Sound Assistant, Elstree & TVC

• CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time 
• DEPARTMENT: BBC Studioworks 
• LOCATION: On-site - London Elstree Studios & London Television Centre 
• PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £35,000 - £38,000 plus £5441 London Weighting, depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights
• Please note: While BBC Studios offers 26 days of annual leave, Studioworks provides 25 days. Other benefits may also vary slightly between the two entities.
• ANTICIPATED INTERVIEW DATE: Week commencing 21st September.

BBC Studioworks is a commercial subsidiary of BBC Studios providing studios and post production services to all the major TV broadcasters and production companies including the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, Amazon &  Netflix. Located across sites in Elstree and Television Centre in White City, our London facilities are home to some of the nation’s most watched and loved television shows. We offer world-class studio and post production spaces, equip them with the right technology and engage the most dedicated and talented people in the industry. By doing this, we bring shows to life.  

We have 3 studios at BBC TV Centre one of which is 4K UHD capable. Elstree having 3 dedicated studios for our commercial work and an additional 9 shooting areas and 4 galleries to film the continuing Drama Eastenders. Studioworks also have a studio in Glasgow at Kelvin Hall and also at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Working closely with Sound Supervisors and production colleagues, you’ll assist with rigging, microphone operation, boom tracking and sound recording, ensuring clear and consistent audio capture in a fast-paced continuing drama environment both on set and on location.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to one of the UK's most iconic television dramas, working alongside experienced audio professionals in a collaborative and supportive team. With a mix of studio and location work, no two days are the same. Whether your background is in audio engineering, theatre, hospital radio or live events, you'll gain hands-on experience using professional sound equipment while helping bring EastEnders to life for millions of viewers.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Responsible for sound balance and control for straightforward TV productions with established formats
• Assist senior colleagues with the rigging, setup, and operation of studios and location sound for more complex productions
• Manage recorded and spot sound effects, including selection, acquisition, production, level control, and creative input
• Operate digital audio workstations, multi-track recording systems, portable recording equipment, PA systems, artist monitoring facilities, and sound mixing equipment
• Install and operate microphones, radio microphone systems, in-ear monitoring systems, Fisher booms, and microphone poles as required
• Undertake sound assistant duties, support location recordings, and supervise Trainee Audio staff, providing feedback on their progress
• Deputise for the Audio Supervisor when required and support overall production audio operations.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Successful completion of basic sound training courses or equivalent
• Experience supporting sound operations within television, theatre, live events, radio or other production environments
• Good operational knowledge of professional audio equipment, including microphones, wireless/radio microphone systems, boom poles or similar sound technology. Experience operating Fisher booms within a television, film or live production environment
• Good aural judgement and listening skills, with the ability to assess and maintain audio quality in a production environment
• Ability to communicate effectively with production teams, colleagues and contributors from a variety of backgrounds
• Practical understanding of audio workflows and digital technologies, including familiarity with common computer applications and audio file formats
• A hands-on approach with the physical capability to undertake a demanding role involving equipment rigging, prolonged periods on your feet and outdoor working throughout the year
• Flexibility to work varying shift patterns, including occasional evenings, weekends and extended hours, to meet the operational needs of the production
• Able to perform the essential audio and visual quality assessment requirements of the role - Please note: This role involves critical assessment of audio and visual content, including colour accuracy and sound quality, as part of studio engineering responsibilities.

• Experience of multi-camera television production
• Experience working on scripted drama, theatre, live events, hospital radio or similar environments
• Interest in audio engineering, sound recording and emerging production technologies.
  
  

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 as soon as possible.

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.