Research Manager, BBC World Service Trust, London

Location: London, UK
Last Date: May 2, 2011

JOB ADVERT
Job Reference 574490
Job Title Research Manager, BBC World Service Trust, London

Department
12 Month Fixed Term Contract

The BBC World Service Trust (WST) is the independent international charity of the BBC which uses media to advance development worldwide. As part of one of the world’s leading media organisations, we are committed to improving the quality of people’s lives in developing and transitional countries through innovative use of media. Our Research & Learning (R&L) Group focuses on four key activities including providing projects with audience and market insights to guide project strategies, conducting qualitative and quantitative research, building capacity in audience research skills & methodology and documenting and disseminating the learning from the Trust’s projects internally in addition to the wider development community. As a Research Manager based in London within R&L, you will manage all aspects of audience research activities conducted to inform the strategy, content and quality of the Trust’s media development.

More about the Department

We are funded by external grants and voluntary contributions, mainly from the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the European Union, UN agencies and charitable foundations. We work in partnerships that include governments, broadcasters, civil society institutions, UN agencies and international Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s).

The Role
As a member of a global team of research and communications practitioners, you will contribute to the synthesis and analysis of research and best practice for the Trust’s projects throughout the world. You will have a particular emphasis on health, education, livelihoods, governance, human rights, and training. From designing all research inputs for a portfolio of Trust projects, to overseeing the commissioning of audience research and the implementation of that research, no two days will be the same. Whilst contributing to the development of new concepts, projects and outputs, you will manage project research budgets and represent the WS Trust and R&L to a wide range of stakeholders.

More About The Role
You will also negotiate and liaise with research agencies and key users of the research to ensure quality completion within budget and deadline. You will analyse and collate research results, applications and innovations to identify lessons for the department’s wider learning whilst preparing and delivering internal and external presentations.

Requirements
You will bring strong experience of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and know how to apply them to media and / or development projects. In particular, you will have strong SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) data analysis skills. Your previous experience of conducting research within cross-cultural and/or multi-lingual audiences is essential, as is your previous fieldwork management in challenging conditions. This is linked to your excellent interpersonal skills which will be evident in your ability to address all levels from grassroots up to the highest levels of government and media.

More about the Requirements
It would be advantageous if you have experience in international research project management and in working with national and international agencies in developing countries. It would also be useful if you had experience in recruiting, managing and training in-country research project teams. Knowledge and/or experience of the social, political and cultural difficulties of working in Africa, Asia and/or the Middle East regions would also be desirable.

Please refer to the BBC Jobs website for more information and to apply for this role: https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=ap&id=38171&aid=15731