BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of media projects in Tanzania. It seeks to expand this portfolio of work, but also to ensure that existing projects are delivered on time, on budget, to the highest standards and in accordance with BBC editorial values as well as Media Action methodologies.
The Senior Projects Manager will be responsible for the overall management and delivery of a range of projects which utilise the power of media to tackle issues of governance, resilience and health. The Senior Projects Manager will ensure the agreed targets and objectives are met and will also ensure the quality and cohesion of project outputs. This will include managing a team including Project Managers and Senior Trainer(s).
The Senior Projects Manager will be responsible for overseeing budget management of projects, and for reporting on editorial and operational progress to the Country Director. S/he will also be responsible for liaising with the relevant teams in the London headquarters and with project donors. Upon request of the Country Director, the Senior Projects Manager will represent Media Action in-country to key stakeholders and will ensure effective relationships and partnerships with a wide range of partners including broadcasters, NGOs, international development agencies and others.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Reporting to the Country Director, to take responsibility for overseeing the planning and implementation of country projects and activities
- To manage project budgets and ensure the delivery of the outputs is in accordance with that budget and in-line with Media Action’s financial procedures and the funder’s operating guidelines.
- To manage a diverse team including project managers and trainer-mentors, and to support team members to meet agreed objectives and develop their skills so that they are able to make an effective contribution to planned activities.
- To ensure the design and implementation of project activities adhere to workplan and logframe commitments and remain in line with BBC editorial standards and values and Media Action’s best practice. To negotiate and mediate if conflicting views/priorities arise within the projects, working through these to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
- To lead the reporting of progress, both internally to the BBC and externally to partners, the donor(s), and other interested parties.
- To work closely with the Research Manager in the design and coordination of monitoring and evaluation and to conduct regular review and feedback sessions, adjusting project delivery as necessary upon approval.
- To develop good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including the BBC World Service, local broadcasters and relevant NGOs and CSOs.
- To support business development activities as required. This will involve working with the Country Director and local staff to pursue appropriate funding opportunities in-country, as well as working as part of a global team responding to international and sub-regional funding opportunities.
- To work with the other BBC Media Action staff in-country and in London to identify training priorities linked to the needs of staff, including greater development of in-house capacity, and to ensure that training meets Media Action’s high standards.
Skills, knowledge and experience requirements:
- Experience of senior project management in a developing-country context, preferably in Africa, with demonstrated capacity to manage effectively at least three distinct projects simultaneous.
- Strong financial management skills, with proven experience managing complex budgets of over £1m per year, including accurate and timely financial and narrative reporting to donors.
- A proven track-record in international development; experience in the use of media to achieve development goals is an advantage. Experience of working in one or more of the governance, health and resilience sectors is an advantage, as is experience in capacity-building implementation.
- Experience of directly managing teams of at least four local and/or international staff, preferably within a developing-country context, at a level which demonstrates experience in developing and improving systems and processes.
- Awareness of the BBC’s editorial values and an instinct for how to apply these to media development projects.
- The potential to acquire strong media editorial leadership skills in order to make sensitive editorial judgements at a senior level.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise time effectively within a range of often conflicting deadlines.
- Capacity to juggle competing priorities and a busy programme of work while working to an agreed strategy.
- The ability to forge strong working relations quickly and gain the trust of media house managers, editors, participating NGOs and senior staff in the region.
- Previous experience of writing successful proposals for at least three different international donors, including sections on project research, logframes and detailed budgets.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrable creative ability, with a proven track-record in project design development and implementation.
- Experience of developing and leading staff from different backgrounds.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of regional and international current affairs.
- Experience of Tanzania, or at least awareness of its geopolitics, culture, religions etc.
- Proven experience of working in media projects is highly desirable. Applicants with extremely sound ideas, but little production experience will be considered on evidence of creativity and potential.
Application instructions:
Candidates should send their CV and a covering letter (PDF or Microsoft Word format) which outlines their experience and suitability for the role in English to: with the title of the position applied for in the subject line.
Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants with no separate cover letter will not be considered. Please only apply if you meet the basic criteria under the person specification.
This is a local post applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania. ‘National terms and conditions will apply’. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Application deadline: Tuesday 21 June 2016, by midnight (UK time)