Head of Casting (CDS)

Job Introduction

BBC Studios is a global creative powerhouse for the development, production and distribution of bold, British content. This role sits within BBC Studios Continuing Drama Series, a constant source of gripping entertainment, featuring culturally significant themes, gripping storylines, and most importantly much-loved characters. The Casting department specialises in casting our award-winning Continuing Dramas, bringing audiences together week after week, whilst also supporting productions commissioned on our Birmingham Drama Slate which recently have included Father Brown and Sister Boniface.

As the Head of Casting, you’ll oversee and be accountable for all casting activity across the team, including attracting high profile cast into our shows. You’ll provide leadership and direction to the Casting team to ensure we are engaging with the highest profile talent, to bring our shows to life.

It’s an exciting time in CDS. Alongside existing productions, there are plenty of exciting developments on the slate. A key part of your role will be working with our key creatives, such as the Creative Director, to align talent to these projects to help sell the next big TV Drama.

Alongside the day to day, you’ll be instrumental in devising a new commercial strategy for the Casting department, including a plan for how to cast our long-running shows, alongside our new and exciting slate of developments; as well as exploring the viability of pitching our services across the industry and be successful in obtaining commissions.

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will report into the Head of Continuing Drama Series.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• You’ll be responsible for overseeing a Casting team who primarily cast on our Continuing Drama Series as well as commissioned productions through our Birmingham Drama hub, ensuring that high profile, talented actors are an integral part of our productions.
• You will be able to attract high profile cast into our shows to help grow our audiences
• Your passion for diversity within our productions is key.
• You’ll work with the Creative Director to cast our new and exciting slate of developments to bring them to life
• You’ll use your wealth of knowledge and contacts to conduct the end to end casting process, liaising with agents, producers and directors and where necessary advising on and negotiating talent fees
• You’ll provide leadership and direction to the casting department, this includes the day to day management and development of our Casting Directors, Casting Assistants and other staff
• You’ll be responsible for devising a new commercial strategy for the Casting department with a view to pitching our services across the industry and be successful in obtaining commissions

Are you the right candidate?

To excel in this role it’s important you have the relevant skills, qualities and experience.

• You’ll have strong knowledge of and interest in Drama production and the output of BBCS Continuing Drama
• You’ll have significant experience of casting for a variety of Drama productions with a wide knowledge of and relationships with actors and agents within the industry
• You’ll have experience of and a desire to lead a team
• You’ll have demonstrable understanding of programme making
• You’ll have proven financial and commercial skills
• You’ll need to have excellent communication & organisational skills and the ability to build relationships quickly
• You’ll have a strong understanding of diversity and inclusion issues as they relate to casting
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills and the ability to represent the business at the highest levels
• Proven ability to organise and manage a heavy workload and juggle priorities effectively

About the BBC

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

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

Package Description

Contract: Continuing Contract

Band: E

Location: TVC London

We are really proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and so if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please do contact us on resourcing@bbc.co.uk with ref: BBC/TP/224227/66841 in the subject.

We advertise all our roles on Evenbreak, the specialist job board for disabled candidates.

• 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.