Creative Partnerships Lead

JOB DETAILS

JOB TITLE: Creative Partnerships Lead (Maternity Cover)

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed-term Contract, Full-time (9 months maternity cover)

DEPARTMENT: BBC Studios Audio

LOCATION: BBC Television Centre, London

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Competitive salary depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The salary for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

START DATE: ASAP

Interviews are expected to be held on Friday 6th November (via Zoom).

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application - though there's 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 borne 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

We have an exciting opportunity for a Creative Partnerships Lead in BBC Studios Audio, on a nine-month maternity cover contract reporting to the Head of Commercial Partnerships.

The role is the bridge between commercial, ad sales and production. It owns our creative solutions (network reads, host reads and branded content), advertising compliance and brand safety, and will equip our sales partners - particularly in the US - with the storytelling, materials and creative thinking they need to sell our slate with confidence and turn client briefs into standout partnerships.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is a hands-on, high-impact role at the heart of BBC Studios Audio’s commercial team, working with production teams who deliver a uniquely wide range of outstanding content: ambitious new podcasts such as The History of the United States in 100 Objects and The Interface; impactful investigative serials such as Stalked and Things Fell Apart; long-running prestige Radio 4 series such as Desert Island Discs and In Our Time; and an extensive slate of award-winning comedy and fiction. BBC Studios Audio is an end-to-end podcast studio growing monetised networks of premium audio and audio-visual content.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Work with the Head of Commercial Partnerships and the Senior Commercial Lead to deliver our creative partnerships and advertising strategy, driving revenue growth across the BBC Studios Audio slate.
• Own all creative solutions (network reads, host reads and branded content) end to end - writing and adapting scripts, briefing voice artists and production teams, and managing recordings, edits, costings and delivery against agreed KPIs.
• Review and approve all advertising, sponsorship and host-read scripts against BBC Advertising and Sponsorship guidelines and Ofcom rules, proposing compliant alternatives and managing compliance incidents and complaints through to resolution.
• Maintain the compliance framework and client-facing brand safety materials, monitor brand safety settings on our ad tech platform, and ensure production processes cover the responsible use of AI and music licensing.
• Act as the go-to expert for ad sales partners on what can and cannot be sold across markets - onboarding new partners, managing the advertising product set, pricing and inventory, and overseeing deliveries from booking to proof of delivery.
• Equip our sales partners to win business - primarily in the US, alongside EMEA, APAC and LATAM - by leading the development of go-to-market collateral that brings our slate and new launches to life through compelling creative storytelling.
• Champion our slate with agencies and brands, originating direct creative partnership opportunities through your own network and responding to incoming briefs with standout ideas, from branded segments to full branded podcasts.
• Act as the single point of contact for production teams on commercial requests, translating sales commitments into clear production briefs, and provide commercial input on new and transferring titles and co-production deals, including reach projections and investment risk.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Proven experience of delivering creative advertising solutions (e.g. host reads, sponsorship or branded content) in podcasting, audio, broadcast or digital media.
• A strong network of agency and brand contacts, with a track record of originating new partnership opportunities.
• A natural storyteller, with experience of creating persuasive sales collateral and pitch materials.
• Strong working knowledge of advertising compliance and brand safety (e.g. BBC Advertising guidelines, Ofcom, CAP/BCAP codes).
• Proven experience of working with production teams and talent, with a demonstrable understanding of their needs.
• Highly organised and a confident communicator, able to manage multiple campaigns, deadlines and budgets alongside complex stakeholder relationships.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Experience of branded podcast production and budgeting.
• Familiarity with ad tech and dynamic ad insertion platforms.
• Experience of selling into or working with partners in the US advertising market.
• Experience of working in a matrix organisation.
• A genuine interest in a wide range of genre content.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.