Head of BBC Content and Culture Policy

Job summary

The successful candidate will hold a key role in the really welcoming, collaborative and high-performing BBC Policy team. We are a large team responsible for a wide range of high profile BBC related policy areas that are priorities for DCMS Ministers and No.10 Downing Street, especially as we progress Charter Review.

The BBC Policy team sits within the wider Media and International Directorate (MINT) which covers a broad range of work on sectors including: TV, radio, press, and advertising; as well as having a key role leading the department’s international work. We work very collaboratively with other teams in MINT and more widely across DCMS.

As a team we have a significant presence in both the London and Manchester offices. We also pride ourselves on our inclusive and respectful team environment, with ample opportunities to get involved in corporate work such as our social committee and staff networks.

Job description

The successful candidate will join the BBC Policy team as 12 month maternity cover and work in a stretching and a high-profile role at a particularly important and fast-moving time. The BBC team is focused on the ongoing BBC Charter Review, which sets the constitutional and regulatory framework for the BBC and needs to be completed during 2027. The Government’s objective is to ensure the BBC can thrive for decades to come, and Charter Review is a rare opportunity to look at the future role of the BBC in this context and develop the framework that will enable it to do so.

The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership of the BBC team, and will line manage two junior staff members as you lead policy work on how the BBC’s content and cultural offering best delivers for audiences across the country as it tells an inclusive national story; how the BBC ensures it has a workplace culture that supports staff and has public confidence; and alongside that how the BBC and Charter Review best supports Minority Language Broadcasting (in particular the Welsh and Gaelic languages). Additionally you will oversee the team’s collective work on managing correspondence.

You will ensure your team delivers on Ministerial and departmental priorities by creating a sense of purpose and focus on outcomes, evaluating and making evidence-based decisions, empowering and developing the individuals in your team, and building strong, constructive relationships with stakeholders and other government departments.

This is an area of significant political interest and offers an exciting opportunity for candidates looking to work on a priority project, with significant exposure to Ministers and senior officials.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates.

Essential requirements:

• Leadership of a team and complex work programme, demonstrating adaptability and resilience as you prioritise, support and set direction for your team and colleagues.
• Strategic thinking and policy skills: Experience of leading on the development and delivery of policy, where you have shown an ability to address complex issues as you see the big picture and make effective decisions.
• Communication skills: Track record of effectively building constructive working relationships within and across organisations, including with seniors, even in challenging circumstances.
• Planning and delivery skills: Experience of proactively shaping a team’s work, managing short and long-term priorities; and working with others to deliver high-quality, outputs at pace and over a sustained period of time.

Desirable skills:

• Experience working with Senior Officials and/or Ministers (or individuals of equivalent experience/status in other organisations).
• Experience or knowledge of media and/or regulatory policy.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Tom Kenny (the recruiting manager), and will take place on: Monday 1st June at 1pm

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to resourcing.team@dcms.gov.uk

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions