BBC Career Opportunities: Account Director New Business

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time

DEPARTMENT: BBC StoryWorks

LOCATION:London TVC – Hybrid

START DATE: September 2026

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £50,000-£54,000 (plus LW and eligibilty for 20% AdSales bonus) depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

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

Our BBC StoryWorks Programme Partnerships team is responsible for the creation of award-winning digital series for BBC.com’s global audiences outside the UK. Combining our BBC storytelling heritage with industry expertise, we look deeper into the issues shaping society for organisations leading change.

Programme Partnerships is a close-knit, ambitious team seeking an agile, visionary, and results-driven individual - someone who thrives on both personal performance and the collective success of a dynamic, high-achieving team.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

The Account Director is a highly strategic and creative role, working across the core functions of the Programme Partnerships team to deliver best in class content campaigns, drive excellent commercial performance and contribute to team growth and development.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate both commercial acumen and creative flair to deliver standout campaigns that resonate with global audiences and drive measurable value. They will consistently exceed commercial KPIs, contribute to the development of scalable revenue streams, and play an integral role in fostering a high-performing, collaborative team environment.

As a key commercial leader, the Account Director will be responsible for building and managing a pipeline of commercial partners, engaging with senior decision-makers and key opinion leaders across diverse industries to identify commercial opportunities with a primary focus on securing content partnerships, account growth, and repeat business revenue streams. They will work closely with creative and production teams to ensure each campaign not only meets commercial objectives but also achieves creative excellence. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills are essential, along with a proven track record in sales or business development, and a history of surpassing ambitious targets. The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, with a genuine interest in current affairs and the ability to distil and communicate complex themes effectively. A strong understanding of digital media strategies and global audience engagement is desired.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Project leadership and end-to-end ownership of the full partnership cycle from initial outreach and pitching to closing, campaign development and account growth.


• Consistent achievement of quarterly and annual activity KPIs and revenue targets, with a strong focus on fostering repeat business opportunities, to support a fast-growing business.


• Ongoing collaboration with the BBC StoryWorks production, research, and creative teams to shape commercial content concepts in line with client goals and audience relevance.


• Management of complex negotiations, redlines, and contractual agreements, liaising with legal, finance, and compliance teams as needed.


• Effective engagement with C-suite stakeholders, industry association bodies, and key opinion leaders with a focus on building long-term relationships.


• Application of insights and data to refine commercial strategy, improve conversion, and inform content development.


• Effective communication to instil confidence in editorial and production colleagues, working collaboratively across the development and production stages of each programme. 

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Proven experience in a commercial or business development role, ideally in media, publishing, advertising, or branded content.


• Strong track record of hitting and exceeding commercial targets, managing full sales cycles, and closing complex deals.


• Excellent communicator with persuasive skills and the ability to engage senior-level stakeholders across industries, skilled at presenting across different media platforms, both online and in person.


• Strategic thinker with a flair for identifying commercial opportunities and positioning creative solutions that meet client KPIs.


• Experienced in managing long-term client relationships and uncovering repeat revenue potential.


• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to contribute to timely campaign delivery.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Able to confidently interpret and communicate complex concepts or themes, with a keen interest in global current affairs and industry trends.


• Able to clearly articulate the craft of writers, filmmakers and designers to both clients and colleagues


• Strong attention to detail and an ability to interpret data and enact change.


• Great time management and use of initiative, ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and work in a fast-paced environment.


• Experience and proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM is a benefit, but not essential.


• A collaborative team player who contributes positively to team culture and is motivated by both individual success and team achievement.

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.