Senior Mentor Job at BBC Media Action Tanzania

Location: Tanzania

Reports to: Niambie Project Manager

Contract duration: 12 months (with possible extension)

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 to tzrecruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.org. The name of the position applied for should be included in the subject line of the email.

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. 'National terms and conditions will apply'.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Application deadline: Thursday 10 April 2014

Job purpose:

To lead the capacity-building of various media organisations as part of the new and dynamic ‘Niambie’ project in Tanzania.

Main Duties

The Senior Mentor/Trainer will:

• Implement the Niambie mentoring strategy at partner radio stations.

• Provide in-depth and on-going support to partner radio stations as per the objectives of the project.

• Identify training needs for existing and new partners in order to facilitate the design of suitable training and mentoring packages.

• Deliver training as necessary to support station development, and oversee where needed the delivery of training packages and other formats to other media organisations.

• Conduct private sector mapping exercises and determine how the private sector can be used for reinforcing Niambie radio programme and training goals.

• Spot-check and analyse the Niambie radio programme in order to provide feedback to production teams

• Contribute to narrative and financial reports on project implementation.

• Deliver internal training to BBC MA staff when needed

• Contribute to the general development of BBC Media Action training manuals and curricular.

• Deliver any other tasks related to this role as required by the line manager

Required knowledge, skills and experience

• Minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Mass communication or any relevant qualification

• Experience of behaviour change communications and using mass media approaches to influence positive behaviour uptake

• Significant experience of planning training courses and implementing training to journalists in Africa

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a journalism/media trainer.

• Experience of operating effectively in difficult, highly politically sensitive and often fluid environments

• Strong editorial judgement

• Strong skills in radio production, including production of audience participation formats and youth political programming

• An awareness of the importance of new media and how it affects journalism and a willingness to learn the skills required to deliver journalism training using online means

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills

• Good working knowledge of computer packages and social media platforms

• Technical knowledge on radio programme editing

• Must be fluent in both written and spoken Kiswahili and English (non-negotiable!)

• Ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience

• Experience of working in the media sector, especially local media houses, in youth and/ or governance radio programming

• Experience working with an international organisation

• Experience working with a charity or NGO

• Knowledge of BBC Editorial Guidelines (Radio). Demonstrable interest in youth- and governance-issues in Tanzania

• 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


Key competencies

The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in this 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.

• Self-Development – Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development.