BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. To achieve this, the BBC Media Action partners with civil society, local media and governments to:
Produce creative programmes in multi-media formats, based on robust research, which inform and engage audiences around key development issues.
Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure.
BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of media projects in Ethiopia. It seeks to expand this portfolio of work, but also ensure that existing projects are delivered to time, to budget and to the highest standards, and in accordance with BBC editorial values as well as Media Action methodologies.
We are recruiting for three Senior Producers (Amhara, Tigray and Somali region each) to work in Addis Ababa for 12 months.
Overall Purpose of Job
To originate, research, prepare, produce and present items, packages, interviews, discussions, and complete programmes. To manage a team of Producers and Assistant Producers to produce a weekly radio magazine programme, PSAs or other radio programming as required. To ensure that programmes meets the standards required by the BBC. To deputize for Producer Director when needed for specific broadcasts or periods of time.
Main Duties:
Production
1. To ensure robust working arrangements for planning, producing, maintaining and reviewing the delivery of high quality work.
2. To find contributors and interviewees as well as other sources of material and/or actuality, as appropriate and to the required specification whilst maintaining professional journalistic standards
3. To ensure programmes are culturally sensitive and comply with the objectives of the project
4. Maintain editorial quality control of the output with due regard to BBC editorial guidelines and the aims of the program
5. To perform at the microphone with or without a script, conduct interviews, chair discussions and act as a participant in other productions, whether live, pre-recorded or on location
6. To take a lead role in script writing, liaising with Producer Director to summaries programme content in English
7. Ensure transmission deadlines are met
8. To support the Producer Director in ensuring efficient use of allocated resources and budgets
9. To contribute conscientiously to the maintenance of health and safety of staff, and of any other person who may be affected by activities under his/her control; to ensure that BBC safety requirements are fulfilled.
10. To travel as required to ensure coverage reflects diversity of your region and language.
Capacity building
1. Take a lead role, in conjunction with Producer Director, in design and implementing capacity building strategies with media partners and Ethiopian relevant ministries
Leadership
1. To deputize for the Producer Director when needed, managing Producers, Assistant Producers and Sound Technician, ensuring they receive adequate guidance and supervision
2. To delegate tasks clearly to team where appropriate, and ensure team unders
Cooperation
1. To liaise closely with other Senior Producers and production staff in other language teams, and with contributors, media partners and government officials
2. To work with the Project Management to align project goals and outcomes
3. Co-operate closely with cross-functional departments [eg. Finance, HR & Procurement, Senior Project Management, Outreach, Research and Learning]
4. All Senior producers may be required to contribute to or work with other programme teams, principal partner organizations and to have the ability to work across a range of skills and in a flexible manner, carrying out these responsibilities in accordance with the BBC’s overall standards and values
Administration
1. Support the Producer Director in ensuring the production expenditure keeps within budget
2. Support the Producer Director in ensuring that all necessary contracts, clearances or agreements under direct control are negotiated and completed. To lead on the development of the outreach strategy, including strengthening quality of training and facilitation, creating opportunities for increasing effectiveness of outreach, expanding our reach, and creating new partnerships
3. To be responsible for designing outreach activities that meet project objectives, fit the community context, are engaging, are of high quality and demonstrate learning from experience
4. To develop and manage the outreach budget ensuring the delivery of the outputs are in accordance with project budgets and in line with Media Action’s financial procedures and the funder’s guidelines
5. To oversee and support the Outreach Coordinators to deliver the outreach strategy, ensuring quality training, set-up and monitoring
6. To manage the Outreach Coordinators to meet agreed objectives, and critically, to mentor and develop their skills so that they are able to make an effective contribution to planned activities
7. In collaboration with the Head of Programmes, research and project management staff in London, over-see the design of outreach materials and tools.
8. To manage key relationships with government and other stakeholders in relation to outreach activities (e.g., regional communication and health bureaux). The post-holder will generally have substantial autonomy (under the guidance of the Head of Programmes) to make decisions regarding outreach.
9. To provide regular feedback from outreach monitoring trips to research and production teams.
10. Ensure feedback from production and research teams is considered and reflected in the outreach strategy.
DURATION: 1 Year starting with a possibility of extension
CONTRACT: Local terms and conditions. Only eligible for Ethiopian
Nationals or those legally able to work in Ethiopia
Job Requirement
Required skills, knowledge and experience
Degree in Journalism or equivalent relevant degree
Demonstrate a minimum of 5 years’ full-time recent and relevant journalistic experience and production experience
Thorough understanding of migration issues in the Ethiopian context
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken regional language is required and English. Ability to translate quickly and accurately from English to regional language as and when required by the Producer Director
Wide familiarity with Ethiopia and an in-depth understanding of the country’s health, social issues, mindsets and attitudes
An extensive knowledge of the media situation in the target area and the needs of the Oromo/Amhara audience
Knowledge of and sympathy for regional audience
Evidence of good keyboard/computer skills and the ability to acquire technical skills and to operate technical equipment.
A good broadcasting voice and the ability to acquire appropriate presentation style
Key competencies:
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.
Leadership – Ability to create a vision and inspire others to realize it irrespective of circumstances. Able to present sound and well reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change
Creative Thinking – able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions
Managing relationships and team working – able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Work co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively
Developing Others – able to recognize potential (managerial, professional, artistic or otherwise) and be willing to foster the development of that potential. Create a climate in which potential can be realized
Resilience – maintain personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation and energy
Planning and organisation – able to think ahead in order to establish and efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritise and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources
Communication – able to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information. Good negotiating and diplomatic skills
Flexibility – adapt and work effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Able to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job requirements
Time and Stress Management – Good time management and ability to prioritize a heavy workload under pressure
Self-Development – Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development