JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT – BBC Studios, Operations
LOCATION: London - TVC
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £53,000 - £60,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. Plus London Weighting Allowance £5,441. 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 is no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
WE ARE BBC STUDIOS
A globally renowned media company born of the BBC. We make and distribute the world’s most sought‑after TV, audio, and digital content.
Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Operations Manager will oversee channel operations and distribution, ensuring a high‑quality resilient service for partners and viewers.
This role is responsible for performance monitoring, incident management, supplier governance and the development of service improvements for our global channels. It also partners with internal teams to capture and analyse requirements into technical solutions, ensuring the design and delivery of scalable channel solutions that enable new business opportunities.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
We take pride in supporting the international distribution of our BBC Studios channels. Our primary focus is ensuring that existing services run smoothly and to the highest standard for our customers and viewers. We are committed to maintaining these standards while developing our operations to meet new service requirements from our partners. We operate as a small, global team where you will have the autonomy to solve problems and manage your own work. At the same time, you’ll be supported by colleagues who are always ready to help whether you need a sounding board or a fresh idea.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT
* Monitor the performance of the channel playout and distribution operation to ensure high availability and a consistently high quality of service.
* Collate and analyse data to report on operational effectiveness and drive continuous improvement across our workflows.
* Act as a point of escalation for service‑affecting issues, ensuring timely and robust resolution.
* Manage third‑party channel playout and distribution suppliers, ensuring SLA adherence and timely delivery of planned maintenance or upgrades.
* Monitor service performance and ensure adherence to contractual requirements.
* Utilising existing supplier arrangements, wherever possible, design, develop and operationalise technical and operational solutions that enable the distribution of new or improved channels and services.
* Lead regular cross‑functional operational meetings to review service performance and align on improvements.
* Capture requirements from commercial teams and affiliates, working collaboratively to design technical solutions to support the delivery of new opportunities.
* Maintain channel playout and distribution specifications, operational guidelines, and escalation procedures.
* Create reports of service levels and communicate updates to internal stakeholders and external customers or partners.
* Plan and manage channel operations and distribution related projects.
* Ensure new services are operationally ready, documented and fully supportable.
* Research market and technology developments, recommending and implementing improvements to enhance service resilience and operational efficiency.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
* Proven experience in service management / service delivery, ideally within broadcast or media technology.
* Skills in managing a range of playout and distribution incidents, driving quick resolution and minimising service degradation.
* Demonstrated ability to track, analyse and report on service performance against contractual SLAs and KPIs.
* Experience of managing third‑party suppliers and contracts, ensuring compliance, accountability and continuous improvement.
* Proven capability to identify service gaps and implement developments to optimise service delivery.
* Knowledge of broadcast technologies including playout, satellite, fibre, IP distribution.
* Experience in partnering with internal teams to capture business channel requirements.
* Demonstrated experience of utilising broadcast technology knowledge to collaborate with external suppliers and develop and implement technical and operational channel delivery solutions.
* Ability to operate both proactively (developing solutions/systems) and reactively (incident response).
* Strong stakeholder management skills with an appreciation for commercial sensitivities across multiple business areas.
DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED
* Experience using performance data and insights to inform decisions and deliver service improvements.
* Experience with commercial contract principles and negotiation.
* Financial management or budget tracking experience.
* Familiarity with additional broadcast workflows (content delivery operations, localisation, scheduling and coding/mux, Codecs, DAI, SCTE104/35 standards).
* Proven track record delivering complex projects or operational excellence programmes.
BENEFITS
* A flexible 35‑hour working week with 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra five days.
* Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions).
* Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access, life assurance and accident benefit.
* BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group’s science‑based Net Zero targets.
* Career development in a values‑led purpose‑driven culture.
EEO STATEMENTS
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.
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
LEGAL NOTICE
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.
We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.
SITE INFORMATION
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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