Find More Than 10K+
United Kingdom Jobs

We have an opportunity for a Head of Communications to join BBC Studios’ Brands & Licensing business. The role will be responsible for devising and implementing a communications strategy that builds and enhances the reputation of BBC Studios and its key IP brands, while also supporting the main pillars of the company’s business strategy. The BBC Studios Brands & Licensing Communications team oversee publicity and reputational management to support brands known in over 200 countries globally including Doctor Who, Top Gear, Dancing with the Stars, Bluey and BBC Studios’ factual brand BBC Earth, the home of internet-breaking shows such as Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II and Frozen Planet II.

The Brands & Licensing team, under its President Nicki Sheard, develops audiences through innovative licensing of the ideas and characters of up-and-coming and popular shows, creating events, merchandise – including toys, books, DVDs and their digital equivalents - as well as spin-off content like social video, games and virtual reality experiences.

The world-renowned entertainment format Dancing With The Stars (the international name of Strictly Come Dancing) reaches viewers in over 60 countries and is now on Disney+. Top Gear is available in over 150 territories, with local versions in the US, China, Australia, Russia, France, and South Korea.

We continually regenerate the Doctor Who brand, one of the longest running action adventure television series in the world, spanning some 60 years, attracting new audiences to its ever-growing global fanbase. Meanwhile, powerhouse factual brand BBC Earth has, reaching audiences through TV, branded channels, live events, digital and social media, augmented and virtual reality, cinema, and consumer products.

Our multi-award-winning animated children’s brand Bluey goes from strength to strength. Co-commissioned by BBC Studios and ABC Children’s, the globally popular animated series from Ludo Studio about a young pup and her family growing up in Australia, is available in 60 countries.

BBC Maestro, a fast-growing e-learning service with courses from experts in their field including Mark Ronson, Julia Donaldson, and Vineet Bhatia, is now in 22 countries, and the team also includes video clips service BBC Motion Gallery, BBC Studios Learning and licensed physical and digital audio and book publishing.

You must be passionate about TV content, with good press relationships, experienced stakeholder management and a track record of high-level issues management.

The role will particularly support the division’s growth businesses such as social video and new digital products, services and experiences – as well as positioning the business as an innovative pioneer in rapid growth businesses such as gaming, interactive and education so we are looking for a proven track record record in digital PR.

The Brands & Licensing Comms team is part of a larger team housing the BBC Studios Productions Comms team, led overall by the Senior Head of Communications for Productions, Brands & Licensing.

• Lead, manage, motivate and develop the B&L communications team and create the environment for them to do their best work
• Work with the Senior Head of Communications for Productions, Brands and Licensing, and senior executives to create a communications strategy that will enhance the reputation of BBC Studios’ key brands
• Establish yourself internally and externally as a high-level communications professional with deep knowledge of BBC Studios core brands (Top Gear, Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing With The Stars, Hey Duggee, Bluey, BBC Earth) and oversee third party agencies in relation to key B&L communications activity
• Lead comms on Doctor Who in BBC Studios working closely with commissioner and customers to oversee a strategy that enhances the reputation of the brand and its ancillaries (product/live events etc) as it enters a new era.
• Design and implement an ambitious profile building and thought leadership strategy for the President, Brands & Licensing Nicki Sheard (including speaker ops, interviews and innovative opportunities)
• Oversee and work with the Brands & Licensing Communications Manager to raise the profiles of senior B&L spokespeople and identify, secure, and manage suitable speaker / interview opportunities and develop key messages
• Identify and provide reputation and issues management across B&L and acts as the first point of referral within the team for sensitive press enquiries, advising whether upward referral is necessary and, if so, the appropriate route. Draft robust lines against enquiry and briefing notes as required
• Work closely with the Head of Comms for Productions to ensure continuity and opportunities across programme brands and programme production.
• Drive innovation, and continue to pivot activity to industry firsts, digital, technology, sustainability; bring together expertise across press and broadcast, online, social and influencers to maximise communications impact
• Lead on strategic internal narrative and engagement opportunities for B&L area, working closely with BBCS IC team including IC lead for this area
• Oversee allocated budget within established and agreed guidelines, to include expenditure on press events, press packs, technical facilities, hospitality etc.
• Help brief and steer B&L divisional internal communications
• Direct line-management of a team of 4 (Comms Manager, Senior Publicist, Publicist and Comms Assistant)
• Contribute to the wider BBC and BBCS UK and global narrative

Out of scope:

• Trade marketing activity for content sales markets, which is supported through Global Distribution/Content Sales
• Delivery of activity in regions (though close working essential)

• Digitally-savvy comms professional with experience of promoting brands in rapid growth businesses such as gaming, interactive and education through new digital products, services and experiences
• Excellent understanding of the media environment (including social media) and the newsgathering process both in radio, television, online and the written press and knowledge of broader marketing and PR activities.
• Excellent news sense with ability to conceive, execute and oversee creative PR campaigns and moments.
• Demonstrable experience of having successfully led, motivated and developed a team of comms professionals.
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop, maintain and enhance relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.

#youmakethebbc

The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from under represented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background. We strive to be the best British content company in the world, attracting the best creative talents in the business, so that we can bring premium quality award-winning programmes, content and brands to the viewer no matter where they are.

The BBC Group has set out the first in a new series of bold steps to transform our programming and better represent the public we serve. We have the biggest financial investment to on-air inclusion in the industry, together with our existing commissioning budget, we are committed to throwing open our doors more widely than ever to diverse stories and diverse storytellers. Together with a diverse workforce we will accelerate the pace of change in increasing diversity and inclusion both on and off air

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please visit our website.

Band: E
Contract Type: Permanent Full Time
Location: London

Working Pattern: Hybrid Working (Home-based plus two/three days a week in the office)

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 at [email protected] with the job reference in the subject. We advertise all our roles on Evenbreak, the specialist job board for disabled candidates

• Flexible/agile working - opportunities across the business. We’re happy to discuss a formal flexible working pattern. 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 the 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 certifications.
• Benefits - We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (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.