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JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Grade
Reports to:
Department:
Base:
Contract:
Sustainable Production Advisor
8
Environment Project Manager, Policy & Strategy (Richard Smith)
BBC Sustainability (within Policy & Strategy)
London
12-month attachment for three days a week, ideally to start April 2014.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
1. Introduction
The BBC is committed to becoming the world’s most sustainable broadcaster, as set out in our strategy
called The Difference, launched in 2010. The key objective is to reduce our environmental impact
through five targets (see Context, below).
A major strand of The Difference is for the BBC to produce its programmes and content with the
minimum possible environmental impact. BBC Sustainability works closely with programme makers in
Television, Children’s and other divisions to help them achieve this aim.
The Sustainable Production Advisor will join a small team dedicated to supporting programme makers
in their efforts to become more sustainable and furthering the BBC’s sustainability achievements.
2. Context
The BBC is committed to achieving environmental targets: a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, 20%
reduction in CO2 emissions from transport per person, 25% reduction in water used per person and 25%
reduction in waste per person and to recycle 70% of the remaining waste.
There is a small team responsible for the day to day delivery of the strategy. In addition a committee
chaired by Jane McCloskey, Controller, Strategic Partnerships, oversees the implementation of the
strategy across the BBC. The Committee has wide representation including content production,
Workplace, Procurement and Technology to reflect the need to coordinate work in different departments
across the BBC.
The Difference sustainability strategy also commits the BBC to working with the wider UK broadcasting
and production industry in order to promote and develop sustainable working practices.
AIM OF THE JOB
The Sustainable Production Advisor will offer help and guidance to production and editorial colleagues
on practical steps they can take to cut waste and reduce their carbon footprint. They will support
programmes through the use of Albert the Carbon Calculator and Albert+, our sustainable production
certification scheme and will compile reports summarising levels of engagement across the BBC with
both tools. The Advisor will work across all genres and platforms, with a particular emphasis on
television production. Working alongside the sustainability team, the Advisor may also be required to
contribute to other tasks in support of the BBC Sustainability strategy, The Difference.
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KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
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Work closely with programme makers from both production and editorial, giving help and advice
on any aspect of how they can reduce the environmental impact of their programme.
Guide productions through the process of using Albert the carbon calculator, including analysis
of results and advice for practical actions based upon them.
Track the progress of production teams, departments and genres using Albert to ensure
accurate quarterly reporting on the number of productions “on track” with using the tool.
Support production teams using the “Albert+” certification criteria (more details can be found at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/outreach/sustainability/Green-TV-Certificate)
Speak to groups, meetings and conferences both internally and externally about sustainability at
the BBC
Collaborate where appropriate with existing industry partners including BAFTA, other
broadcasters and indies with the aim of sharing best practice on sustainable production.
Share learnings where appropriate with other production areas of the BBC beyond Television.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential:
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Current or recent experience as a television programme maker, either within editorial or
production
Awareness of and support for the BBC’s sustainability strategy, The Difference
Ability to work both within a team and individually.
Confidence in talking to both individuals and larger groups of people.
Resilience and determination when faced with challenges
Ability to convey complex information in simple terms
Ability to manage and analyse data in spreadsheets, strong numeracy skills
London-based.
Confidence in working in a separate location to the role manager as he is based in Salford. (The
advisor and manager will be in frequent contact via Lync, phone and email however).
Desirable:
 Previous experience in a sustainability/environment role
 Knowledge, and ideally experience with the use of, Albert the production carbon calculator
COMPETENCIES
Project management and planning - Experience leading and managing projects. Proven experience
of effective participation in projects; experience of running portfolios of projects; experience of managing
dependencies and trade-offs between projects. Experience of long-term planning and collaboration with
people and teams.
Managing relationships & collaboration – Develops & builds long term professional relationships with
internal and external stakeholders. Seeks opportunities for collaboration across the BBC. Promotes a
climate in which information and knowledge is openly shared. Able to work in a matrix structure.
Motivates people to buy into plans, projects and ideas Draws from a range of strategies to persuade
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people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change. Influences at a senior level and
engages the commitment of key players to proposed courses of action. Actively collaborates with
colleagues across the organisation to the benefit of the BBC and develops a climate in which
information and new knowledge is openly shared.
Collaborating across boundaries – challenges systems, processes and people that block
collaboration, connects people, ideas, processes and issues, sets an example by sharing resources,
knowledge, ideas and skills across the BBC and beyond and builds helpful and productive relationships.
Communication – able to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools
and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information, actively listens and
adapts communication style to the audience being addressed.
Influencing and persuading – able to present sound and well reasoned arguments to convince others.
Skilled in applying a range of techniques to influence positive outcomes. Able to influence at every level
and gain the commitment of key players for specific delivery of results.
Using external thinking – builds bridges with useful organisations and innovative thinkers, keeps up to
date with developments in their field, responds to the demands of our commercial environment, relishes
feedback and responds honestly to what our audiences and other stakeholders have to say.
Resilience – manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks
or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by
commitment, motivation and energy. Maintains stability of performance under pressure and/or
opposition. A positive, open minded and creative approach to change
Analytical thinking - able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts
explore and evaluate them systematically.
Leadership - Creates a vision and inspires and leads others to realise it, irrespective of circumstances.
Demonstrates and communicates commitment to the overall departmental/divisional/BBC strategy and
an interest and enthusiasm for the output. Acts as a unifying voice, visible to teams. Demonstrates a
willingness to champion others ideas and views and provides information, support, direction and
feedback. Demonstrates an awareness of individuals strengths, preferences and aspirations
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