Regional Director, Africa At BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity. We use the media and communications to help reduce poverty and support people in understanding their rights. Our aim is to inform, connect and empower people around the world.

We work in partnership with broadcasters, non-governmental organisations and donors and others to share reliable, timely and useful information and build capacity of local media. Our projects reach over 200 million people in 28 countries on radio and TV and online. .

We provide mentoring and training for journalists. An extensive research and evaluation process underpins all that we do; it strengthens our work, helps us to evaluate impact and reach and increasingly contributes to the exchange of ideas in the policy sphere. Our overarching goal is to help people make sense of events, engage in dialogue and take action to improve their lives.

We’re part of the BBC World Service Group but aren’t funded by the licence fee; our funding comes from grants, and other fundraising activities. As Regional Director, Africa you will be responsible for providing overall direction and editorial leadership of the Africa programme, to maximise impact in BBC Media Action’s priority thematic areas.

Role Responsibility

You will  provide strategic and editorial leadership to Country Directors and to a support team of project managers in London in order to deliver quality programmes that have impact.  , You’ll ensure that new developments in media in the themes of Health, Governance and Rights, and Resilience  are understood and incorporated through appropriate methodologies into the programmatic work of BBC Media Action. You will also lead  rapid and effective communications responses to major emergencies in the region. You’ll be accountable for  procedures for registration and employment, health and safety and organisational risk being followed and for ensuring  projects are resourced to enable measurement of impact against agreed objectives. As RD for Africa, you  will have overall responsibility for  the work we develop in Africa and for the management of the work, through a team of Country Directors.  Oversight of contract negotiations as well as for effective and timely donor reporting are important. A good knowledge of the donor environment in Africa is important.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be an experienced leader working at a senior level in media and/or development (preferably having experience of both.)  Specific knowledge of development through living and working in Africa would be an advantage as would  proven ability to raise funds from large institutional donors.  A range of skills, including experience of managing complex projects and budgets in excess of £5million is a requirement. You’ll have proven experience  working with donors with a clear understanding of their priorities and how the work of BBC Media Action might address these.  . An ability to communicate with people at all levels, internally and externally, is essential as are strong interpersonal skills, fluency in written and spoken English and  an ability to speak compellingly about the role of media for development.  This role calls for an ambitious and determined approach, from a senior leader with an ability to inspire and motivate teams.

Package Description

Location – London

Contract – Continuing/Permanent

Grade – 11

About the Company

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are very important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below. You’ll be asked questions relating to them as part of your application for this role.

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The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background.

Attached documents