Designation: Regional Director, Africa
Department: BBC Media Action
Reports to: Director of Programmes
Grade: B11
JOB PURPOSE:
The Regional Director, Africa, is responsible for the leadership and direction of all BBC Media Action’s projects in Africa. Leading a team of Country Directors and a London-based regional support team, the post holder will ensure that projects are developed and delivered in line with organisational approaches and in accordance with BBC Editorial Guidelines. Reporting to the Director of Programmes, the Regional Director contributes to the ongoing strategic development of Media Action and will establish excellent working relationships with stakeholders within the BBC and externally.
CONTEXT:
BBC Media Action is the international charity of the BBC which uses media and communications to help people in some of the world’s poorest countries take control of their lives and make informed decisions. We do this through our focus on health, governance and rights, resilience and humanitarian response. To achieve this, we partner with civil society, local media and others to:
- Produce creative content in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences providing access to information and space for public dialogue;
- Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
To provide overall direction and editorial leadership of the Africa programme, to maximise impact in BBC Media Action’s priority thematic areas. This will be achieved by:
Programme Development, Management and Delivery :
- Overseeing all operations in Africa, providing strategic and editorial leadership to Country Directors and to a support team of project managers in London in order to deliver quality country programmes that have impact. Ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget and adhere to BBC editorial guidelines.
- Ensuring that new developments in media in the areas of Health, Governance and Rights, and Resilience work are understood and incorporated through appropriate methodologies into the programmatic work of BBC Media Action in Africa.
- Working with the Director of Programmes, other Regional Directors and the Advisory team to produce rapid and effective responses to major emergencies in the region.
- Ensuring that correct procedures for registration and employment, health and safety and organisational risk are followed and that BBC Media Action is compliant with regulations in countries in which it works.
- Supported by the finance team, ensuring sound financial oversight of projects; ensuring that the Africa team understands and complies with BBC Media Action financial controls and protocols; ensuring budgets are regularly scrutinised and that any problem areas are dealt with promptly.
- Promoting adoption of best practice in programmatic outputs, with the support of the relevant Thematic Advisors.
- Working with the Research and Insight team to ensure projects are resourced to enable measurement of impact against agreed programme objectives and indicators.
- Organising regular editorial reviews of outputs and ensuring that staff in the region understand and adhere to BBC editorial standards and guidelines.
- Leading and/or supporting country and London teams to develop proposals for new work which are appropriately resourced, informed by relevant Advisory and Research expertise, successful in reaching target audiences and have sustainable impact.
- To develop business development strategies with Country Directors which are in line with BBC Media Action’s expertise and agreed objectives. To mobilise resources to support planned work, and to collaborate to make best use of business development resources.
- Vetting donor proposals and contracts, and ensuring appropriate staff provide timely reporting to donors.
- Maintaining a detailed knowledge of the media and donor environment in the region and working closely with the Head of Programme Development on large scale business development.
- Leading and developing a regional team (drawing on expertise in project management, finance, production skills development, HR, and communications) to build the capacity of country teams in the region to achieve their full potential.
- This will include developing Country Directors (and supporting them to develop their teams), planning succession, and taking prompt action to address any underperformance.
- Work with the High Risks and Safety Advisers to ensure health and safety responsibilities and legal obligations are met and that and that contingency planning is robust and regularly updated.
- Promoting opportunities for senior staff in country programmes (especially national staff) to develop skills, widen international perspectives.
Profile:
- Developing effective partnerships with broadcasters, other institutions, NGOs and donors.
- Build BBC Media Action’s external profile in the region by building effective working relationships with relevant decision makers in key organisations and in host countries.
- To contribute to organisational learning and the wider objectives of BBC Media Action.:
- This will include contributing to raising public profile in the UK and internationally.
- Playing an active role as a member of the Programmes Team and wider leadership group, directing strategy and developing new initiatives.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Experience of media and/or development at a senior level, with a proven track record of getting results.
- A sound understanding of development issues, particularly as they relate to Africa.
- Proven ability to raise funds, particularly from large institutional donors.
- Proven ability to manage budgets in excess of £5million and to monitor income and expenditure.
- Demonstrable experience of working with outside donor agencies with a clear understanding of their priorities and motivations.
- Proven ability to work with credibility at a senior level, to present effectively internally and externally and the ability to promote BBC Media Action amongst opinion formers and decision makers.
- Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal, with a proven ability to target presentations to specific audiences.
- Understanding of BBC values and ability to apply them in negotiations with partners.
- Proven recent and relevant experience with donors at decision making levels.
- An ambitious and determined approach to achieve objectives.
- Ability to demonstrate a clear knowledge of financial and budgetary systems.
- Methodical approach to a varied and busy workload, with an attention to detail.
- Flexibility and good prioritisation skills to work successfully under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Highly motivated with an ambition to succeed, a capacity for hard work, speed and accuracy.
- Proven organisational skills and an advanced knowledge of Word and Excel packages.
- Experience with database systems and PowerPoint is desirable.
- Enthusiasm and willingness to be part of a team and work well with other departments.
- Ability to remain tactful, patient, courteous and calm under pressure.
- Desirable: Experience of using media for development and of successful business winning in this area.
- Desirable: Knowledge of the BBC’s editorial guidelines and an understanding of how these relate to BBC Media Action’s work.
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.
- Planning and organisation - able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources.
- Editorial Judgement – able to apply BBC editorial values to both in project design and to dealings with partners. Demonstrates sound judgement and understanding of the importance of editorial independence and protection of the brand.
- 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.
- Influencing and persuading - 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 finding solutions/reaching agreement.
- Managing relationships and team working - able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.
- Resilience - manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
- Flexibility - adapts and works effectively within 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.
To apply:
