Orchestra Coordinator, BBCCO
BBC Media Action
London, UK
GBP 30k-33k / year
| London, GBR, W1A 1AA
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: C
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC Concert Orchestra
LOCATION: Broadcasting House, London, W1A 1AA
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £30,000 - £33,000 (plus London Weighting of £5,441) 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.
Interview date: Week beginning 6 July 2026
NB: The Career Path Framework job title for this role is Business Coordinator
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The mission of the BBC Concert Orchestra is to bring inspiring musical experiences to everyone, everywhere, with the ensemble’s versatility as the key.
The Orchestra explores a wide selection of classical and contemporary music and is broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night Is Music Night. It appears regularly at the BBC Proms, at London's Southbank Centre and in Alexandra Palace Theatre, where it is Associate Orchestra. It has a partnership with the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham Royal Concert Hall. The BBC CO has close relationships with its Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing, Principal Guest Conductor and Curator Edwin Outwater, Associate Conductor Jérôme Kuhn and Conductor Laureate Barry Wordsworth.
Soundtrack recordings include Blue Planet and Call the Midwife for BBC One and Isobel Waller-Bridge's score The for Charlie Mackesy’s Oscar-winning film The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse as well as new music for BBC Sounds’ Music & Meditation podcast.
Its performances for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room Month, have featured collaborations with pop artists, including Olivia Dean, Robbie Williams and Paul Weller.
The BBC CO offers enjoyable and innovative education and community activities, and is involved in BBC Ten Pieces, the BBC Young Composer competition and the BBC Open Music programme.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
The Orchestra team are seeking a dedicated and experienced orchestra administrator, with a keen eye for detail. You are the person responsible for the day-to-day administration for the orchestra team including finances, as well as supporting the Orchestra Personnel Manager with fixing. You will also be asked to run rehearsals and concerts when necessary.
Due to the nature of the role, the Orchestra Coordinator will from time to time need to travel across the UK, and work evenings and weekends as dictated by the Orchestra’s performance schedule.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
- Values & Behaviours: Embody and promote BBC Values: Audiences, Creativity, Trust, Respect, Accountability and One BBC.
- Finance & Payments: Manage extra and deputy payments and maintain the team finance tracker and support DIB reporting for extras and deputies.
- Personnel Administration: Maintain personnel records including salaries, leave, and stepping-up arrangements and update personnel on travel expense claims.
- Operational Support & Fixing: Support the Orchestra Personnel Manager with scheduling (“fixing”), including emergency cover and occasional out-of-hours support.
- Rehearsals, Recordings & Concerts: Run orchestra rehearsals and recordings, and provide concert support as required.
- Logistics, Travel & Events: Coordinate hotel bookings, travel (rail/coach), and tour documentation and organise venue logistics including parking, security lists, and circulation of orchestra/personnel lists.
- Auditions & Instruments: Manage audition processes and support trial booking administration and oversee instrument insurance renewals and handle related queries/claims.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
- Have previous experience of working in orchestral administration.
- Have good organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure
- Pay meticulous attention to detail with a good level of numeracy.
- Have good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Have some knowledge of orchestral music and the components of an orchestra.
DESIRABLE:
- Experience of working with OPAS (or similar orchestra administration software)
- Experience of working with SAP and ACON (or similar)
- Ability to read music and understand orchestrations.
- Some orchestra fixing experience would be beneficial.
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.
Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.
For any general queries, please contact: bbchr@bbc.co.uk
We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.
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.
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 or on an orchestra conditions contract.
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: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
