BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels & streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences in every corner of the globe.

We work with outstanding creative talent who are responsible for platform-defining shows from Strictly Come Dancing to Bluey, Eastenders, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.

The range and quality of our content is unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena.

From BAFTAs to RTS Awards, BBC Studios is Britain's most awarded production company and the only producer with three of the top ten shows on IMDB; we're the home of bbc.com, the widest-read English language news website in the world; and the UK's largest distributor of British content.


About EastEnders

BBC Studios Drama Productions sits at the heart of the UK as our slate of award-winning soaps and dramas continue to bring audiences together week after week.


EastEnders, Casualty, River City and Pobol y Cwm remain a constant source of gripping entertainment, with addictive storylines and loveable characters year on year; as well as award-winning crime drama Silent Witness and our fabulous cosy crime shows Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Detectives and Sister Boniface Mysteries.


At BBC Studios Drama Productions, we're passionate about developing and nurturing a creative and diverse workforce. We pride ourselves on providing some of the most supportive, hands-on editorial and production training opportunities across the whole of the UK.


EastEnders is the multi award winning soap broadcast four times a week on BBC ONE. It currently ranks as one of the most watched TV dramas in the UK tackling many controversial and taboo issues previously unseen on television in the UK. Through great writing and attention to detail the show manages to successfully balance gritty realism with high drama and entertainment to keep its millions of dedicated viewers coming back for more, on-screen and on-line, every week.


The Role


The Senior Researcher will report to the Editorial Producer.


EastEnders has a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Drama Researcher to step up, supporting the Editorial department and delivering research material in-line with the production schedules.


The successful candidate will use their excellent communication and influence to help shape and mould the creative flow of ideas, ensuring that all scripts and ideas are viable from a researchers perspective, interpreting the Editorial intentions along the way and contribute to the generation of new ideas.



The postholder will be responsible for the following duties:



• You will be responsible for delivering research material in-line with the production schedules
• Communicate at high level any story or script change that needs to be made, alerting the Story Producer, Script Editors and Writers to any difficulties or inconsistencies which may arise from such research and to suggest ideas for possible alternatives where research suggests that the original idea is no longer viable
• To be across and research all upcoming storylines
• To assess scripts in order to ensure the continuity of research in storylines and the accuracy of any factually based dialogue
• To identify, establish and maintain relationships with experts and charities in a specific field, including the initial negotiation of fees or payments where appropriate
• To stay up to date with current affairs, and social and cultural movements particularly as they pertain to London, and to look for opportunities to feed this information into story
• To ensure close cooperation and communication with all departments at EastEnders
• To attend all Planning and Commissioning meetings
• To be aware of the full extent of the financial and purchasing authority of the post, and to ensure that this authority is exercised in accordance with Network Television and BBC financial arrangements


What Does It Take?


To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following criteria:


Essential

• Substantial experience as a Researcher, ideally in televised drama
• Excellent knowledge of the administrative support required by production
• Experience of establishing and maintaining office and administration systems
• A broadly based knowledge and a familiarity with conventional and specialised sources of information and research techniques
• The ability to handle confidential information with tact and sensitivity


Desirable

• Experience communicating with and influencing senior stakeholders
• An understanding of and the ability to interpret Editorial intentions, and to contribute to the generation of ideas and the resolution of script problems
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge and passion for television drama productions, especially EastEnders


Life at BBC Studios

BBC Studios Drama Productions is renowned for bringing audiences together week after week. We are the creative powerhouse behind award-winning Drama such as EastEnders, Silent Witness, Father Brown and Sister Boniface to Casualty, River City, Pobol y Cwm and Anfamol. In addition to our iconic brands, we have an ambitious growth strategy with a slate of fresh and exciting new shows in development.

Here, we champion an inclusive culture aligned with our Pledge, fostering an environment where you can freely unleash your creativity, in the pursuit of bold content. Collaborating with some of the industry's brightest talents, you'll have the chance to leave your imprint on millions of viewers worldwide. What's more? There's plenty of opportunities for growing your career with us too, nurturing and developing talent is ingrained in our DNA - we'd love for you to be part of it.

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 here.

The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background. More information on our D&I plan can be found here.

BBC Studios puts sustainability at the heart of everything we do both onscreen and offscreen, including delivering against the BBC Group's science-based Net Zero targets. More information on sustainability at BBC Studios can be found here.

We are proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and we strongly encourage applications from disabled people . If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and declare that you are disabled, we will ensure to advance you to the next stage (minimum criteria above).


Package Description


Job Reference: 19145

Contract: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract / Attachment

Band: B

Salary: £29,681 - £31,681plus London Weighting at £5,319 - depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

Location: Office Base is BBC Elstree


WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM WORKING AT BBC STUDIOS?


• We offer a competitive salary package

• Parental leave for new parents, regardless of gender, of up to a year with 18 weeks fully paid

• 26 days holiday (plus an additional day 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

• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Excellent career progression - access to courses, webinars, workshops and the opportunity to work in different areas of the organisation