Country Director, Tanzania Full Time

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development organisation, and we believe in the power of media and communication for good. We work in over 20 countries around the world, supporting independent media essential to democracy and development. Each year our projects and programmes reach over 100 million people facing poverty, inequality and insecurity with information they can trust, helping to improve health, bridge divides, challenge prejudice, and save and change lives. We follow the editorial standards and values of the BBC, but we rely on funding from donors and partners to carry out our work.

This exciting and influential role will be responsible for the overall running of BBC Media Action’s office in Tanzania. The Country Director 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, women and girls right, youth participation, media development, climate change, and nutrition. 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.

The Country Director will lead the expansion of our portfolio in Tanzania, including identifying future business development opportunities and overseeing the writing of new project proposals. The Country Director will represent BBC Media Action to the Tanzanian 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.

Essential Skills and Experience

• A first (Bachelor) degree in a relevant field is essential, a Master’s degree desirable.
• Substantial experience in the transformative and inclusive management of diverse teams of creatives and professionals.
• Experience managing large-scale, donor-funded projects in a developing-country context, preferably in Tanzania. Proven ability to deliver complex projects to deadlines and within budget.
• Experience working in politically sensitive fields or contexts, and demonstrable ability to navigate complex environments.
• 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.
• Considerable experience of working in the media or development sector (preferably both) and demonstrable knowledge of the development and/or media context in East Africa.
• Confident public speaker with experience of presentations to colleagues, donors and other stakeholders.
• Good judgement 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.

Tagged as: BBC Media Action, United Republic of Tanzania