Country Director at BBC Media Action

Overall Purpose of Job

• You will assume overall responsibility for developing and securing funds for new projects, and delivering BBC Media Action’s current project work in Nigeria to a high standard, on time and within budget.
• This will include identifying funding opportunities, developing funding proposals and securing funding, as well as delivering projects, managing in-country teams and ensuring the quality and cohesion of project outputs.
• The Country Director will be responsible for the financial management of projects and reporting on editorial and operational progress to London headquarters and to project donors.
• Representing BBC Media Action in Abuja, the Country Director will ensure effective relationships and partnerships with funding agencies, government bodies, broadcasters, NGOs, academic institutions, international development agencies and others.
• The role of will also involve leading the development and implementation of BBC Media Action’s Country Strategy for Nigeria and contributing to the development and strategy of the overall programme in Africa.
• You will have substantial management experience, ideally in a media and/or international development setting, with proven ability to deliver complex projects within deadlines and budgets.
• It's essential you have significant experience in managing large-scale budgets of no less than £500k p.a.
• You will have a strong understanding of international development and using the media for development goals, combined with a track record of developing proposals and raising funds from donor agencies.

Main Duties

•         To represent the interests of BBC Media Action in Nigeria and to ensure the sustainability of its work in-country.
•         To ensure the effective execution of all BBC Media Action activities in Nigeria, including:
•         Ensuring that all initiatives are delivered within agreed standards, timescales and budgets.
•         Developing and managing effective relationships with funding agencies, stakeholders and partners.
•         Meeting the requirements of funding agencies and other stakeholders.
•         Taking overall responsibility for all programme outputs, based on a thorough understanding of BBC Media Action’s methodologies and objectives, the needs of target audiences and of BBC editorial values.
•         Reporting regularly to the London office of BBC Media Action on editorial, operational, legal and financial issues.
•     To be responsible for developing and implementing BBC Media Action’s strategy for Nigeria including:
•         Identifying future business development opportunities.
•         Raising funding to secure a long-term future for BBC Media Action in the country.
•         To take overall management responsibility for BBC Media Action’s team in-country, including
•         providing dynamic, inspirational leadership and management to local production and administrative teams.
•         Managing staff safety and security, and ensuring appropriate security plans are in place and adhered to.
•         Ensuring staff development plans are created, supported and delivered.
•         Ensuring effective management of project office and that finance and administrative functions are carried out in line with BBC guidelines and local regulatory requirements.
•         Leading on staff recruitment as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

•     Substantial international management experience, ideally in a media and/or international development setting.
•     Excellent field-based knowledge of the development and/or media context in Africa.
•     Proven track record of developing and securing funding for large complex international development or media projects.
•     Substantial experience in the management of diverse and creative teams of staff, ideally to include distance management and security management.
•     Significant experience in the management of budgets, with an ability to demonstrate effective use of resources including financial management of budgets of no less than £500k.
•     Proven ability to deliver complex projects to deadlines and within budget, with good track record of donor liaison and reporting.
•     Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with a proven track record in forming effective relationships with a range of local and international partners, including at the highest levels of government and media.
•     Managing effective collaboration between partners and stakeholders, including those with differing agendas.
•     Strong understanding of, and commitment to, international development—including the use of media for developmental goals.
•     Demonstrable understanding of public service broadcasting and BBC editorial values.