Archive Researcher

JOB BAND: B
CONTRACT TYPE: 12 Month Fixed-term Contract, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC Studios Digital Brands
LOCATION: London – Television Centre
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £27,000 plus £5,441 London Weighting depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

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

Join the Digital Brands team and help unlock the BBC's rich archive for digital audiences. As an Archive Researcher, you'll support the Archive Producer and Archive Assistant Producers by researching archive content, carrying out rights checks and helping assess material for use across BBC social channels. This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their archive and content research skills while gaining hands-on experience within a specialist team.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in archive research within BBC Digital Brands. Working alongside experienced archive specialists, you'll develop valuable knowledge of archive systems, rights clearance processes and editorial considerations while contributing to content that reaches audiences across BBC social channels. You'll be part of a collaborative and supportive team, gaining practical experience and insight into how archive content is identified, assessed and prepared for digital publishing.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Support the Archive Producer and Archive Assistant Producers by responding to archive research briefs and sourcing relevant content.
• Review archive material and use internal systems to assist with rights checks, content assessments and clearance activities.
• Maintain accurate records of research, rights positions and content assessments within internal databases and tracking systems.
• Liaise with Rights teams, Editorial teams and archive content suppliers to support archive research and publishing workflows.
• Research archive content in line with editorial briefs, audience needs and BBC policies, identifying relevant material and escalating opportunities where appropriate.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Passion for archive content, television, digital media and the wider media industry.
• Strong research and information-gathering skills, with the ability to work through detailed and process-driven tasks accurately.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate records and documentation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Good organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and work both independently and as part of a team.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Awareness of BBC Editorial Guidelines, compliance requirements and the importance of accuracy and impartiality.
• Experience reading post-production documentation, such as PasC and MRF paperwork, and identifying copyright considerations.
• Experience or a demonstrable interest in archive or footage research.
• Familiarity with archive management systems, content databases or rights-management tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify practical solutions when working through research or clearance challenges.

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.

We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest, we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.

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