Salford, MAN, GBR, M50 2QH
JOB DETAILS
Job Band: E
Contract Type: Full Time Attachment/Fixed Term Contract Until March 2027
Department: BBC Children’s & Education
Location: Salford – Hybrid
Proposed Salary Range: £60,000 - £74,000 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
BBC Children’s & Education is looking for a fixed‑term Senior Planning Manager to play a critical role in shaping and delivering our digital‑first commissioning ambitions. This is a high‑impact role at the centre of planning, rights, and digital distribution—supporting how world‑class children’s content reaches audiences in a fast‑evolving media landscape.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
The BBC is the leading Children’s broadcaster in the UK, reaching millions of kids aged 0‑12 each week with some of the biggest and best‑loved global brands; from pre‑school animations like Hey Duggee and Bluey, to stand‑out dramas The Next Step and Jamie Johnson FC and award‑winning Factual Entertainment like Operation Ouch! and Horrible Histories.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT
* Translate the department’s strategy into detailed digital‑first commissioning plans and slates, ensuring alignment with editorial priorities and platform needs.
* Manage the digital‑first commissioning slate and associated budgets, including forecasting, tracking and financial reporting.
* Lead the set‑up of a digital‑first commissioning framework, including submissions and rights models.
* Define and oversee YouTube scheduling strategy, working with Senior Channel Managers to deliver publishing plans.
* Drive and implement windowing strategies across platforms in collaboration with senior stakeholders, ensuring content performance against competitors.
* Own and manage the holdback release process and tracking across all content (catalogue and new commissions), working closely with Rights, Business Affairs and partners.
* Build and manage international co‑production relationships with global public broadcasters and children’s content partners.
* Lead significant cross‑functional projects within the team.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
* Strong experience managing complex commissioning plans, budgets and financial reporting in a digital video environment.
* A deep understanding of children’s content commissioning, rights management and distribution across digital and linear platforms.
* Knowledge of windowing strategies, platforms and audience behaviour for children’s content.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels across editorial, commercial and operational teams.
* A strategic mindset, balancing long‑term planning with day‑to‑day delivery and operational detail.
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
* Knowledge and experience working with YouTube, including platform functionality and optimisation strategies.
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.
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.
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.
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.
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