BBC Studios

Bold. British. Creative: that’s BBC Studios. Combining the strengths of the UK’s most-awarded production company with a world-class distributor, we fund, create, distribute and commercialize world-class content for the BBC and other UK and international companies. Our aim is to inspire audiences around the globe with quality content that informs, educates and entertains and to strengthen the BBC, our partners and wider industry both creatively and financially. We seek to be the best British content company in the world; a first-choice partner and employer, where everyone can flourish and do their best work.

Digital News and Streaming

At BBC Global Digital News & Streaming, (a team situated within BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC) we aim to help people understand the world around them, make informed choices, and take an active part in society and democracy. As we expand our footprint to meet increasing demand for our style of quality and impartial journalism and unscripted content in North America, we are seeking motivated, passionate, high performing individuals across a variety of skillsets to join our global team. Our primary locations are New York, Washington DC, and London; we are seeking candidates whose location allows them to work hybrid from any of these offices.

Join us and be an essential part of one of the world’s most recognized brands and trusted news organizations.

Job Purpose

To provide leadership, set the programming strategy, manage the day-to-day editorial operations, and deliver the business results of BBC Studios’ digital news products.

The General Manager Digital News has responsibility for the running of BBC Studios digital news services, staff management, strategy, and stakeholder relationships. They work closely with stakeholders and third-party content providers and provide vital strategic and editorial leadership to global teams.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Leadership

• To provide creative leadership and editorial vision to enhance the strength, depth, range, and quality of output and ensure this is done in line with strategic priorities.
• To provide managerial direction with responsibility for the staff, output, and finances for the platform.
• To work collaboratively as an enterprise leader across BBC Studios and BBC News Group ensuring a consistent and coherent approach to all editorial development with shared knowledge, information and mutual support where appropriate.
• Supervise a team of editors and audio and video content commissioners developing team processes and ways of working.
• Guard the BBC’s journalistic and editorial standards, support the BBC brand and enhance reach, reputation, and the impact of the BBC, responding to complaints and comments if required.
• Act as an internal and external BBC Studios ambassador.
• Apply external sector knowledge, contextualizing challenges and changes in the sector, to understand the relative positioning and strength of BBC Studios’ digital news products and enabling us to differentiate from the competition.
• Recruit, lead, enthuse, develop, and manage the team, building a high caliber global organization with the skills and capabilities needed to deliver.
• Create an environment which attracts the best commercial and creative talent and enables them to deliver their best work.
• Be a champion for diversity and maintain the values of BBC Studios

Strategy & Business Development

• Set the overarching programming strategy and determine the medium-term objectives & KPIs to deliver the long-term business vision for Global digital news.
• Lead content strategy for new and existing digital services in our portfolio, developing a point of view and content strategy that connects the dots between audio, video, and text-based assets, short-form and long-form content and news and documentary.
• Develop the content strategy by synthesizing research and data insights to inform planning.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in programming.
• Develop and manage programming calendars, including scheduling and release cadence.

Business Operations

• Take overall responsibility for the operational and financial performance of digital news services delivering the strategy and business plan agreed by the Board and managing to a clear set of agreed KPIs.
• Partner with marketing and ad sales partners to ensure strategic content projects are promoted and monetized.
• Be able to present data-based analyses and reports on internal and competitive landscape to key stakeholders.
• Maximize business performance against financial goals and KPIs including subscriber acquisition, retention, cost per acquisition & lifetime value.
• Accountable for setting and delivering budgets and forecasts.
• Use data informed learnings to optimize programming & digital marketing tactics to continually improve performance.
• Manage relationship with BBC Public Service News across operations, programming, and rights management functions.
• Set and uphold appropriate governance procedures and robust business processes

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Have a successful track record of building, managing and growing an OTT and/or DTC subscription business in the international digital space with proven ability to deliver projects of this scale and ambition.
• Have significant experience creating compelling content for a subscription and ad supported DTC business. Experience of Digital News is advantageous, particularly in an international context.
• Have a deep understanding of the North American consumer, ideal focus on News and current affairs.
• Understand the competitive landscape and identify gaps and opportunities in programming.
• Be a convincing and persuasive communicator, able to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders across the business and external agencies/stakeholders globally, often required to present and defend complicated issues, which have a wide-ranging impact on the company.
• Be able to present data-based analyses and reports on internal and competitive landscape to key stakeholders.
• Be used to hitting clear KPIs, delivery focused and able swiftly to refocus the business to maximize returns based on data insights.
• Have extensive experience of having managed multiple senior stakeholders and balancing a range of commercial interests.
• Demonstrate a track record of influencing & networking across large & complicated organizations.

Compensation

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $350,000 to $400,000. This range does not include bonus compensation or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and geographic location of the position.

This range is not inclusive of a competitive bonus, flexible, hybrid working schedule & benefits including but not limited to: 100% BBCS covered medical & dental insurance, vision, & 401k match.

Benefits and Perks

• 100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible, Hybrid Working Arrangements
• Work/life balance
• Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Gym Reimbursement
• Bagel Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays, and more!

About the BBC

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.