Researcher 2025

Are you passionate about radio and podcasts? And a lover of the outdoors?

We are looking for a researcher based in Aberdeen to work on the popular weekly show Out of Doors on BBC Radio Scotland which broadcasts every Saturday morning between 6.30 and 8.00 am. We also produce the bi-weekly Scotland Outdoors Podcast which is listened to by people all over the world. The programme and podcast are the only location/package based content of their kind on BBC Radio Scotland. The team travel the country week in week out to gather material which is then crafted into packages and linked live from the BBC car park every Saturday morning.

The three day a week Researcher role is central to the smooth running of the programme, planning the presenter’s interviews and constantly generating ideas for packages and live guests. This requires a highly creative and curious individual with the enthusiasm to ensure that the output is imaginative, ambitious, and compelling.

No week will be the same as we feature such a broad range of stories over the series. From wild swimming to foraging, climbing mountains to beaver re-introductions, we cover anything and everything relating to nature and the outdoors. And it’s the people who tell those stories who are key to the success of the programme. It will be your responsibility to find the most interesting people to speak to our presenters from all corners of the country, so you must have a real thirst for seeking them out.

As you develop, there will also be the opportunity to be involved in live studio production and the recording and editing of audio packages.

Main responsibilities

As a researcher, some of your responsibilities will include:

• Finding diverse and new stories – and contributors – from around the country.
• Speaking to contributors and taking briefing notes from them.
• Writing briefs for presenters.
• Planning recording trips in particular locations for presenters.
• Working on forward planning content for more in depth specials.
• Booking transport and hotels for presenters.

Are you the right candidate

• A passion for the outdoors and the natural world. You will be able to demonstrate a sense of curiosity about the world around you.
• A passion for audio and how it can be used to tell stories and capture people and place.
• A desire to apply the BBC's values in accuracy and impartiality in everything you do.
• Effective planning and organising skills. Ability to manage several areas of work at one time, prioritising, delivering consistently to deadlines and reacting positively to changes and conflicting priorities.
• Knowledge of the BBC’s Editorial Standards and how to apply these across our content
• Ability to prioritise a conflicting workload efficiently and to maintain standards of accuracy and attention to detail when working to deadlines or changing priorities.

Additional information

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

• Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
• Benefits- We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days annual leave (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

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