Projects Officer – BBC Media Action عودة إلى الفرص

JOB TITLE: Projects Officer 

REPORTS TO: Senior Projects Manager, North Africa 

BASE: Tunis 

DURATION: 6 months with probable extension 

BBC Media Action 

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity. We use media and communications to help  reduce poverty, address development goals, and support people to understand their rights. We do this through  partnering with media, civil society, and others to produce creative programmes and other outputs which inform  and engage audiences on key development issues. We also strengthen the media sector through building  professional capacity and infrastructure of local media organisations in the countries in which we work. 

Our North Africa operations are based in Tunis. From here we deliver a portfolio of media projects, and work  to ensure they are delivered on time, to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with BBC editorial  values and BBC Media Action best practice. 

Overall Purpose of Job 

The Project Officer (PO) is responsible for the direct development, management and evaluation of small projects  (approximately $100k budgets or less) in BBC Media Action’s North Africa portfolio and for assisting in those  elements for larger projects.  

The complete management cycle for BBC Media Action projects typically includes capacity-building, multiplatform  media production, research (M&E), and learning activities. On small projects, the Project Officer directly ensures  that these activities are designed and delivered on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards in  accordance with BBC editorial values and BBC Media Action approaches and guidelines. The Project Officer 

assists the Senior Project Manager (SPM) and other members of the Project Management Team with these  activities on larger projects.  

The role also supports business development for North Africa. The PO contributes to, and on small projects  leads on, the proposal-writing and contracting processes, working closely with the Senior Project Manager and  the Finance team to ensure that proposals are realistically budgeted and framed, creatively and editorially  compelling, and in line with the North Africa office strategy. 

The role involves a great deal of day-to-day autonomy as well daily work in English, French and Arabic-speaking  environments within office or on location. The Project Officer may at times be required work long hours, on  weekends or on public holidays.

Main duties and accountabilities: 

For allocated projects with budgets of under approximately $100k deliver the following duties directly, and for  larger projects support the Senior Project Manager to deliver the following duties: 

• Lead the planning, and oversee the implementation, of BBC Media Action projects and activities in North Africa. Ensure these activities are delivered on time, within the agreed budget and to the highest standards including being in line with BBC editorial standards and BBC Media Action thematic approaches. 
• Ensure that project outputs and outcomes are achieved by effective management of resources and processes,  monitoring schedules and deadlines for project deliverables, and precise financial forecasting. • Manage project budgets and ensure the delivery of the outputs is in accordance with that budget and in line  with BBC Media Action’s financial procedures and the funder’s operating guidelines. Prepare monthly  reforecasts of project(s)’ budget(s) and activity plan(s), working with Finance and the SPM. • Where projects include media production, actively contribute to regular media content planning from the  perspective of contracted deliverables and budgets, and personally follow content broadcast and audience  activity and reactions including – when relevant – directly accessing and understanding social media metrics. • Produce on time and to a high standard of coherence, clarity, and strategy complete draft narrative and  financial reports for donor(s) and internal audiences using agreed templates as required for sign-off by the  Senior Project Manager. 
• Ensure projects’ adherence to relevant BBC Media Action’s policies and standards, including in finance,  procurement, IT and HR. 
• Follow BBC Media Action safety requirements and instructions, especially in relation to risk assessments,  travel, production, emergencies, and hostile environments. 
• Help coordinate M&E activities with the Research & Learning Group and take an active role in understanding research findings and adapting project activities accordingly. 
• Support the SPM and Country Director in identifying business development opportunities, assessing local  development needs, holding discussions with donors and partners, designing new projects and writing  proposals and budgets as required. 
• In coordination with the SPM and relevant London-based teams, ensure visibility of project(s) in North Africa  and internationally, which may include ensuring the development of visibility outputs in English, Arabic and/or French. 
• Represent BBC Media Action at local stakeholder’s strategy and coordination meetings and engage in  discussion with international donors in Tunisia, as required. 
• Support the recruitment and induction of new staff. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Senior Project Manager or Country Director. 

Required skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Experience of successful project management including personally developing, delivering, monitoring, and  closing projects with budgets of at least $50,000 and/or directly supporting these functions on larger  projects.  
• Experience in coordinating diverse project activities including training and capacity-building activities. • Knowledge and understanding of the varying needs and interests of media audiences and beneficiaries in  North Africa. 
• Demonstrable experience of writing proposal documents and of contributing to internal and donor  reporting. 
• Experience in working with international project budgets and demonstrable skills in handling basic budget  spreadsheets and transparent, fair procurement policies. 
• Experience in working in teams from different backgrounds both on site and remotely. • Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven track record in forming effective relationships with a range of local  and international partners.  
• Willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of BBC Media Action’s strategy for the region.  • Experience of assessing and mitigating risks. 
• Fluency in Arabic and French, with excellent verbal and written skills in English. 
• Readiness to work in office or on location, remain fully accessible to colleagues during working hours, and to  work long hours, on weekends or on public holidays as reasonably required.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:  

• Experience in media and production (television, radio and digital/social media) including accessing and  analysing media landscape data and social media metrics would be a significant advantage. • Experience in media development and/or media-for-development.  

Key Competencies  

• Strategic Thinking – Can identify a vision along with the plans which need to be implemented to meet the  end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, issues, etc. in the short, medium and longer term.
• Flexibility – adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Able to  understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the  requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job  requirements. 
• Analytical Thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts and  explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships and construct frameworks for  problem solving and/or development. 
• Leadership – Able to create a vision and inspire others to realise it irrespective of circumstances.
• Decision Making – Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action for small projects and be  responsible for the consequences of the decision made. 
• Imagination/Creative Thinking – Is able to transform creative ideas/impulses into practical reality. Can  look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.
• Planning and Organisation – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate  course of action for self and others. Prioritises 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, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is  characterised 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 agreements 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. 

Candidates must already have the right to work and live in Tunisia.  

BBC Media Action has zero tolerance of all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. All staff are  required to undergo safeguarding training and maintain behaviour that is consistent with BBC Media Action’s  code of conduct. The role may involve direct contact with children and adults at risk of harm. Informal contact  with children and vulnerable adults is likely when not at work. The successful candidate will need to undergo  enhanced DBS and/or related background checks. 

Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to recruitment@tn.bbcmediaaction.org by EOD Sunday 15th May 2022, with reference ‘Projects Officer’.