Chief producer, BBC Symphony Orchestra

Closing date for applications: 9 November 2025

Salary: £48,633 – £62,000 plus London Weighting of £5,441, depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

Location: BBC Maida Vale Studios, London

Contract type: Permanent, full-time

Department: BBC Symphony Orchestra

Job band: D

Champion bold programming and world-class performance at a leading orchestra, taking the lead on producing unforgettable concerts for live audiences and across broadcast platforms.

Our next chief producer, a role that sits at the heart of this world class orchestra, will be crucial in helping shape the future of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBCSO) as we move into our new state-of-the-art studio at East Bank on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This is an exciting time for us as we mark a new era of world class music making, innovation and audience engagement in East London set against the orchestra’s long history at the heart of the BBC Proms and its legacy of fearless programming at the Barbican Centre. We are an inclusive team who live and work by BBC Values of trust, respect, creativity and quality, working together and keeping audiences at the heart of everything we do.

As one of the world’s leading performers of new music we’re looking for someone who brings a deep knowledge of orchestras and repertoire combined with expert recording experience who can also think outside the box as we explore new and innovative ways to engage with audiences. Someone who is open and great with people but also exacting in detail; someone who is ambitious and courageous but takes intelligent risks. This is a senior role within the BBCSO’s leadership team, with responsibility for recording and delivery of all SO concerts, touring and broadcast activity.

The new chief producer will maintain and cultivate the broadcast sound of this world class orchestra and shape its presence on Radio 3, other BBC networks and all future platforms. Currently based at Maida Vale Studios they will work closely with the director and the head of artistic planning, contribute to the planning of the SO’s groundbreaking programme and realise the orchestra’s artistic vision. They will hold key relationships with BBC commissioners, editors and producers, chiefly at Radio 3 and the BBC Proms but also across other networks as well as key partners such as the Barbican Centre, East Bank and London music colleges. They will hold strong relationships with international artists and conductors as well as foster the growth of emerging talent.

We are looking for an ambitious, motivated and enthusiastic candidate who can not only deliver for the BBC and its audiences but also help us drive the evolution of what a 21st century orchestra can be as we move to a new, purpose-built studio at East Bank. This is an opportunity to innovate and help us build the future of orchestral music.


Responsibilities

• Lead all BBCSO recordings and broadcasts, including live events and international tours, for Radio 3 and other BBC platforms
• Produce live events, both broadcast and non-broadcast, with a key role in delivering BBC Proms performances
• Oversee health & safety for all events, including risk assessments and safeguarding when working with children and young people
• Manage studio and venue production, coordinating with studio managers, outside broadcast teams, and preparing technical schedules
• Build and maintain relationships with Radio 3 teams, commissioners, and producers, contributing to programming and supporting initiatives like the New Generation Artist Scheme
• Collaborate with conductors and artists, and help shape the orchestra’s artistic vision alongside the director and head of artistic planning

Knowledge, skills & experience

Essential

• Radio production skills: tonmeister/producer skills and editing including excellent ears for intonation, phrasing & balance and high level orchestral broadcast and live event production experience including live & deferred, touring and studio concerts and broadcasts
• Effective communication with conductors, artists and orchestral musicians including Chorus, sensitively, in studio and concert settings in high pressure situations; experience of managing large teams and complex, high pressure situations
• Ability to resolve problems quickly, often with large and complex groups of people, with sensitivity, adaptability and resilience
• Experience in artistic planning with deep knowledge of repertoire and experience working with artists and agents
• Experience in creative thinking and innovation: awareness of global developments in audio and audience experience

Desirable

• Experience in audio/visual innovation including spatial audio, visualisation, augmented & virtual reality
• Experience and knowledge of stage work, opera and multimedia collaboration
• Experience working in non-classical & cross-genre collaboration

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.

Please state in your application that you found this opportunity through Creative Access.