Country Director, Ethiopia – BBC Media Action

Job Introduction

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity, working in Ethiopia since 2001, which uses media and communications to help reduce poverty, address development goals, and support people to understand their rights. We do this through partnering with media, civil society and others to produce creative programmes and other outputs which inform and engage audiences on key development issues. We also strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure of local media organisations in the countries in which we work.

BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of projects in Ethiopia. We seek to expand this portfolio of work, but also to ensure that existing projects are delivered on time, on budget, to the highest standards and in accordance with BBC editorial values as well as BBC Media Action methodologies.

We are looking for a Country Director to provide dynamic, inspirational leadership and management to a diverse team delivering a range of exciting development projects. The role will directly line-manage the Senior Project Manager, Producer Director, Research Manager, Finance Manager and HR Manager.

The role requires a high degree of personal resilience and a flexible approach to managing an office in a challenging, multi-cultural context. The Ethiopia office has a talented team of staff, and is a supportive and inspiring environment in which to work.

Main Responsibilities

This exciting and influential role will be responsible for the overall running of BBC Media Action’s office in Ethiopia. You will take overall responsibility for ensuring strong management and high-quality delivery of a range of development projects which use the power of media to tackle issues of governance, health, migration, youth unemployment and resilience. The post holder will ensure effective office management so that finance and administrative functions are carried out in line with donor rules, local regulatory requirements and BBC Media Action guidelines.

You will lead the expansion of our portfolio in Ethiopia, including identifying future business development opportunities and overseeing the writing of new project proposals. The Country Director will represent BBC Media Action to the Ethiopian government, donors, media partners and other key stakeholders.

BBC Media Action works to ensure that everyone we work with remains safe during their time with us. The Country Director is responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is factored into project design and budgeting, staff and freelancers receive relevant safeguarding training, and relevant safeguarding due diligence is conducted with any local partner organisations that may be working with vulnerable adults or children as part of our projects.

Are you the right candidate?

Essential Skills and Experience

• Substantial experience in the management of diverse teams of staff, including recruitment, management, discipline and professional development.
• Experience managing large-scale, donor-funded projects in a developing-country context, preferably in Africa. Proven ability to deliver complex projects to deadlines and within budget.
• Experience developing and securing international development or media projects, including the ability to develop new project ideas and present these persuasively to potential partners and funders, and write successful proposals.
• Significant budget management experience, demonstrating effective use of resources and responsibility for large budgets.
• A record of forming effective relationships with a range of local and international partners, including at the highest levels of government and media, and managing effective teamwork between partners and stakeholders, including those with differing agendas.
• Experience managing security planning, including overseeing processes to understand and minimize risks to staff, and ensuring security and safety training for staff.
• Considerable experience of working in the media or development sector (preferably both) and demonstrable knowledge of the development and/or media context in Africa.
• Confident public speaker with experience of presentations to colleagues, donors and other stakeholders.
• Good judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to adapt, react and respond to crises, and to evaluate risk.
• Experience working on own initiative and organising time effectively within a range of often conflicting deadlines and demands.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to international development, including the use of media for developmental goals.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working in one or more of BBC Media Action’s key thematic areas in Ethiopia: governance (particularly social/political inclusion and accountability), health (e.g. maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, epidemic/pandemic response), childhood education, youth unemployment, unsafe and irregular migration, media ecosystems/media freedom, security and justice, and/or disability inclusion.
• Demonstrable editorial judgement skills and understanding of BBC editorial values, or demonstrable potential to acquire strong editorial skills in order to help make sensitive editorial judgements at a senior level.
• Experience working in Ethiopia specifically or Africa more generally

Package Description

Band: E

Contract type: 12 month attachment / fixed term contract with strong possibility of extension

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Safeguarding Commitment
BBC Media Action has zero tolerance of all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. All staff are required to undergo safeguarding training and maintain behaviour that is consistent with BBC Media Action’s code of conduct. The role involves managing staff who have direct contact with children and adults at risk of harm. The role is based in a country where poverty, police corruption and criminal impunity may be significant risk factors. Informal contact with children and vulnerable adults is likely to be frequent, including when not at work. The successful candidate will need to undergo enhanced DBS and/or related background checks.