Project manager has to plan and develop the project idea. They need to create and lead the team, monitor project progress, set deadlines, solve issues that arise, manage money, ensure stakeholder satisfaction, and evaluate project performance, including the performance of their team members.

BBC Media Action

 BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in countries around the world. To achieve this, BBC Media Action partners with civil society, local media and governments to: Produce creative programming in multi-media formats, based on robust research, which inform and engage audiences around key development issues and strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure.

BBC Media Action has delivered a wide portfolio of projects in Ethiopia across a number of thematic areas. We are seeking to recruit a Project Manager for an upcoming media development project that aims to contribute to fostering stability and peace in Ethiopia by leveraging the transformative power of media and communication.

 The main duties are as follow: 

• Represent BBC Media Action and coordinating with project partners to ensure that the delivery of BBC Media Action’s activities is as effective as possible in meeting project outcomes

• Act as a point of contact between BBC Media Action and the project stakeholders, ensuring the effective two-way flow of information and communication between the parties.

• Responsible for the planning and reporting of BBC Media Action’s activities, ensuring that coordination across project partners facilitates the effective and efficient realization of BBC Media Action’s project objectives and milestones throughout implementation.

• Coordinate with the Project stakeholders and BBC Media Action’s research teams in both Addis Ababa and London to ensure that research is shared between partners and used to inform the design and delivery of activities, and that activities are reassessed according to learnings as appropriate.

• Track all project expenditure against internal and external budgets, ensuring that costs are allocated correctly within agreed parameters and that any potential deviations are raised in advance.

• Coordinate with support teams in the country office to build systems which effectively support project operations. Ensure that all procurement is in line with donor and BBC Media Action policy.

• Comply 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, including those in relation to the actions of consortium partners.  

• Ensure 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 are reflected in the assessment and interview process as appropriate, rigorous checks of professional references and enquires made with relevant authorities.

• Any other tasks which may arise through delivery of the role. 

LOCATION: Addis Ababa, with possible short-term travel within Ethiopia

REPORTS TO: Senior Programmes Manager

DURATION: One year, with possibility of extension

CONTRACT: Local terms and conditions. Only eligible for Ethiopian nationals or those legally able to work in Ethiopia

Job Requirements

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Bachelor Degree in Management or related fields with relevant work experience

• 5 years’ experience in international development, with demonstrable experience in project planning and management systems.

• Experience managing the project budget cycle – from conception, through budget building, to implementation, monitoring, reviewing, and reporting/accounting.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, maintaining collaborative working practices with project stakeholders and  all relevant staff at BBC Media Action.  

• Experience in humanitarian focused initiatives is an advantage.

• Knowledge and experience of the media landscape in Ethiopia is highly desirable.

• Ability to make sound judgments on editorially sensitive program issues.

• Experience in line management of staff.

• Ability to make sound judgments on potentially sensitive programmatic issues.

• Strong commitment to - and understanding of - development issues in Ethiopia,

• Knowledge and experience of Social and Behavior Change Communication and media for development as strong advantage.

• Experience writing project briefs, reports, Terms of Reference and other project documents.

• Fluency in English and Amharic

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.

• Analytical Thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, 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.

• Planning and Organization – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritize and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.

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

• 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 behavior change.

• 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.

• Managing relationships – Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.

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 

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. 

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

BBC Media Action is an equal opportunity employer.