Latest Job Opportunity at BBC

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Job Title: Bureau Editor, BBC Abuja Bureau

Job Introduction

The BBC has larger audiences in Africa than anywhere else in the world, through our broadcasts and content in Hausa, English, French, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Somali and Kiswahili. We connect with our audiences through TV, radio on FM, shortwave and satellite, and through partnerships with radio stations and mobile-phone operators which have led to BBC Hausa being the leading provider of impartial radio and digital news in Nigeria.

As Acting Bureau Editor, Abuja you will be the responsible for the BBC Hausa Service ’s editorial output in the Abuja Bureau, taking responsibility for aspects of training, personnel development, recruitment, personnel issues, health and safety of staff in the bureau and correspondents in the field. You will also be responsible for generating ideas and advising the rest of the BBC on the main stories from the target area. You will be responsible for maintaining the BBC Hausa Service’s reputation for strong, impartial and original journalism on multiple platforms (Radio, TV, Online and Mobile) and developing it to meet the challenges of the digital age. You will be responsible for commissioning, editing and shaping content to make them accessible and relevant to our audiences.

Role Responsibility

This role will require you to be the main point of contact between operations of the BBC Hausa Service in Nigeria and the rest of the BBC. You will actively pursue collaboration and partnerships with the wider BBC, ensure BBC News is across the planning of BBC Hausa’s end of the operation and find and develop coverage and stories of interest to output in Hausa. You’ll need to lead and inspire the Abuja team, run daily editorial meetings ensuring that the team identify good newsworthy stories and lead the production of key events in the news agenda, along with managing teams covering the event. This position will expect you to be responsible for the assessment and commissioning of Senior Multi-Media Journalists, Multi-Media Journalists, regular contributors and/or stringers based in Nigeria, giving feedback and identifying training needs. You will set objectives for staff and appraise them, coupled with recruiting, retaining and developing staff in line with equal opportunities policies to ensure the BBC increases its journalistic expertise. You’ll also work closely with the Abuja Hub Bureau Manager, to manage editorial staff and resources in Nigeria so as to meet programme plans in the most cost effective way, seeking efficiency savings and cost control measures wherever possible. To ensure that the budget meets financial targets set out in business plans.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have demonstrable experience of applying sound editorial judgment based on an understanding of the target audience, editorial guidelines and programme objectives. You will have previous experience of applying managerial skills, including managing performance, setting objectives and providing constructive feedback with experience of encouraging and developing creativity and innovation within teams.

You must have an excellent command of written and spoken Hausa and English, have an in depth knowledge of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda and a wider interest in the strategy of the BBC as a whole, along with a wide knowledge of West Africa. Equally you will need to have an extensive knowledge of the media situation in the West Africa and how it is developing, have the ability to anticipate changes in the market and to plan and guide the Service’s output accordingly. This role will expect you to have a demonstrable journalistic experience and leading people in a large media organisation, and wide experience of programme making in order to take full advantage of the presentation and production techniques which make effective radio, video and digital output. You’ll be expected to have excellent team management and personal leadership skills, including the ability to deal with conflict in a creative manner; to assess performance of individual team members fairly; Experience of managing budgets and the commitment to achieving the most efficient and cost effective use of resources and have excellent knowledge of digital and modern broadcast technology for digital production, social media, TV, video for online and radio.

Package Description

Local Recruit

Contract – 12 month attachment/fixed term contract

Location – Abuja, Nigeria

AIM OF THE JOB

To be responsible for the editorial management of the BBC Abuja Bureau

To be the main point of contact between operations of the BBC Hausa Service in Nigeria and the rest of the BBC.

In liaison with the Editor, BBC Hausa Service in London, to actively build bridges and raise awareness of BBC Hausa Service’spresence in Nigeria, as well as ensure that the team in Abuja is able to deliver output and content to the rest of the BBC to a high standard, while also continuing to service its own users and partners in Hausa.

To liaise closely with Newsgathering as their plans evolve. To provide editorial and managerial leadership and strategic direction for all BBC Hausa content produced by the service’s staff based in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and Cameroon.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To actively pursue collaboration and partnerships with the wider BBC.

To ensure BBC News is across the planning of BBC Hausa’s end of the operation.

To find and develop coverage and stories of interest to output in Hausa, as well as those of interest to a wider audience in English and other languages where possible on all platforms.

To lead and inspire the Abuja team, to drive programme changes and raise standards in order to turn the BBC Abuja Bureau into a key base for coverage of Nigerian news for the whole of the BBC World Service and other parts of the BBC.

To run daily editorial meetings ensuring that the team identify good newsworthy stories.
To lead the production of key events in the news agenda. Manage teams covering the event.

To be responsible for the assessment and commissioning of Senior Multi-Media Journalists, Multi-Media Journalists, regular contributors and/or stringers based in Nigeria, giving feedback and identifying training needs. To set objectives for staff and appraise them. To maintain standards of work consistent with BBC standards worldwide through briefings and reviews.

In conjunction with the Editor, BBC Hausa Service, to recruit, retain and develop staff in line with equal opportunities policies to ensure the BBC increases its journalistic expertise.

To provide editorial guidance and control, and in coordination with the senior and planning editors in London supervise production work with particular attention to the content and quality of pieces commissioned from Multi-Media Journalists and contributors based in Nigeria and West Africa.

To continue to develop a truly multimedia working practices.

To play an active role as part of the BBC Hausa management team in planning current and future coverage and editorial strategy of the service taking into account conditions in the target area and external factors.

To work closely with senior editors in London to ensure that there is coherence between the content produced by the teams based in Abuja, Nigeria and in London for all medium.

Working closely with the Abuja Hub Bureau Manager, to manage editorial staff and resources in Nigeria so as to meet programme plans in the most cost effective way, seeking efficiency savings and cost control measures wherever possible. To ensure that the budget meets financial targets set out in business plans.

With the Editor, BBC Hausa Service to build relationships with other organisations.

To follow closely technological development affecting the service’s operations.

To effectively manage time so as to fulfil rota as well as managerial responsibilities. To organise and plan the rotas of staff ensuring cover at all times. To organise emergency cover as required.

To maintain close contact with the Editor, BBC Hausa Service in London over the smooth running of digital rotas and the editorial process.

The BBC Abuja Bureau Editor may be required to travel outside Nigeria and to spend longer periods of time in the United Kingdom as may be required.

Working to the Editor, BBC Hausa Service and the Editor, BBC Africa, to be responsible for driving Nigerian coverage on African affairs and World Service coverage of West African issues.

Working to the service, hub and regional management, to liaise closely with other BBC offices in Nigeria to help ensure efficient coordination between different departments and divisions on regional issues, and ensure that the Corporation presents a strong and coherent editorial offer. To help promote close contacts with other World Service Language Services and foreign bureaux.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Excellent command of written and spoken Hausa and English.

In depth knowledge of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda and a wider interest in the strategy of the BBC as a whole.

Wide knowledge of West Africa, particularly Hausa speaking areas, British and international current affairs; in-depth knowledge of some of the following: sport, the arts, science, the environment, or music.

An extensive knowledge of the media situation in the West Africa and how it is developing. Ability to anticipate changes in the market and to plan and guide the Service’s output accordingly.

An extensive up-to-date knowledge of the target areas, the rebroadcasting market, the audience, its needs and interests and theformats and styles of radio there.

A demonstrable journalistic experience and leading people in a large media organisation, and wide experience of programme making in order to take full advantage of the presentation and production techniques which make effective radio, video and online output.

Excellent team management and personal leadership skills, including the ability to deal with conflict in a creative manner; to assess performance of individual team members fairly; to identify the strengths and weaknesses within the team, including your individual performance, and to build on this constructively: experience of assisting staff in training and development.

Experience of managing budgets and the commitment to achieving the most efficient and cost effective use of resources.

The ability to work under pressure by setting clear priorities and the appropriate delegation of responsibilities; to adapt to different situations, individuals and groups, and work effectively with them. An ability to adapt and manage change in the face of rapidly changing environment.

An excellent knowledge of digital and modern broadcast technology for digital production, TV, video for online and radio.

Awareness of Health and Safety and its application to a news production environment.

Knowledge of media law and its application to a news service on TV, radio and on the internet.

COMPETENCIES

Editorial Judgement – demonstrates balanced and objective judgement based on a thorough understanding of BBC editorial guidelines, target audience, programme and department objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.

Commitment to the BBC and BBC Africa’s strategy – demonstrates an interest and willingness to help the BBC achieve its objectives in the target area.

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.
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.
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.
Leadership – Ability to create a vision and inspire others to realise it irrespective of circumstances.
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 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.
Talent Management – Is able to recognise potential (managerial, professional, artistic or otherwise) and is willing to foster the development of that potential. Creates a climate in which potential can be realised.
Change Management – Can understand and anticipate the need for change. Builds frameworks to plan and manage the continuous process of change.
Business Management – Is able to understand commercial imperatives and trading relationships, appropriately applies business principles in terms of costs, the market and added value.
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.

About the Company

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below. You’ll be asked questions relating to them as part of your application for this role.

The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background.

How to Apply

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