Location: Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
Reports to: Senior mentor trainer
Duration: 5 months
Application instructions:
You should send your CV/resume and a covering letter in English which outlines your experience and suitability for the role (PDF or MS Word format) to:
tzrecruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.org with the title of the position in the subject line.
Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants without a 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 8 October 2015.
BBC Media Action
BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. To achieve this, we work 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.
BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of media projects in Tanzania in the areas of governance.
Purpose of the role
To produce varied, high quality and editorially robust programmes, tackling issues linked to governance. In addition, the post holder will provide training to local stations. In particular, the post holder will work with senior mentor trainers to develop training courses for on-site or central delivery; this will be followed up by supporting individuals at all levels within partner organisations with the aim of putting theory into practice and broadening local skill bases.
The post holder will be required to spend around 80% of their time in assigned stations up-country.
Main duties
- To support the delivery of a national conversation project to reach the highest standards in terms of quality, effectiveness, impact and relevance, meeting objectives clearly defined in the project proposal;
- To work with the senior trainer to design a formal and an on-the-job production training guide for partner radio stations - and to independently deliver this training at partner stations. This document will guide the entire period of mentorship and serve as a frame of reference for evaluating the trainer/mentors performance.
- To attend ‘trainer of trainers’ sessions in mentoring and production skills. Training to be provided by BBC Media Action;
- To deliver a series of training workshops and events using the training curriculum;
- To deliver one-on-one mentoring to journalists up to editor level at assigned partner stations. The trainer/ mentors will provide constructive feedback at the end of each assignment;
- 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 project outputs;
- Mentor/train partner stations to produce quality governance-related radio output and review partner stations’ work plans and programming;
- Oversee airing of radio programme Haba na Haba through partner stations;
- To submit reports and work plans periodically as required to the senior trainer mentor;
- To attend regular meetings and conference calls with the senior and international trainers and other BBC Media Action staff based in Dar-es-salaam;
- To ensure all project activities meet BBC standards, as well as delivering the projects development objectives;
- To provide linkages between NGO experts, government and local radio partners in development of radio products and manage these relationships;
- To generate new project ideas and relate up to management level;
- 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 organisation);
- Experience in training journalists is an advantage;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, communication and 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. Prioritizes 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.
- Self-development. Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development.
