Job Closing Date: 23:59, Sunday 21 September 2025.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITY
The BBC seeks to appoint an exceptional HR leader to the role of HR Director, BBC News & Current Affairs. The role will report into the BBC Chief People Officer and partner Deborah Turness, CEO BBC News, and will sit on the News Board. The role also sits on the HR leadership team and will play a pivotal role in delivering the overall BBC people strategy.
The HR Director, News & Current Affairs requires a rare blend of strategic acumen and hands-on delivery. It spans HR business partnering, organisational development, talent, capability and skills building, and thought leadership. The successful candidate will also need to be an empathetic and strong people manager and a dynamic leader — able to influence, challenge, and coach senior leaders while creating an environment where people can thrive at all levels.
JOB DESCRIPTION: MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
* JOB BAND: Senior Leader
* CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
* LOCATION: UK-based. Weekly presence is required in London (2 days), but can be a hybrid role. Travel to other UK sites is regularly required, and some international travel may be expected.
* REPORTING TO: BBC Chief People Officer
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Partner closely with the BBC Chief People Officer and CEO of BBC News to translate business priorities into bold, people-focused strategies that support digital transformation, talent evolution, and cultural change.
* Serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to senior editorial and operational leaders, fostering a deep understanding of BBC News’ needs, ambitions, and challenges.
* Lead the delivery of the HR strategy across BBC News, ensuring alignment with the wider BBC people agenda and a strong focus on employee engagement, inclusion, and innovation.
* Champion organisational effectiveness by designing and implementing people solutions that support agile, digitally enabled ways of working and future-fit capabilities.
* Act as a visible and influential leader within the BBC News Leadership Team and BBC HR Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise-level thinking and decision-making.
* Leverage workforce data and insight to guide leadership decisions, shape policy, and identify people-related risks and opportunities.
* Drive excellence in people management and employee experience, ensuring that HR policies and practices are clearly communicated, legally compliant, and reflective of BBC values.
* Lead effective trade union and employee relations, building collaborative, transparent and productive relationships.
* Act as a point of escalation for complex or sensitive employee matters, ensuring consistent, values-led, and legally sound outcomes.
* Inspire and lead the BBC News HR team with clarity and purpose, supporting their growth, development, and contribution across the wider BBC.
* Manage the HR budget effectively, ensuring people investments are commercially sound and deliver measurable value.
* Actively contribute to the broader leadership of BBC News, role-modelling inclusive leadership and championing collaboration, creativity, and diversity at all levels.
ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?
The BBC is seeking to hire an exceptional individual who will deliver against these comprehensive responsibilities. This person will be committed to public service broadcasting, believing in the BBC’s mission and public purpose.
CORE CANDIDATE CRITERIA
* Proven experience operating at HR Director level in a large, complex, global and matrixed organisation.
* A strong track record of leading people strategy during periods of significant organisational transformation.
* Experience partnering with senior executives (C-suite or equivalent) as a strategic and trusted advisor.
* Expertise across core HR disciplines, including organisation design, talent development, capability building, change management, and employee engagement.
* Experience in unionised environments, with evidence of successful trade union engagement and negotiation.
* Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing HR teams through change.
* Strong understanding of governance, risk, and compliance in people-related matters.
* A values-led approach with a deep understanding of organisational culture and inclusion.
* Evidence of commercial acumen and sound judgement in managing HR budgets and investments.
* Familiarity with digital transformation and the future of work, including workforce planning and technology-enabled change.
* Consultative approach, and ideally some experience of working within management consulting/human capital consultancy.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Candidate Behaviours will encompass:
* Operating with high integrity and alignment to the BBC’s public service values.
* Building trust and credibility quickly with senior leaders and stakeholders across complex, matrixed environments.
* Bringing strong judgement, able to balance strategic priorities with practical delivery and risk management.
* Thinking systemically and long-term while taking accountability for immediate, tangible outcomes.
* Demonstrating courage and resilience in the face of ambiguity, complexity, and challenge.
* Leading with humility and self-awareness — combining professional expertise with an open and adaptable mindset.
* Communicating with clarity, empathy, and impact — both in one-to-one settings and large-scale engagements.
* Modelling inclusive leadership, actively seeking out diverse views and ensuring all voices are heard.
* Coaching, supporting, and challenging others to raise performance and unlock potential at every level.
* Acting as a visible role model for continuous learning, curiosity, and innovation.
* Demonstrating commercial and organisational awareness — balancing creativity with cost-consciousness.
Above all, the successful candidate will be passionate about the BBC’s public service mission and capable of aligning people strategy with the bold future of BBC News.
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.
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.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Find out more about the BBC.
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:
* Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
* Excellent career and professional development.
* Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
* A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
Candidate pack
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy
Disability confident
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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