Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Factual

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time

DEPARTMENT: Commissioning

LOCATION: Belfast - Hybrid

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £45,000 - £60,000 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.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Join BBC NI’s Commissioning team to shape vibrant, thought-provoking content that drives the development of Northern Ireland’s creative sector and cultural identity. As Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Factual), you’ll be central to enhancing the level of ambition, energy and impact of the BBC NI and BBC Content’s co-commissioned content from Northern Ireland, with a focus on the development and delivery of Specialist Factual and broader unscripted factual content.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Be part of a team where creativity meets purpose, at an exciting moment in the evolution of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy. BBC NI Commissioning is enhancing alignment and integration with BBC Network Commissioning, to create new impactful content from NI. The next phase of our work will create new opportunities to commission high-quality content from the local creative sector, which aligns with BBC Network Genre strategies and pan-UK audience needs across platforms. You will work to support and assist a BBC NI Commissioning Editor and Network colleagues in developing and delivering an ambitious and coherent slate of specialist factual and broader un-scripted content. You will assist in the development of skills and credibility of the local NI creative sector in these genres. With a focus on innovation, inclusion and cultural impact, this role offers the chance to shape how Northern Ireland sees itself and how it is seen across the UK and on the world stage.

Your Key Responsibilities And Impact

• Support the Commissioning Editor for Drama & Documentary, in developing and delivering BBC NI’s strategy and portfolio, in the specialist factual and broader un-scripted genres.
• Work effectively to help align strategies and processes between BBC NI and BBC Network Unscripted genres, especially specialist factual.
• Develop relationships with Northern Ireland talent and suppliers to shape standout projects.
• Provide editorial feedback on proposals and treatments, ensuring creative excellence.
• Oversee delivery of commissioned programmes, maintaining high editorial standards and ensuring value for money.

Essential Criteria

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Editorial Influence: Proven experience and capacity to act as an effective editorial voice on high quality, impactful specialist factual content broadcast by BBC Network or equivalent. Strong editorial judgement and creative flair with a track record of developing new ideas, and meticulous attention to detail in managing delivery of complex content.
• Specialist Factual: Proven experience in factual programme-making. Strong knowledge of the specialist factual and unscripted landscape and industry trends within and beyond the BBC. Deep understanding of Northern Ireland content and talent, with a passion for factual storytelling.
• Editorial Standards: Experience in working on compliance-heavy content. Experience in the management of editorial with high levels of legal or reputational risk.
• Partnership Models: Capacity to work effectively in partnership and collaboration models, articulating and asserting the interests of the BBC and its audiences in a collegiate, robust and effective manner.
• Excellent editorial judgement, written skills, and stakeholder management. Evidence of decisive interventions in enhancing content storytelling in pre- or post-production.

Desired But Not Required

• Experience nurturing and developing creative talent.
• Familiarity with commissioning processes and budget management.
• Track record of delivering complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and collaborative team ethos.

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.

For any general queries, please contact:

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.

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