;
• Knowledge of, and experience in, broadcast, production or digital media;
• A proven track record of managing and delivering projects to deadlines, and working independently, applying sound business judgement and pragmatism;
• Experience of analysing, evaluating and presenting complex information clearly and effectively.

DESIRED CRITERIA

• Business affairs experience in the television, radio and/or digital media industry would be an advantage;
• Legal education or qualifications are not essential but would be an advantage;
• A passion for broadcasting and media.

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.

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 annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra 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.

Disability confident

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]

Use of AI: Guidance for Candidates

At the BBC, we know that tools like AI can help you prepare, organise your thoughts and feel more confident when applying for a role. But what we're really interested in is you.

We want to hear about your experiences, your skills and what motivates you. The strongest applications are the ones that reflect your own thinking, achievements and perspective. So whilst you're welcome to use AI for support, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and tells your story.

You will find more guidance about using AI in the recruitment process on our careers site below.

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.