Project Manager for PRIMED project

BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is an international charity. We are registered with the Charities and Societies Agency (CSA) of Ethiopia, with registration number 1118. We use the power of media and communication to help reduce poverty around the world.  BBC Media Action has been working in Ethiopia since 2001 in the areas of media development, health, migration, resilience, women and youth empowerment, and livelihoods. BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty in developing countries. To achieve this, the BBC Media Action partners with civil society, local media, and governments to:

• Produce creative programs 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 Ethiopia. It seeks 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 methodologies.

Overall Purpose of Job

The Project Manager will be responsible for managing and delivering all aspects of a BBC Media Action project which aims to build the capacity and sustainability of independent media in Ethiopia (PRIMED), funded by The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support the provision of public interest media in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, beginning in October 2020. It is implemented by a consortium of media support organisations, led by BBC Media Action (BBC MA), other core consortium members are International Media Support (IMS) and Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) in Ethiopia.

Reporting to the Senior Programmes Manager, the purpose of the role is to ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget and to the highest possible standards.

Main duties

• Responsible for the planning, budgeting, and reporting of the project activities.  This includes working with BBC Media Action staff in Ethiopia and London; and consortium members to define and develop program direction, strategies, and activities.
• Responsible for managing a series of relationships with project partners (national and local media houses, NGOs, CSOs consortium members) and international donors.
• The post holder will be responsible for the set-up of project activities, partnerships, and administration systems.  Specifically, this will include:
  • Working with project partners to arrange workshops, trainings, and events according to objectives identified by the consortium
  • Liaising with the research team to provide a clear brief of the research required and ensure findings inform project development.
  • Contribute to the development and design of project activities using research available
  • Maintaining accurate and up to date project records, and submitting required reports in a timely manner
  • Developing and maintaining project budgets for all activities on the project.
  • Facilitating knowledge sharing between project partners and a wider audience where relevant
• Liaise closely with other staff and program strands of BBC Media Action in Ethiopia and internationally, including the Research and Learning and Advisory teams.
• Coordinate with support teams in the country office to build systems which effectively support project operations
• Develop and manage effective relationships with stakeholders and other partners in Ethiopia.
• Ensure the proper and timely preparation and submission of plans, reports and documents and make sure that it is shared with the relevant bodies within a given time frame
• Timely follow up and track project activities, monitor status; identify challenges; document lessons, and propose solutions and ensure implementation of decisions
• Represent BBC Media Action in the PRIMED consortium and in other events as required.
• Always complying with BBC Media Action’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy and ensuring that all freelancers and external suppliers are aware of their responsibilities under these policies. Reporting any related concerns as soon as they become apparent

REPORTS TO: Senior Programmes Manager Ethiopia

DURATION: One year, with possibility of extension

CONTRACT: Local terms and conditions. Only eligible for Ethiopian nationals or those legally able to work in Ethiopia

Required skills, knowledge, and experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in international development, with demonstrable experience in project planning and management systems.
• Experience managing the project budget cycle – from conception, through budget building, to implementation, monitoring, reviewing, and reporting/accounting.
• Knowledge and experience of the media landscape in Ethiopia is highly desirable.
• Ability to make sound judgments on editorially sensitive program issues.
• Experience in line management of staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong commitment to, and understanding of, development issues in Ethiopia.
• Experience writing project briefs, reports, Terms of Reference, and other project documents.
• Fluency in English and Amharic.

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 Organization – Is able to think ahead to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Priorities and plans activities considering 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.