Trainee researcher - The Watches

Closing date: 21st October 2024

Salary: £19,071 via a training bursary

Duration: 7 months

Working hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday

Location: Bristol

Start date: 25th November 2024

Do you know a Kestrel from a Kingfisher? Or a Gannet from a Goldfinch? If you love watching wildlife documentaries and can’t wait to kickstart your career in TV, this research opportunity, working with an award-winning team in Bristol, could be the one for you…

The BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) in Bristol, home of the much-loved and award-winning sister brands of Springwatch and Winterwatch, deliver live television events and social media content for the BBC at key moments throughout the year. 

They currently have a coveted opportunity for a Trainee Researcher to join their team for seven months. Throughout their time on the series, the successful candidate will gain experience across the Watches brand, which has grown to represent the home of UK wildlife output on the BBC. In addition to being well respected in UK wildlife science and conservation communities, it also attracts a loyal audience of amateur naturalists and nature enthusiasts.

On the job training will be provided across the two productions to ensure you have an excellent ground knowledge of how to find the best new science stories, how to set up shoots and how to become confident in archive researching, media management and camera assisting. The trainee will even gain a unique insight from the innovation team into the cutting-edge technology used to capture their animal sequences and will receive ongoing mentor support from experienced researchers on the team.

This is the ideal opportunity for a wildlife-obsessed TV enthusiast to emerge from this scheme with all the skills necessary for a junior researcher position. So, if you are ready to step into the world of wildlife television and work on the productions for some of the biggest factual programmes this broadcaster has to offer, this could be the role for you…

What you will learn

• Full understanding of the television production process across a range of Natural History programme types and platforms.
• A passion for topical and factual content that focuses on Natural History.
• A full insight into how the BBC NHU Bristol team operates.
• Research techniques and storytelling skills.
• Administrative and editorial skills.
• How to generate engaging ideas for a range of audiences.

What we're looking for

• A proven passion and extensive knowledge of British wildlife, through study or via a passionate hobby such as birdwatching.
• An ability to talk to scientists and find all the new research that is coming out, ahead of the competition.
• Particular knowledge of TV production and the types of network programming made by the BBC NHU department.
• Passionate about pursuing a career in TV development.
• Team player with the ability to take initiative.
• Creative and bursting with engaging ideas.
• General understanding of the audiences for shows such as the One Show and Springwatch.
• Demonstrable experience or interest in the media; including enthusiasm for factual content and documentaries.

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

This opportunity is specifically created for individuals from specific groups that are under-represented across the creative industries and at BBC Studios. Those backgrounds include, but aren’t limited to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, disabled people, those undergoing gender reassignment / transitioning and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The successful candidate for this opportunity will also participate in a Creative Access support programme that sits alongside workplace training. This includes a programme of induction training, monthly masterclasses, wellbeing support, buddying / mentoring and more.