Project Manager, Nutrition, Tanzania

Reports to: Senior Projects Manager

Contract duration: 12 months (with possible extension)

Salary: Highly competitive within Tanzanian NGO market rates

Job purpose

The Project Manager, Nutrition will be responsible for managing and delivering all aspects of BBC Media Action Tanzania’s work in the health/nutrition sector. Reporting to the Senior Projects Manager the postholder will be responsible for the overall delivery of all aspects of the office's health/nutrition portfolio; in particular ensuring the portfolio has the maximum possible impact on partners and audiences; planning and delivering of support; continuous focus on learning, monitoring and improving positive behaviour change in nutrition in Tanzania through the media and mass communications and designing and securing funding for new projects in the sector.

Context

BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. To achieve this, Media Action partner 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.

Media Action believes in the power of media and communication to help reduce poverty and support people in understanding their rights. Our aim is to inform, connect and empower people around the world.

We are passionate about people getting the information they need and in turn being able to communicate – to good effect – with those in power.

BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of media projects in Tanzania. We seek 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 best practice.

Main duties

To deliver the Nutrition portfolio on time, to budget and to the highest standards in terms of quality, effectiveness, impact and relevance, meeting objectives clearly defined in the project proposal

Responsible for the planning, budgeting, reporting and general management of all aspects of the Nutrition portfolio. This includes working with BBC Media Action staff in Tanzania and London to define and develop programme direction, strategies and activities.

Responsible for managing external relationships with project partners and donors.

Advisory support to project teams on positive uptake of nutrition behaviours in Tanzania and how to influence uptake and demand through mass media and communications approaches – including working closely with London thematic teams to develop and maintain in-country expertise in the sector

Work closely with research team to design research activities including formative research, monitoring and evaluation of outputs and baselines and end line quantitative data

Line management of the Project Officer, Project Assistant and training team

Develop and manage effective relationships with funding agencies, stakeholders and other partners in Tanzania, including leading on fundraising and business development

Draft and produce donor and internal reports on projects progress and impact and lesson learning data

Commission, write and manage web and communications related information on project progress, lessons and impact

Perform any other duties that may be assigned

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

At least three years’ experience in international development, with demonstrable experience in project planning and management systems.

Experience in managing projects in the health or nutrition sector and/or working with the media in Tanzania.

Experience of project fundraising, including networking with donors and drafting project proposals distinct advantage

Ability to make sound judgments on editorially sensitive programme issues

Experience in line management of staff

Strong interpersonal skills

Strong commitment to, and understanding of, development issues in Tanzania.

Experience writing project briefs, reports, terms of reference and other project documents

Fluency in English and Swahili and ability to write reports in those languages

Desirable 

Experience in managing behaviour change communications projects, preferably in the health or nutrition sectors.

Experience in managing media training projects.

Experience in radio and/or television production either from a media or a communications background.

Experience managing USAID funded projects.

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

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 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

• 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 characterised 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 behaviour 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

Application instructions: Candidates should send their CV and a covering letter (PDF or Microsoft Word format) which outlines their experience and suitability for the role in English totzrecruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.org with the name of the position applied for in the subject line.

Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants with no separate covering letter will not be considered. Please only apply if you meet the basic criteria under the person specification. This is a local post applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and only if a donor application is successful.

Please note that the availability of this position is dependent on the success of an application to a donor.

Application deadline: Friday 14 June 2013