Senior journalist - birmingham

Job Details

JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC Nations, Midlands Investigations Team, BBC Local
LOCATION: Birmingham (with flexibility to travel to other parts of the Midlands)
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £41,200 - £67,800 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you’d like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Purpose of the Role

The Midlands Investigations team doesn’t just report the region — it changes it. We uncover the stories that matter most to our communities. We search for the facts and hold power to account, giving people a voice, exposing what’s hidden and making a tangible difference to people’s lives across one of the UK’s most diverse and dynamic regions.

This is a rare opportunity for a Senior Journalist Reporter (SJR) who wants to do their best work with real impact. You’ll be backed by a talented, multi‑platform team to work in an ambitious, collaborative way, prioritising curiosity, rigour and creativity in equal measure. Experience in building high‑impact long‑form investigations – from sourcing to shooting to roll‑out – is key. So if you’re relentless in pursuit of truth, instinctively audience‑focused and ready to lead complex investigations which really count, then the Midlands is where to do it.

Key Responsibilities and Impact

• Produce and direct original long‑form investigations that are legally and editorially complex, in line with BBC Values and Editorial Policy.
• Accomplished shooting skills – use a range of camera equipment on location to gather footage for our investigations. Deliver multi‑platform content to the highest technical and editorial standards.
• News editing – edit alongside colleagues and on solo projects, using your own footage and rushes from other crews to bring together the full story for broadcast on TV and for online use. A creative eye is essential. Work flexibly across the East and West Midlands regions.
• Understand and serve diverse East and West Midlands audiences, and be flexible to work across both.
• Manage logistics and resources, production planning, communicate effectively and meet tight deadlines.
• Show strong organisational skills and willingness to bring transferable strengths.

Skills and Experience – Essential Criteria

• Experience filming, editing and pitching high‑impact, people‑focused original long‑form investigations that have made noise across the wider BBC and external media.
• Track record of detailed research, production planning and creatively and editorially ambitious storytelling while working to tight broadcast deadlines.
• Highly flexible, capable of problem‑solving and assessing legally and editorially complex stories, advising on multi‑platform roll‑out for regional and network outlets.
• Foster and develop a collaborative culture, know when to work independently and when to refer up, and provide guidance to less senior team members.
• Knowledge of East and West Midlands diverse and underserved audiences and issues, with flexibility to work across both.

Contact and Application

For any further information, contact Anthony Bartram (Anthony.bartram01@bbc.co.uk) or Nicola Gilroy (nicola.gilroy@bbc.co.uk).

Equal Opportunity

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

Legal and Screening

If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks, Eligibility to work checks and, if applicable, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Employment Conditions

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered.