BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is an international charity. We are registered with the Charities and Societies Agency (CSA) of Ethiopia, with registration number 1118. 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 media development, health, migration, resilience, women and youth empowerment, and livelihoods. BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty in developing countries. Our work is built on insights from our research and engagement with communities.

BBC Media Action’s Research and Learning Group, based in London and in each of our country offices, provides research to support the development and evaluate the impact of media development and communication for development projects. We undertake research at audience, practitioner, organisation and system levels, including:

• Formative research to guide the development of projects, including literature reviews, secondary data analyses, and qualitative and quantitative primary research

• Pre-testing/piloting of media outputs with audiences, to feed into programme development

• Monitoring project progress, including audience reactions

• Evaluation of the impact of our projects

• Research for learning what works in media development and communication for development.

The Research and Learning Group supports our country and regional teams to develop creative programmes in multi-media formats that inform and engage audiences around key development issues. We also work to strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure. We work closely with BBC Media Action’s Health, Governance, and Humanitarian Response and Resilience Advisors to understand and contribute to the development of best practice in our key thematic areas.

Job Purpose

The Research Manager holds the over-all responsibility for all research deliverables under the supervision of the Country Director (CD) and the London-based R&L Research Manager. S/he is responsible for the delivery of research, preparing reports and delivering presentations in line with project requirements across all projects. S/he will be responsible for managing a team of Research Officers and will have budget responsibility.

The Research Manager will work closely with the creative/ production team and the project partners to understand their research needs and priorities; and with the research suppliers to coordinate timely and accurate delivery of the research outputs. In collaboration with research staff in London, the Research Manager will design qualitative and quantitative research instruments, support the commissioning of research agencies, recruit research participants, moderate focus groups, conduct interviews, analyse qualitative and quantitative data and write research reports and present research findings.

The Research Manager will be responsible for overseeing the commissioning and quality control of quantitative audience survey research at baseline and end-line for project impact evaluation; conception, design and dissemination of pre-testing research; conducting formative research; conducting research for case studies of impact and/or challenges; and supporting research to evaluate capacity building of community radio partners. S/he will take the lead in developing the research design and research budget for new projects.

The Research Manager will take the lead role in all research activities related to the country portfolio. A key responsibility is to design and develop quantitative and qualitative research, building up a project research database, gathering research which documents project impact, and liaising closely with project team and project partners to coordinate activities and disseminate research findings. In addition, a key responsibility will be to help coordinate and gather research to inform the production teams at the partner stations which involves managing the work of community journalist and listening groups.

The Research Manager will be based in Addis Ababa, and some travel within Ethiopia will be required. S/he will be part of BBC Media Action’s global Research and Learning Team, with opportunities to share knowledge and develop skills.

Main Duties

The Research Manager will be the lead on all research activities and supervise a team of research staff, including freelancers. His/her main duties will be:

Line Management

• To line manage a team of Research Officers, Senior Research Officers and freelancers including through inductions, appraisals and providing relevant supervisory support.

• To oversee the effective planning and communication of all Ethiopia research outputs through working closely both with the Ethiopia team and BBC Media Action in London.

Research

• To oversee the implementation of qualitative and quantitative studies, including developing instruments; supervising fieldwork; monitoring quality, budget and timely delivery of research outputs; and processing, cleaning and analysing primary and secondary data. 

• To direct the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research inputs, contributing to research strategy, study design, methodologies and analysis of data.

• To take the lead in designing and implementing a comprehensive set of research tools and setting up research databases for each project which captures the capacity building, outreach and production impact of the projects.

• To oversee the coordination of data collection fieldwork and monitor quality and ethics in fieldwork including in recruitment of research participants and moderation of focus group discussions and interviews.

• To supervise the analysis of all quantitative and qualitative data from project research conducted by commissioned agencies and/or in-house.

• To contribute to the design of exploratory and strategic research as well as production orientated research (pilot, concept and pre-testing) to ensure the quality of all outputs. 

• To oversee the commissioning of qualitative and quantitative studies with external agencies, including negotiations on technical matters, such as recruitment, sampling, and analysis.

• Ensure all research activities are conducted in accordance with BBC Media Action’s Assuring Integrity in Measurement (AIM) quality control and ethical standards and in line with GDPR legislation.

Project Management

• To manage the research budget in collaboration with Project Managers and SPM as appropriate.

• To ensure close collaboration, quality support and supervision of the project partners where relevant particularly those supporting research and monitoring.

• To engage proactively and collaboratively with non-research staff to support the development and use of research in the production of BBC Media Action and partners creative outputs, and communication with donors. 

• To support development of new business by writing research contributions to project and programme proposals.

Capturing and sharing learning

• To write research reports and prepare presentations that inform the production process and monitor and evaluate project effectiveness, for internal and external audiences.

• To regularly present research findings to project management and production teams and to assist in external research and project presentations to partners and donors where required.

• To document methods and practices in qualitative and quantitative research currently employed by Media Action’s research projects to support the identification of lessons learned and best practice for organisation-wide learning.

• To identify, develop, pilot and document new approaches and methodologies for project research (e.g. ethnographic research, brand mapping/research, content analysis).

• Sharing learning with all teams in the Global network 

Safeguarding

• Complying at all times with BBC Media Action’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy and ensuring that all direct reports, freelancers and external suppliers are aware of their responsibilities under these policies. Reporting any related concerns as soon as they become apparent.  

• Ensuring that all recruitment is conducted according to BBC Media Action policies with a strong focus on safeguarding considerations across the entire recruitment cycle, including an assessment of the safeguarding risks associated with the role which is reflected in the assessment and interview process as appropriate, rigorous checks of professional references and enquiries made with relevant authorities. 

Location: Addis Ababa (with possible travel within Ethiopia and other countries)

Department/Business Unit: BBC Media Action

Reports to: Country Director, Ethiopia

Line Manages: A team of BBC Media Action research staff and freelancers

Duration:1 year, with possible extension depending on performance and budget.

Job Requirements

Essential Knowledge, skills, and experience

• At least Five (5) years’ experience in a similar role in qualitative and quantitative market or social research in a reputable development or research organisation, preferably with thematic specialisation in an area relevant to BBC Media Action’s work.

• Higher education in a relevant field, such as development studies, project/business management, developmental communications, social sciences, economics, and statistics.

• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills including instrument design, data collection, quality assurance, data management, analysis, and reporting.

• Strong IT skills, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and a statistical software package (preferably SPSS). 

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills.

• Strong report writing and presentation skills, communicating complex technical ideas using non-technical language to a wide range of audiences from journalists, production staff and development practitioners.

• Demonstrable understanding of cultural diversity and cross-cultural research.

  • Strong digital research experience including conducting research to understand digital media usage; analysing social media analytics alongside primary research; experience in social media analysis (such as social listening/sentiment/network analysis) and reporting on/visualising social media metrics and working with others to interpret them

  • Good communication skills, being able to communicate complex research and results to non-research people (including those whose first language is not English) in non-technical, creative, and engaging ways - and be able to translate theoretical research into practical application

  • Ability to plan and conduct work with minimal supervision and good time management skills, with a track record of delivering research findings on time and to a high standard of quality.

• Strong written and spoken English, knowledge of local languages an asset.

• Willingness and ability to travel within Ethiopia when required.

Desirable knowledge, skills, and experience

• Familiarity with media communications research approaches and methodologies

• (Advertising and/or brands and/or marketing).

• Experience of and/or interest in research on international and development issues.

• Experience of working with media professionals in production-oriented teams.

• Prior experience of working on capacity building, media and/or governance projects. 

Relevant competencies

• Planning and Organisation – Is 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 requirements.

• Communication – The ability 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 – Ability 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.

• Managing Relationships and Teamworking. Is able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.  Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, rather than working separately or competitively.

• Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, set-backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.

• Analytical Thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, and to explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships, and construct frameworks, for problem-solving and/or development.

• Decision Making – Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.

Special Requirements         

• Ethiopian national or already permitted to work in Ethiopia

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties.

How to Apply

Interested applicants who meet the above requirements should ONLY send cover letter and CV with three names of reference to info@et.bbcmediaaction.org use the job title as the subject line, before OR on September 12, 2022.

Note: copies of transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters should not be included with your application. You will provide the documents upon request.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All applicants will be considered for employment without any discrimination.