Job Description

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Assistant News Editor - Election 2026

Job Requisition ID: 31309
Job Closing Date: 28/10/2025
Edinburgh, GBR, EH99 1SP
| Glasgow, GBR, G511DA
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: E
CONTRACT TYPE: 6 months Fixed-term Contract / Attachment; Full-Time
DEPARTMENT: BBC Scotland News
LOCATION: Glasgow/Edinburgh - Office based.
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: 51,700 - 61,700 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.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
This is an exceptional opportunity to play a leading management role in the biggest political story of 2026 - the Holyrood election. You'll work closely with the Senior News Editor (Politics) to help shape and deliver world class coverage around both the biggest moments of the campaign and our market leading results offer to audiences.
You'll also on occasion be expected to provide operational management for some of our most important titles - Question Time, Debate Night, the Sunday Show and Politics Scotland. We'll match your ambition and skill with a commitment to make the next six months the very best of what the BBC can deliver around scale, reach and impact.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
We are a high performing team working across multiple sites delivering high quality, trusted content for our audiences. We play a central role in daily programmes and platforms as well as our specialist political brands for both Scottish and UK audiences.
If you enjoy collaboration, want to be challenged professionally, and help others reach their potential, then you'll fit right in.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• Work with the Senior News Editor (Politics) around the planning, commissioning and delivery of the 2026 Holyrood election.
• Deputise where appropriate to be the leading editorial figure for programmes that sit within the political team's stable - the Sunday Show, Question Time, Debate Night and Politics Scotland.
• Engage daily with colleagues across our Scotland news operation - and frequently with our Network teams - to maximise and prioritise our resources and storytelling - with particular emphasis on planned set piece events.
• Develop relationships with key external stakeholders - especially the political community - to enhance our understanding and knowledge of likely issues and the reputational impact of those for the BBC.
• Be involved in financial planning/budgetary decisions that demonstrate best practise/value for money considerations

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Evidence of leadership - editorial and managerial - in a news environment
• Deep understanding of Scotland's political landscape and institutions
• Proven editorial judgement - ability to think, act and communicate decisively in a timely manner
• Ability to articulate the BBC's commitment to due impartiality
• A detailed knowledge of current techniques and technology for newsgathering and production.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving diversity in the BBC and understands how individual differences can benefit the BBC.
• An understanding of health and safety procedures and how they apply to broadcasting

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Proven record in planning large scale deployments
• Ability to use new technologies and platforms to enhance output, improve working practices and reach underserved audiences
• Experience of working at - or collaborating with - news teams at Network/UK level
• Comfortable in a live, complex production setting

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.
#LI-BD1
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
For any general queries, please contact:
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss:
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Skills Required