BBC Media Action
We are the BBC’s international development charity. We use the power of media and communication to help reduce poverty around the world. BBC Media Action has been working in Ethiopia since 2001 in the areas of health, resilience, women’s empowerment and livelihoods. 

BBC Media Action is part of an international consortium led by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to deliver a £21 million programme to protect would-be migrants and refugees form unsafe irregular migration through and from the Amhara, Tigray and Somali regions of Ethiopia. The 4-year programme, funded by the Department for International Development, UK (DFID, UK) will address the barriers to reducing unsafe irregular migration through and from Ethiopia, taking into consideration the most vulnerable groups - women, girls and unaccompanied irregular migrants. The programme will coordinate and engage in high level national and regional advocacy with key stakeholders. The programme is anticipated to be innovative, cross-sectoral and solutions-oriented with strong emphasis on research, learning and adaptive management.

Overall Purpose of Job

TheSenior Producer will supervise a production team to deliver a range of radio/multimedia content across platforms. This will involve managing producers and production assistants to originate, research, prepare, produce and present items, packages, interviews, discussions, and complete programmes. The team will produce a weekly radio magazine programme, public service announcements (PSAs)and other radio programming as required. All contents will be produced in strict adherence with BBC editorial guidelines.

The Senior Producer will also be required to deputize the Producer Director when necessary.

Safeguarding

This role will involve working with radio partner staff and volunteers, as well as with vulnerable youth and adult populations. As such, the role will absolutely require effective working knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to protection of children and vulnerable adults. For the successful candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct. A police background check will form part of the recruitment process. BBC Media Action operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people.

Main Duties

Production

• To lead the production of a range of radio/multimedia contents that meet BBC editorial and technical quality. This will involve robust effective planning, producing, maintaining and reviewing the delivery of high-quality work.
• 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
• To ensure programmes are culturally sensitive and comply with the project objectives, without undermining BBC editorial guidelines.
• Maintain editorial quality control of the output with due regard to BBC editorial guidelines and the aims of the program
• 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
• To take a leading role in script writing, liaising with Producer Director to summaries programme content in English
• Ensure transmission deadlines are met
• To support the Producer Director in ensuring efficient use of allocated resources and budgets
• 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.
• To travel as required ensuring coverage reflects diversity of your region and language.

Capacity building

• Take a lead role, in conjunction with Producer Director, in design and implementing capacity building strategies with media partners and Ethiopian relevant ministries

Leadership

• To deputize for the Producer Director when needed, managing Producers, Assistant Producers and Sound Technician, ensuring they receive adequate guidance and supervision
• To delegate tasks clearly to team where appropriate, and ensure team unders

Cooperation

• To liaise closely with other Senior Producers and production staff in other language teams, and with contributors, media partners and government officials
• To work with the Project Management to align project goals and outcomes
• Co-operate closely with cross-functional departments [eg. Finance, HR & Procurement, Senior Project Management, Outreach, Research and Learning]
• The Senior producer 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

• Support the Producer Director in ensuring production expenditures keep within budget
• 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
• 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
• 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
• To oversee and support the Outreach Coordinators to deliver the outreach strategy, ensuring quality training, set-up and monitoring
• 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
• 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.
• Plan and take responsibility for the efficient use of allocated resources and production budgets
• Under take basic budgeting processes and keeping track of expenditure.
• Ensure feedback from production and research teams is considered and reflected in the outreach strategy.

 REPORTS TO:       

• Producer Director                                

DURATION:           

• One year (with possibility of extension)                     

CONTRACT          

• Local terms and conditions (Open to Ethiopian nationals only)      

Job Requirements

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Degree in Journalism or equivalent
• Demonstrate a minimum of 5 years’ experience in journalism, especially radio production.
  
• Thorough understanding of migration issues in the Ethiopian context
  
• Fluency in written and spoken English and the regional language is required.
• 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 Shire audience
  
• Sound contextual knowledge of the Tigray region and the relevant audiences and partners
  
• Evidence of good keyboard/computer skills and the ability to acquire technical skills and to operate technical equipment.
  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages and audio editing software and related computer applications
• Experience in training others is desirable.

 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