BBC Careers Near Me – Controller

About the job

Job Introduction

BBC Radio & Music is the home of eight of the BBC’s national radio stations, four performing groups and the BBC Proms as well as production across radio, television and online.

BBC Radio 3 broadcasts high-quality, distinctive classical music and cultural programming, alongside regular arts and ideas programmes, jazz and world music. The station features live classical music concerts every day of the week from across the UK and beyond, broadcasts every BBC Prom live, and is the most significant commissioner of new musical works in the UK.

Role Responsibility

The Controller, BBC Radio 3 takes creative and managerial responsibility for the running of Radio 3 within the strategic aims agreed with the Director, Music. They are also responsible for the commissioning and scheduling of Radio 3 and the delivery of the annual BBC Proms, through the Director, BBC Proms.

Working with the Director of Music, the Controller of Radio 3 along with the BBC Head of Orchestras and Choirs and Director, BBC Proms, are the key roles in the classical music management team for audio at the BBC. The post holder is also a key member of the Director of Music’s wider leadership team.

Key Day To Day Responsibilities Include

• To set the strategic vision for Radio 3 and ensure the station meets the needs and expectations of its diverse listeners.
• To create distinctive public service output – leading the process of forming and continually reinvigorating Radio 3 content, priorities, style, tone and presentation – to deliver a distinctive schedule which boasts the range, values and quality of BBC Radio and serves the particular needs, interests and listening patterns of the audience.
• To manage and work closely with the Director, BBC Proms to deliver the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts
• To lead and inspire Radio 3 staff and presenters, providing first class leadership.
• To be the principal talent manager for performers, composers, writers, and other contributors.
• To ensure that Radio 3 is abreast of changes in audience behaviour and is implementing digital strategies to the benefit of audiences
• To ensure that Radio 3 and the BBC Proms meet their business objectives andare run within agreed budgets. To be aware of the full extent of the financial authority vested in the post, and to ensure that this is exercised in accordance with agreed financial compliance arrangements.
• To ensure that programmes and projects deliver value for audiences.
• To work with other BBC executives and the Director of Music, on appropriate pan-BBC projects
• To ensure that output meets all editorial compliance requirements, independent quotas and Nations & Regions production targets.
• To represent BBC Radio and the wider BBC at industry and public events.
• To comply with all relevant BBC safety rules, procedures and guidelines. To be fully aware of the Health and Safety responsibilities of this job role as stated in Radio’s Health and Safety Policy.
• To comply with the BBC’s policies on diversity and to apply the principles of the policy when carrying out the role.

Are you the right candidate?

You should be deeply embedded within the classical music industry, with knowledge and networks gained as a result of experience in the culture, music, media and/or broadcasting sectors, as well as a thorough personal passion for and understanding of classical music. You should be a galvanising leader with the ability to lead and motivate large teams through complexity to deliver innovative and inspiring content, as well as having the ability to advocate for your genre on a strategic and financial level as part of a wider senior executive team.

Key skills and experiences which will be beneficial to highlight at application or interview include:

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of classical music.
• Respected industry/media figure, ideally with experience gained within music, culture, media and / or broadcasting, and a demonstrable ability to schedule, programme and prioritise to the benefit of audiences
• Experience of leadership within a large or complex organisation and of effectively leading large teams and developing talent
• Ability to work as part of a senior executive team
• Understanding of and empathy with the heritage and aims of Radio 3 and the BBC performing groups.
• Understanding of how digital technologies can be used to engage with new audiences and enhance existing audiences’ enjoyment
• An appreciation of the broadcasting market in a global context
• Track record of shaping policy and developing strategy in an environment of comparable complexity
• A passion for radio and classical music, and genuine interest in other musical genres
• Sharp editorial judgement and the ability to generate original and creative ideas
• Proven experience of leadership demonstrating vision and strategic influence
• Ability to implement an audience-focussed commissioning and scheduling strategy
• Proven ability to manage and control budgets effectively
• Ability to identify emerging cultural trends and how they would be reflected on Radio 3
• Experience of building partnerships
• Highly resilient, with the stamina to sustain performance when under pressure from conflicting demands and priorities and in the face of significant external scrutiny

Package Description

Band: Senior Leader

Contract type: 1 x continuing (permanent) contract

Location: London or Salford – Radio 3 is located across both sites therefore the Controller will be required to work in both locations

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.

The situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak is developing quickly and the BBC is keen to continue to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people across the BBC, while continuing to protect our services. To reduce the risk access to BBC buildings is limited to those essential to our broadcast output. From Wednesday 18 th March until further notice all assessments and interviews will be conducted remotely. For more information go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/

Mae’r sefyllfa gyda’r coronafeirws yn datblygu’n gyflym, ac mae’r BBC yn awyddus i barhau i sicrhau diogelwch a lles pobl ar draws y BBC, gan barhau i warchod ein gwasanaethau hefyd. I leihau’r risg, dim ond y bobl sy’n hanfodol i’n hallbwn darlledu fydd yn cael mynediad i adeiladau’r BBC. O ddydd Mercher 18 fed Mawrth ymlaen, bydd pob asesiad a chyfweliad yn cael ei gynnal o bell, nes rhoddir gwybod yn wahanol. I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ewch i https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/

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

Attached documents

• Our BBC Values
• Job Description