Senior Camera Operator

BBC Group and Public Services; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

BBC Wales camera team is seeking a skilled operator to capture compelling pictures on location and in studio settings, translating the needs of Producers and Directors into high-quality content. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended production days in line with BBC terms.

You will support junior staff, handle single-camera shoots with lighting setups, and capture high-quality stills on location, contributing to diverse productions and editorial rigour within a

Qualifications

• Experience across a range of programme types and production environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate under pressure.
• Willingness to expand skills and take on new opportunities in filmmaking.
• Edit knowledge for editing packages.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance, training and day-to-day support to junior staff.
• Operate single-camera shoots independently with moderate artistic/technical complexity, including lighting.
• Capture high-quality stills photography on location.
• Deliver visually strong sequences across productions for BBC audiences.

Skills

Camera operation

Lighting setups

Stills photography

Video shooting

Job description

JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, Full-time until 26 March 2027

DEPARTMENT: BBC Nations, Wales Operations – Camera Team
LOCATION: Cardiff – Hybrid
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £ 35,500 - £45,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Due to the nature of broadcast production, flexibility is essential. The successful candidate will be expected to work evenings, weekends, extended production days and, at times, at short notice, in line with BBC Variable Exception Terms and Conditions.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Be a key part of the BBC Wales camera team, operating cameras primarily on location with the newsgathering team, but at times in the studio or on other outside broadcasts. You will demonstrate a high level of technical skill, creativity and efficiency, translating the visual needs of Producers and Directors into compelling pictures while adapting quickly to fast-moving news environments. At times, you will support multi-camera setups, working collaboratively with colleagues to deliver high-quality, visually distinctive content.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is an exciting opportunity to join a busy and highly skilled team. You will primarily work with journalists who value creativity, trust and editorial rigour, capturing the moments that shape Wales today. The team supports your ideas, invests in your development and gives you the freedom to innovate on location. Your craft will directly influence how audiences see and understand the stories that matter.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Provide guidance, training and day-to-day support to junior staff, contributing to their development and performance.
• Operate single-camera shoots independently, delivering visually strong sequences with a moderate level of artistic and technical complexity, including lighting setups.
• Capture high-quality stills photography on location.
• Work at the highest level of craft complexity across a variety of productions, delivering outstanding visual content to BBC audiences.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Experience working across a range of programme types and production environments.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively under pressure.
• A willingness to expand your skills and explore new opportunities in filmmaking.
• Edit knowledge for editing packages

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

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 the BBC

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

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.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

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]

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.