Job Title: Mentor/producer-presenter, A National Conversation

Location: Tanzania

Reports to: Senior producer

Duration: 6 months (with possible extension)

Special requirements: The right to live and work in Tanzania. Fluent in English and Swahili with ability to write reports and scripts in these languages.

Closing date: 31 October 2021

BBC Media Action:

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 more than 20 countries around the world, supporting the independent media essential to democracy and development. Each year, our projects and programmes reach 130 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.

Job purpose:

We are looking for two mentor/producer-presenters to produce and present a nationally broadcast radio show and also to deliver in-depth mentoring on radio production to staff at several radio partner stations throughout the country. The training and ongoing support to partner stations aims at building their capacity to produce varied, high-quality, and editorially robust radio programmes.

The successful candidate will work closely with the senior producer to create radio outputs that reach the highest editorial and professional standards in line with BBC editorial policy and production guidelines. The successful candidate will also work with the senior trainer mentor and partnerships development manager to develop training plans that meet the needs of radio producers in line with a range of project objectives, and with the overall goal of improving the quality and capacity of the media sector in Tanzania especially on issues around governance, gender, and climate change.

The post holder will be required to spend at least 60% of their time in the field, working with radio producers at partner stations throughout Tanzania.

Main duties and responsibilities:

To develop and deliver the partner training and capacity-building elements of BBC Media Action’s 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 be the voice of a potential national radio show, presenting the programme in an engaging style that appeals to existing audience and attracts new listeners
Plan, script, produce and edit programme items and full editions of the programme
To work with the senior trainer mentor and partnerships development manager to design a formal and on the job production guide for partner radios and to independently deliver these trainings to radio producers at assigned partner station. This document will guide the entire period of mentorship and serve as a frame of reference for evaluating the trainer/mentor’s performance.
To deliver a series of training workshops and events, using agreed training guide
To deliver one-on-one mentoring to young reporters and journalists at assigned partner organisations. The trainer/mentor will provide constructive feedback at the end of each assignment
Work closely with senior producers and project team to develop topics and create its work plan ready for production
To plan, arrange and conduct field interviews for the national programme
To work closely with radio partner producers on all aspects of training and programme production to ensure maximum ownership
To ensure that findings from research and audience feedback are used to refine and improve projects outputs
To ensure all project activities meet BBC standards, as well as delivering the projects development objectives
To provide technical linkages between NGO experts and local radio partners in development of radio products and manage relationships between both
Understand and comply with BBC Media Action’s Safeguarding Policy and the staff Code of Conduct
Participate in relevant mandatory training on safeguarding and respect at work
Report any safeguarding concerns immediately, either to the Country Director, or using the Whistleblowing Policy.
Essential knowledge skills and experience:

A recognised Journalism/Mass Communication Degree from a reputable university or college
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 added advantage
Excellent interpersonal skills, multitasking, communication & 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.

The role may involve working with groups of vulnerable children and adults. For the successful candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct. A police background check may form part of the recruitment process. BBC Media Action operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people.