Job Details
- Job band: B
- Contract type: Fixed-term Contract
- Department: BBC Studios Natural History Unit (NHU)
- Location: Bridgewater House, Bristol with at least 3 days per week in the office
- Proposed salary range: Up to £38,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge, and experience. The expected salary range reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
- Start date: Late July 2026 onwards
- Interviews will be held: 20th July 2026 at Bridgewater House
- Note: This role is subject to greenlight
Purpose of the role
BBC Studios Natural History Unit is embarking on a spectacular sequence-based landmark production following on from the recent success of Asia, Americas and Kingdom. We are looking for two experienced and enthusiastic researchers 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.
Key Responsibilities And Impact
Researchers will need to be experienced, highly creative, adaptable, and organised with a keen eye for a good story. They will take an innovative, ambitious and imaginative approach to discovering, developing and pitching outstanding content ideas. In addition to researching and setting up filming for both blue‑chip natural history and presenter‑led sequences, researchers will be an adaptable team‑player offering practical support to Production Management, Producers and Assistant Producers throughout the series, including on location.
Essential criteria
- A passion for natural history television and specialist knowledge of animal behaviour.
- Experience on location and having directed at least one shoot.
- 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 people from different backgrounds – from scientists to fixers, and park rangers to drivers.
- Experience in working with cameras and/or self‑shooting contributors and generating behind‑the‑scenes content to a high level.
- 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
- Demonstrable understanding of the importance of safe management of shoots.
- Experience working with presenters and contributors on location.
- Specialist knowledge and experience of working in challenging environments.
- Willingness to spend long periods on location.
- Proven knowledge and interest in cutting‑edge camera technologies and techniques to produce visually new stories.
- Experience with new media and digital content.
- Experience sourcing, logging archive, and understanding archive restrictions.
Interview Preparation
Candidates 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.
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 are 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. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.
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