BBC World Service Trust

Job Title: Head of Project, English in Action, Bangladesh

Duty Station : Non UK Location
Reports To : Country Director
Duration : 18 months contract, with possibility of extension
Grade : Pay grade 10
Posted : 22 July 2010
Deadline : 3 August 2010

The BBC World Service Trust is the BBC’s international development agency. Working in over 40 countries worldwide, the Trust uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights. In Bangladesh, the Trust is supporting and expanding programming in its key areas of focus. This includes a major project using the media to improve English language skills. Core activities include factual and drama television programs, mobile and online learning products and content for radio. The Trust is seeking a Head of Project for working in the Bangladesh country office. The terms of reference and required experience are listed below:

The BBC World Service Trust (WST) uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. To achieve this, the Trust partners with civil society, local media and governments to:

* Produce creative programmes in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences around key development issues.
* Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure.

BBC Janala (‘Window’) is part of English in Action, a groundbreaking initiative to raise the language skills of 25 million people in Bangladesh by 2017. Funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development, English in Action will contribute to the economic growth of Bangladesh by providing communicative English as a tool for better access to the world economy.

BBC Janala uses the media and mobile phones to reduce barriers and provide access to low-cost learning materials for those have missed out on quality provision at school. Already well over a million lessons have been accessed on mobile and over five million people have viewed BBC Buzz, a youth entertainment show designed to change perceptions of English. A high-profile television drama and accompanying learning show are in the final stages of production and will launch this autumn.

Over half our target audience are from socio-economic group D, meaning they live on a household income of less than 10,000 Taka (£100) a month.

Bangladesh has a vibrant media environment, particularly in television and mobile, and the Trust has developed strong relationships with broadcasters, mobile phone companies and development partners.

Overall Purpose of Job
The Head of Project is an entrepreneurial educationalist who will take overall responsibility for ensuring that BBC Janala meets its agreed objectives, which includes in its next phase of operation, the launch of a beginners ELT course across television, online, radio, mobile and print. The Head of Project will manage a team of up to 50 national and international staff and maintain relations with a wide range of stakeholders including EiA partners, broadcast partners and DFID staff connected to the project

Main duties and responsibilities

1. To take overall responsibility for planning and directing BBC Janala to maximize the quality, effectiveness and impact of its activities.
2. To ensure that the design and implementation of those activities adhere to work plan and log frame commitments and remain in line with BBC editorial standards and values and the BBC WST’s best practices.
3. To manage the BBC’s EiA budget and ensure the delivery of the outputs is in accordance with that budget and in line with BBC WST financial procedures and DFID’s operating guidelines.
4. To understand the needs, interests, and contexts of the BBC Janala audience informed by a range of sources, particularly the research findings of the R&L Group.
5. To stay informed about developments in technology for development and language education – globally, but in Bangladesh in particular – and be responsible for using this knowledge to lead the development of future strategies for the BBC WST’s work within EiA.
6. To manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including EiA partners (primarily BMB Mott McDonald and The Open University), media leaders (including Bangladesh TV and Prothom Alo newspaper) and DFID staff directly connected to the project.
7. To manage a diverse team of international and local staff including personnel from content development, marketing and communications and interactive media and television production; to support team members to meet agreed objectives, develop their skills and make an effective contribution to planned activities.
8. To negotiate and mediate if conflicting views/priorities arise within the project, working through these to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
9. To ensure that BBC Health and Safety guidelines are observed; to assess risk in a highly challenging environment and take appropriate measures to minimize exposure to perceived risks.
10. To lead the reporting of progress, both internally to the BBC and externally to partners, the donor, and other interested parties.
11. To oversee the project’s branding, marketing and promotion within Bangladesh in close coordination with the work of the WST Communications Team.
12. Other tasks or responsibilities, as directed by the Country Director.

Skills, knowledge and experience requirements:

1. Experience in a senior ELT project management position, with demonstrated capacity to effectively manage a large-scale project.
2. Considerable line management with a diverse team.
3. A proven track-record in international development; experience in the use of media to achieve development goals is an advantage.
4. Advanced qualification in a relevant discipline (for example, education, media or development).
5. Demonstrable creative ability, with a proven track-record in project design and development.
6. Knowledge of BBC editorial values, aims and objectives, and an ability to apply these to media development projects.
7. Strong financial management skills, with proven experience managing large budgets, including accurate reporting to donors.
8. Applicants must have excellent English language skills, written and verbal

Key competencies

1. Managing relationships and team work: able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively. Values individual's differences and demonstrates a commitment to knowledge sharing and informal learning, for the benefit of the team.
2. Strategic thinking: Able to identify a vision and create plans for implementation of that vision to meet the end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, and issues in the short, medium and long-term
3. Leadership: Ability to inspire others to realize an identified vision.
4. 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.
5. Change Management: Able to understand and anticipate the need for change, and to build frameworks for planning and managing the continuous process of change.
6. Planning and Organization: Able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others; planning of activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
7. 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 characterized by commitment, motivation and energy.
8. Decision Making: Able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.

Applications: Interested applicants should apply through

www.bbc.co.uk/jobs (look for the reference: 391607)

mentioning the title of the position in the subject of the email. The deadline for receiving applications is 3rd August 2010. Please apply online: or apply through email: careers@bbchrdirect.co.uk

The BBC is an equal opportunities employer.