Playout Planning Assistant

This role is responsible for planning & coordinating one or more of the BBC television News channels.

Package Description

Salary: £25,400 - £30,550 plus London Weighting, depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights
Contract type: 5 month attachment/FTC
Location: Office Base is London Broadcasting House. This is a hybrid role and the successful candidate will balance office working with home working.

Job Introduction

The BBC News Scheduling & Planning team support the channels by planning and creating the most competitive and imaginative Programme & Playout schedules to deliver the individual channel and overall Television News strategies.

The role is responsible for ensuring that all planning aspects of the Playout schedule have been editorially and operationally approved and to liaise with other business areas to resolve issues and ensure Playout Planning delivers an accurate and transmission ready schedule.

Main Responsibilities:

To process and check all programme and junction data required for the final transmission schedule as required, liaising closely with the Playout Programme Planners to ensure the accuracy of the schedule
To act as a first point of enquiry for the Playout Planning Unit.
To use discretion to identify and resolve first line issues, referring to supervisor/manager for assistance as necessary
To liaise with Marketing and Programme Commissioning teams to organise continuity record lists whilst maintaining accurate and easily locatable data in What’sON scheduling system
To prepare forward schedules well in advance of transmission by templating slots and adding interstitial items. Adjusting and revising when necessary
To ensure smooth running of the playout planning process for their respective channel and develop new processes as required. To act on all reports of playout planning issues with transmitted schedules, to examine causes and to progress solutions with business areas and the channel
To maintain good working relationships with internal and external data & media suppliers
To be aware of the impact of changes to programme/junction elements in the  schedule and their effect on billed times guidelines
To provide clerical and administrative assistance for the Playout Programme Planner
To establish, maintain and develop as appropriate, efficient administration systems and processes, to ensure the smooth running of the department at all times
To be aware of and operate within the relevant policies and BBC Editorial Policy guidelines
To build and maintain good relationships with scheduling teams, developing an in-depth understanding of their roles and challenges and supporting them as required.

Are you the right candidate?

A good understanding of the structure of transmission schedules, the significance of programme detail, junction points, commercial breaks, opt-out points and the requirements of associated systems
Previous experience of Media Planning and\or Presentation Planning would be an advantage
Good working knowledge of the commissioning, presentation planning and scheduling processes
Good IT Skills, and experience of Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with experience of using scheduling broadcast systems, (MediaGenix WhatsOn or equivalent would be an advantage)
An eye for detail, able to manage large volumes of information and data, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of data quality and accuracy
An interest in television News channels & current affairs programming and a keen appreciation of the changeable nature of a live news schedule

Interpersonal and communication skills sufficient to establish and maintain effective relations with a wide range of internal and external contacts
Experience of working effectively in an administrative team, preferably a television scheduling, interactive or marketing environment, with an understanding of the potential impact on transmission schedules of financial, delivery and planning changes
Multi-project and time management, planning and prioritising skills and the ability to meet fixed deadlines under pressure.

Please CLICK HERE to see this role on our own website, and apply.

Closing date: 12th May 2025.