Journalism Trainer/Mentor – Governance, Tanzania

Location: Tanzania

Reports to: Senior Mentor Trainer

Contract duration: 12 months (with possible extension)

Salary: Highly competitive within Tanzanian NGO market rates

Application instructions:

Candidates should send their CV and a covering letter (PDF or Microsoft Word format) which outlines their experience and suitability for the role in English to tzrecruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.org. The name of the position applied for should be included in the subject line of the email.

Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants with no separate covering letter will not be considered. Please only apply if you meet the basic criteria under the person specification. This is a local post applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania. 'National terms and conditions will apply'.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Application deadline: Friday 26 September 2014

Job purpose:

BBC Media Action is seeking a journalism trainer/mentor to support our partner stations and their staff to produce varied, high quality and editorially robust programmes, tackling issues linked to governance. In addition to working with local radio, the post holder will provide training to local stations. In particular the post holder will work with Senior Mentor Trainers to develop training courses for on-site or central delivery, followed up by supporting individuals at all levels within the partner organizations, with the aim of putting theory into practice and broadening local skill bases.

The post holder will be required to spend around 90% of their time in assigned stations across Tanzania.

Main Duties:

• To support the delivery of our project, A National Conversation to reach the highest standards in terms of quality, effectiveness, impact and relevance, meeting objectives clearly defined in the project proposal.

• Working with the senior trainer to design a formal and hands on job production training guide for partner radios and to independently deliver these trainings at assigned partner stations. This document will guide the entire period of mentorship and act as a frame of reference for evaluating the trainer/ mentors performance.

• Attending trainer of trainers sessions in mentoring and production skills training to be provided by an international trainer by Media Action

• Delivering a series of training workshops and events, using the training curriculum.

• To deliver one-on-one mentoring to journalists up to editor level at assigned partner stations. Providing constructive feedback at the end of each assignment.

• To work closely with station staff on all aspects of training and programme production to ensure maximum ownership by the station.

• To introduce and hold regular editorial meetings to support output.

• To ensure that findings from research and audience feedback are used to refine and improve projects outputs

• Submitting reports and work plans periodically as required to the senior mentor.

• Attending regular meetings and conference calls with the senior and international trainers and other Media Action staff based in Dar-es-salaam

• To ensure all project activities meet BBC standards, as well as delivering the projects development objectives.

• Providing links between NGO experts, government and local radio partners in development of radio products as well as management of these relationships.

• To work with the senior trainer to oversee development of online, mobile and social media aspects within the project.

• To generate new project ideas and relate up to management level.

• Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Required skills, knowledge and experience:

• 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 organization)

• Experience in training journalists is an added advantage

• Excellent interpersonal skills, 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

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 Organisation – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritizes and plans activities taking into account 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 behaviour 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.

• Self-development – Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development.