Business Partner, BBC News

Job Introduction

Working to the newly appointed Head of Production and Business Management the primary objective of this role is to ensure that the business and its key stakeholders are effectively supported in delivering world beating, impartial journalism, 24/7/365. There are 3 new and exciting leadership roles that will manage the Business Management teams in either Network News, International Services or the Network News teams based in Salford and the teams Around the UK.

The Business Partner supports our editorial and operational areas. These teams are vital in supporting our world-class journalism to deliver on time and on budget, managing finances and resources as well as challenging legal, safety, operational and reputational matters. The Business Partner will drive a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across BBC News in an efficient and sustainable manner.

Main Responsibilities

The immediate priority will be supporting the move to the new Business Support model, working with the Head of Business and Production Management to implement the new operating model and ways of working.

The Business Partner provides key leadership across News, bringing together skills and experience to maintain a first class team. You will drive and implement strategies, demonstrating strong business skills and inspire continuous development across all areas. You will line manage a small team to ensure the they meets objectives, maintaining high standards of training, embracing career development opportunities and performance management.

As a senior member of the News team, you will represent the department across the BBC and to external stakeholders. As well as supporting BBC News and the wider corporation to develop and align strategic priorities, the role will drive change to ensure the team continually adapts to evolving editorial, audience and market demands.

The post holder will need to create a climate of accountability ensuring requirements are fully understood and that viable proposals are developed in collaboration with editorial teams. Strict attention to resource management is essential to support fast-paced production requirements - often to tight deadlines and with changing demands and risk profiles.

Are you the right candidate?

• Well organised and strong experience of using analytical skills to forward plan, prioritise and make effective and timely operational decisions.
• Considerable experience of leading business management at a senior level across a range of output or genres
• Able to think strategically, to develop and implement novel solutions in challenging circumstances.
• Able to build, influence and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders
• Experience of leading, developing and motivating teams across a range of output and during periods of change.
• Evidence of balancing numerous complex budgets and resolving competing financial demands.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills and the ability to manage a busy workload, conflicting priorities and tight deadlines whilst remaining calm under pressure.
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills, both face-to-face and in writing.
• Must be able to change priorities quickly to react to business requirements and influence others to do the same.

About the BBC

Reinventing the BBC for the next Generation

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief. And we promote flexible working opportunities where operational needs allow.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here

Package Description

Band: E

Base: Salford

Contract: Continuing role

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in the UK.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

• Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
• Benefits- We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

Job Application Requirements:

CV

Questionnaire with opportunity to detail your experience and the following questions to prepare and answer:

• BBC News delivers world beating, impartial journalism, 24/7/365. What do think are the biggest challenges for BBC News in 2023?

• What experience do you have of leading, inspiring and supporting large teams? Please give examples.

• Can you give an example of a time where you’ve used data and/or analytics to deliver a strategic goal and/or ambition?