Job Description
Job Requisition ID: 38589
Job Closing Date: 1 March 2026
Swindon, GBR, SN1 3RW
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, Full-time /Attachment, Full-time until 27 July 2027
DEPARTMENT: BBC Nations, BBC Radio Wiltshire
LOCATION: Swindon
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £41,200 - £50,000 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
Do you live and breathe politics? Do you thrive on the big political stories that happen on your doorstep and how the decisions taken in Westminster affect us locally? Can you decipher a bundle of council papers and find that golden nugget of a story?
With the spotlight on Swindon ahead of May's local elections, we're looking for a driven and ambitious new member of our team who would relish the opportunity to make an instant national impact in this exciting role.
You'll possess the ability to identify and tell the stories that matter most to our audiences across all platforms, bringing them to life in a compelling, engaging way on the BBC News website, on TV on Points West and Politics West, on BBC Radio Wiltshire and on our social channels.
Your stories will make politics simple and easy to understand. You'll be as comfortable explaining budgets in online articles as you are talking about potholes on TV and the radio. You'll be able think on your feet and explain the good things politicians do as well as holding them to account if it goes wrong.
This is a rare opportunity to stamp your name on a key position in our newsroom. If you have an in-depth knowledge of politics and strong experience of working in a multimedia environment then we want to hear from you.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
You will be building on the BBC's strong connections with the communities we serve, where our storytelling is closest to the audience. You'll be joining a creative and supportive team, with a strong internal culture. In this role, you'll be looking to ensure the political stories you report on reach as many people as possible, through our digital and social media content and our TV and radio output. This role involves varied working hours and may include some evening and weekend working.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
* You'll work as part of a multi-skilled team, reporting on a range of political stories for digital, TV and radio.
* You'll be able to draw on a wide range of sources for story ideas and you'll deliver original stories which surprise and engage listeners and readers in creative ways
* You'll need a real passion for creating powerful video by understanding our local audiences and what matters to them. You'll also have a flair for writing crisp, concise online copy.
* We're looking for an individual who can think and work independently, with a high level of reporting experience across digital, TV and radio.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
* A passion for politics, bursting with creative ideas and the ability to look at stories from diverse perspectives.
* Substantial experience of multimedia journalism and reporting, with strong editorial judgement, decision-making skills and the ability to work independently
* Great people skills to collaborate with colleagues across our local platforms
* An ability to demonstrate an understanding of the key issues in both local and national politics.
* Excellent knowledge of the BBC's editorial guidelines, a thorough grasp of impartiality as it applies to our output, and good knowledge of broadcast law.
If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we would love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
LI-FG1
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: 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 to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
For any general queries, please contact:
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.