About BBC Media Action:

BBC Media Action uses media to reduce poverty and support people to understand their rights in developing countries. To achieve this, we partner with civil society, local media and governments to produce creative programmes in multi-media formats, based on robust research, which inform and engage audiences around key development issues.

BBC Media Action delivers a portfolio of media projects in Tanzania. It seeks to ensure that existing projects are delivered to time, to budget and to the highest standards in accordance with BBC editorial values.

Our work is built on insights from research and engagement with communities and focuses on three key themes: governance and human rights, health and resilience.

BBC Media Action has been working in Tanzania since 2009. One of our biggest projects is Niambie – a multimedia intervention connecting young people from across Tanzania to understand, discuss and influence decisions about issues affecting their lives.

Niambie provides a unique space in the national media for young people to discuss important issues on their own terms and in their own language. It engages and informs young people from across Tanzania, creating a platform for them to talk to their leaders. Evidence shows that Niambie contributes to increased self-efficacy among young people and women and increased ability to engage in discussions and take action on issues that matter to them.

Job Purpose:

We are looking for a content researcher to join the team that makes multimedia content for the Niambie project. This role will ensure that content on our radio and online platforms for young people is rooted in practical, actionable information and meets our audiences’ needs.

Reporting to the senior producer, the content researcher will generate and refine ideas for stories, contributors, interviews and other programme elements across Niambie. The successful candidate will be responsible for researching and writing topic briefs and originating story and theme ideas.

S/he will be expected to ensure that programme elements and contributors are relevant to audiences and to support the production team to create radio and online content that is representative of real life.

S/he will be expected to have knowledge of current themes and trends in local, national and international news and media that may be of interest to Niambie’s audiences. S/he will also be expected to originate ideas for Niambie content inspired by these themes.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working as a content researcher for radio, multimedia production and/or development organisations.

Department/Business Unit: BBC Media Action, Tanzania.

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Reports To: Senior Producer, Niambie

Contract length: Six months fixed term contract (from August 2018)

Salary: Highly competitive within local NGO market rates

Main duties:

Originate ideas and carry out research for programme items.
Write briefs and (potentially) scripts for presenters and liaise with contributors to support the creation of creative, engaging content.
Research and suggest ideas for guests to appear on the Niambie radio programme.Work with the research team to develop an understanding of audiences and how our content responds to their needs.
Take part in creative development sessions – coming up with original ideas for content and how to best serve our audiences.
Support the production team to ensure that information presented to audiences is accurate and clear.
Suggest ideas for stories and offer creative and compelling ways of presenting contributors within the programme.
Source potential contributors and locations for radio and multimedia production
Attend recces and special recording activities.
Assist in the preparation of radio scripts, presenter links and programme running orders.
Work with the production team to complete other tasks as required.

Skills, knowledge and experience requirements:

Understanding of radio programmes and online channels for young people in Tanzania.
Radio or online production background is an advantage.
Understanding of online and social media tools and how to use them for content research purposes.
Self-motivated and able to work in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment.A strong understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural diversity of young people in Tanzania.
Good communication skills and the ability to establish positive working relations with a wide range of contacts.
Experience of development communication/community engagement activities focused on young people is an advantage.
Experience working in a development organisation or related setting.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, manage a workload and deadlines and maintain attention to detail.
Computer literacy.
Excellent English and Swahili writing skills.

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:

Problem-solving – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts as well as to explore and evaluate them systematically
Decision making – Ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made
Planning and organisation – 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 relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing, and resources.
Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation, and energy.
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.

To apply:

Candidates should send their CV and a cover letter which outlines their experience and suitability for the role in English by email to: recruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.org with the title of the position applied for in the subject line before 5pm on Monday 23^rd July 2018.

Please do not send certificates or other attachments. This is a local post applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania and national terms and conditions will apply.