Journalism Trainer/Mentor, Health

Location: Journalism Trainer/Mentor, Health 

Reports to: Project Manager

Contract duration: 6 months (with possibility for extension subject to project financing)

Salary: Highly competitive within Tanzanian NGO market rates

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. Note the positions are dependent on project funding, there are currently three positions available. 

Application deadline: Wednesday 11 June 2014

Job purpose:

The Journalism Trainer/Mentor will deliver training/mentoring to partner radio stations in Tanzania. The training/mentoring is intended to raise partners’ capacity to produce high quality and editorially robust radio programmes, with a specific focus on public service broadcasting. Supported by Media Action’s senior training team, the journalism trainer/mentor will deliver the training at radio partners, as well as at centrally-organised training events, and will also provide communications and media training to the project’s local NGO and CSO partners.

The post holder will be required to spend at least 75% of their time in the field, working with partner radio stations, with the remaining time to be spent at the BBC Media Action office in Dar es Salaam.

Main Duties

• To develop and deliver the partner-training and capacity building elements of BBC Media Action’s Health project in Tanzania. Reaching the highest standards in terms of quality, effectiveness, impact and relevance and meeting objectives clearly defined in the project proposal.

• To support partners to produce robust public service broadcasts.

• To deliver one-to-one mentoring for journalists up to editor level at each assigned partner station.

• To work closely with station staff on all aspects of training and programme production to ensure maximum ownership by the station.

• To introduce and continue regular editorial meetings to support output.

• To ensure that findings from research and audience feedback are used to refine and improve outputs.

• To prepare and submit weekly reports and work plans to the Project Manager.

• To support all other BBC/BBC Media Action trainers coming to the station.

• To ensure all project activities meet BBC Media Action standards

• To support partners to develop strong relationships with health NGO partners, and Health Officials.

• Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Fluent in English and Swahili with ability to write reports and scripts in these languages

• Strong editorial judgment and substantial radio production experience within Tanzania is essential (3 years minimum with a reputable organization)

• Experience in training journalists is an added advantage

• Excellent interpersonal skills, communication & influencing skills

• Ability to work in teams

• Strong understanding of and commitment towards BBC editorial values

• Strong understanding of the role of media and communications in development

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.

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