Junior assistant technical producer, Hidden Planet, BBC Studios NHU

Closing date: 6th April 2025

Salary: £26,500 - £29,500 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

Contract: This is a fixed-term, full-time role lasting 6 months.

Start date: You must be available to start by Monday 2nd June.

Interviews: Interviews will be held in person on 24th April 2025.

Location: Please note this is a position which will be based in our Bristol office and Bristol-based macro studio.

Hidden Planet is looking for a junior assistant technical producer (JTAP) to join the team for six months during a busy filming period.

BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit (NHU) is the leading producer of wildlife programming, creating award-winning content with a world-class reputation. Our output ranges from ambitious landmarks (Planet Earth III and Dynasties) to children’s programming (Deadly Dinosaurs and Andy’s Adventures), as well as ground-breaking travel, adventure, formatted, presenter-led and event programming such as Prehistoric Planet for Apple TV+ and the BAFTA-winning Springwatch for the BBC.

Following the success of The Green Planet, and two decades after the groundbreaking series Life in the Undergrowth, BBC Studios NHU is embarking on an ambitious and innovative global production focussing on the natural history of insects and other invertebrates. Hidden Planet will reveal the real lives, drama and critical importance of the planet's most successful group of animals.

The successful candidate will support our series' colleagues, assisting our current JTAP and JCO team, running a production team operational facility, ensuring that the right equipment is available and ready for purpose when required, taking on responsibility for the maintenance of equipment and facility ensuring a high level of organisation.

Responsibilities

• Monitoring stock levels and managing an accurate inventory, forward planning with any future purchasing
• Maintenance of kit/arranging servicing when it returns from location – including specialist macro equipment
• Working with key members of production team to advise, collate and develop kit lists for upcoming shoots
• Help liaise with and source specialist equipment from suppliers, often specialists in the macro field.
• Oversee the prep, packing and organisation of equipment, including loading & unloading from vehicles at the beginning and end of shoots.
• Contributing key information required for shipping equipment around the world
• Working within the parameters of a budget
• Researching, advising and sourcing kit purchases ensuring the team is across the latest filming techniques and developments. Particularly, exploring innovative motion control kit, the use of NeRF environments, photogrammetry and focus-stacking technology.
• Assisting with macro shoot set-ups in our dedicated studio on the outskirts of Bristol
• Being main point of contact for the production team and location crew within specified parameters

Knowledge, skills and experience

• We’re looking for people who are passionate and inquisitive when it comes to all things technical regarding macro wildlife filming.
• Your technical expertise should include an understanding of the underlying principles of video and still digital photography; hands-on operation of digital cameras & macro equipment together with a good knowledge of and familiarity with all the equipment and a reason for its use.
• You must have demonstrable experience of, and a particular interest in, macro photography and new technology, with a working knowledge of specialist macro equipment.
• You should have a good knowledge of safety and welfare regulations and understanding instructions relating to the base or facility operation.
• You'll be able to work quickly and accurately under pressure, to constantly changing deadlines, and use your initiative to solve problems.
• Ideally you’ll have experience of working with high end broadcast and cinema cameras, as well as working on location with film crews.

What will you gain from working at BBC Studios?

• We offer a competitive salary package
• Parental leave for new parents, regardless of gender, of up to a year with 18 weeks fully paid
• 26 days holiday (plus an additional day which is a Corporation Day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
• A defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Excellent career progression – access to courses, webinars, workshops and the opportunity to work in different areas of the organisation

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

We are really proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and so if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please do contact us on reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk.

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