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Executive Producer and Trainer, Radio (French Speaking)

Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND TRAINER, RADIO

Development Media International (DMI) is a London-based organisation which uses mass media to change behaviours and improve health in developing countries (www.developmentmedia.net). DMI is currently launching the world’s first scientific trial to examine how many lives can be saved using mass media campaigns alone. This major, 4-year project will take place in Burkina Faso, West Africa, in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Our model predicts that we will prevent 20% of all child deaths. At the end of the project, producers will know precisely how many lives they have saved.

The media outputs of the campaign will be largely based on 60-second radio spots (to be broadcast 6 times per day) and 60-minute radio phone-in programming (to be broadcast several times per week). They will be broadcast on FM radio stations in approximately 7 locations in Burkina Faso. Spots covering a new message will be produced every month for 30 months. They will all be produced in local languages, and will be based on formative research and pre-testing so that the cultural barriers to behaviour change are well understood.

This is a complex project, involving a large volume of outputs (600+ spots, 200+ phone-ins), close integration with research teams and the management of a large team of local producers. We are now looking for 2 outstanding French-speaking senior radio producers to lead the creative team.

We are primarily looking for producers from either the broadcasting or advertising sectors. The applicants would ideally be capable of producing both spots and phone-ins. This means that we would be able to assign different geographic zones to each person (who would nevertheless be based in the capital city). However, we will consider specialists in either phone-in programming or spot production.

Overall Purpose of the Job:

To be responsible for production of radio spots and/or radio phone-in programming for the scientific project in Burkina Faso, including editorial, financial and personnel management. It will also include recruiting and training local producers and working closely with local radio stations to help build their capacity and to develop programme synergies. This is a managerial position so experience and seniority will be as important as creativity.

Main Duties

1. To take responsibility for overseeing the production of:

(a) weekly radio interactive discussion programmes (at least 2 per week per station).

and/or

(b) monthly waves of radio spots. These spots (or PSAs – public service announcements) will be creative in nature, involving drama, comedy and advertising techniques.

2. To ensure that the programming meets high technical, editorial and artistic standards.
3. To ensure that the programming is factually accurate and conveys health messages clearly.
4. To recruit, train and inspire up to 10 local radio producers and technical staff.
5. To bind the production team to the research process, ensuring that producers participate in the focus groups on a monthly basis and incorporate the findings into their creative work. To ensure that the outputs are culturally sensitive and tailored to the ethnic and social diversity of the targeted areas of Burkina Faso.
6. To work with the local production team to generate the most effective and popular programme formats possible.
7. To nurture and develop new ideas from staff and motivate fresh and imaginative approaches to both spots and discussion programmes.
8. To ensure that all staff on the production team receive relevant training, regular guidance, and receive feedback and formal appraisals.
9. To develop a thorough understanding of DMI’s methodologies and objectives, the project’s objectives, and the scientific aspects of our work. To develop ideas on how the programmes can best further those objectives.
10. To provide training and input to local broadcast partners on a regular basis and demonstrate a commitment to building their capacity.
11. To manage the day-to-day relationship with the local radio stations, including ensuring that the programming is broadcast, in consultation with the Country Director.
12. To manage the scheduling of the production process: there is a large volume of outputs and efficient production and editorial processes are vital.
13. In consultation with the Country Director and Finance Manager, to be responsible for the financial management of the discussion-based programme budget. To anticipate, identify and report budgetary problems and to actively seek more efficient ways of working so that the unit delivers on budget, and on time.
14. To promote good working relationships with the Ministry of Health and other key project stakeholders.
15. To be proactive in attracting publicity for the project’s programming and so increase awareness of the DMI project in Burkina Faso.
16. To investigate the potential for using SMS messaging as part of programming.
17. To ensure that any queries and correspondence arising from the programmes are dealt with promptly.
18. To provide brief weekly reports and/or updates on the programming to the Country Director.
19. To assume responsibility for other elements of the project in the absence of the Country Director and as required by London.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

1. Fluency in written and spoken French is essential: the working language of production will be French (even though outputs will be produced in local languages). Good communication skills in English are also important.
2. Strong creative skills as a radio producer, as evidenced by track record and by performance at interview.
3. Strong technical skills. Producers will be expected to be able to work easily in radio studios, working with both analogue and digital technology.
4. Good people management skills. The producers should have extensive experience of (and enjoy) leading and inspiring a team.
5. Good production management skills. This is a multi-layered and highly complex media project, with a large quantity of outputs to be produced under difficult circumstances. The successful candidate must have experience of leading either large or very complex programmes and teams.
6. Adaptability. The producers will need to work effectively in different cultural settings, enjoy this challenge and provide evidence of cultural sensitivity.
7. Experience of working in a developing country, and ideally with experience of managing locally-hired staff, would be a major advantage. We will consider applicants who have not done so, but they must be able to provide evidence of their ability to cope with the pressures of working in a development context and an appreciation of the issues and difficulties involved.
8. Strong intellectual ability, as evidenced by a good degree or similar qualifications and performance at interview. Both the media and scientific elements of this project are intellectually demanding. While a science background is not required, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that s/he is capable of understanding all the scientific issues we will deal with.
9. Strong diplomatic skills, with a track record of having formed productive relationships at senior levels of a variety of organisations. Evidence of ability to manage effective collaboration between partners and stakeholders, including those with differing agendas.
10. An understanding of public health issues. While the applicant is not expected to have a public health background (although this would be an advantage) they will be expected to demonstrate an ability to grasp the public health issues that relate to this project.
11. Significant experience in the management of budgets, ideally of a large and complex nature.
12. Proven ability to deliver complex projects to deadlines and within budget, with good track record of donor/client liaison and reporting. Ability to write formal reports to donor satisfaction.
How to apply
To apply please send your CV (max. 2 pages), a completed registration sheet, and a cover letter (max. 2 pages) which systematically outlines why your experience fits the job description and skills requirements. The full job description, registration sheet and Project Q&A may be downloaded from DMI's website: http://www.developmentmedia.net/jobs.html. Please send application to jobs@developmentmedia.net by midnight on Thursday April 7th. Shortlisted candidates can expect to attend the first round of interviews on 18th or 19th April, with final interviews conducted on 21st April.

All applicants are invited to attend a presentation on DMI’s work and the Burkina Faso project in particular at 6.30 pm on the following dates:

• Monday 21st March
• Tuesday 29th March

The presentations will be held in London, and questions will be taken following the presentation. To receive further details, please email your interest and preferred date(s) to jobs@developmentmedia.net. It may be possible to do presentations in cities outside the UK if there is sufficient demand – please indicate your interest as soon as possible.