The BBC is recruiting a dedicated head of a whistleblowing and investigations team, with salaries of up to £120,000. Three roles are being advertised: Head of Investigations (Corporate Investigations and Whistleblowing), Head of Investigations (HR), and Director of Investigations and Whistleblowing. The jobs are part of a company-wide restructure following a series of scandals at the corporation.
The successful candidate will form a breakout unit and assist staff moving out of one part of the company. The job description states they will play a 'critical role in fostering a culture of transparency, accountability and trust'. They will oversee investigations into serious criminal behaviour, violent and sexual offences, harassment, and cases posing reputational risk.
The new roles come after former BBC News anchor Huw Edwards was suspended in 2023 and received his full salary of £435,000 per year after paying a young man for explicit images. Edwards, a convicted sex offender, left the BBC in 2024. An anonymous whistleblower told BBC News that complaints against him had not been thoroughly investigated, saying 'things have been swept under the carpet'.
Former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace was sacked after an investigation upheld 45 of 83 complaints relating to sexually inappropriate language and humour, as well as culturally insensitive or racist comments. The allegations spanned 19 years. The BBC also apologised over 'missed opportunities' to deal with allegations of 'bullying and misogynistic behaviour' from former radio DJ Tim Westwood, who has been charged with multiple sexual offences and denies all allegations.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'These roles are simply part of a wider restructure. When it comes to pay, we strike a balance to ensure we remain competitive and can attract and retain the best people, and over 95% of our spending goes on content and its delivery.'
