Assistant News Editor – Election 2026

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

Essential Criteria
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 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.

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.