Assistant Projects Manager, Global

Department: BBC Media Action

Reports To: Head, Global Grant Programme

Duration: 12 week Fixed Term Contract/Attachment 

Location: London, UK

Application instructions: 

Candidates should send their CV and letter of application to: Media.action@bbc.co.uk labelling "Application: Assistant Project Manager" in the subject line by 5pm on Monday 7 March.  Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK. 

Context

BBC Media Action is the international charity of the BBC which uses media and communications to help people in some of the world’s poorest countries take control of their lives and make informed decisions. We do this through our focus on health, governance and rights, resilience and humanitarian response

Job Purpose:

This is a core role within the Global Programmes team established to support delivery of a Global Grant to BBC Media Action that encompasses work across four themes in 14 countries. The Assistant Projects Manager will play a key role in maintaining the central reporting function for the team, with responsibility for drafting high quality donor reports which emphasise learning and impact. S/he will be expected to develop close links with key staff across all sub-projects, using sound judgement to field queries from the donor and field offices in order to support the delivery of high-quality outputs. Reporting to the Head of Global Grant Programme the Assistant Projects Manager will be required to generate creative ways to communicate the programme’s results to other teams within BBC Media Action and the BBC and (in conjunction with Communications staff) publicly.  

Main Duties

• Work with country, regional finance, research, policy and thematic teams to support delivery of sub-projects within the Global Grant that must be realistic, innovative, and impactful.
• Maintain close links with key staff, identifying how best to gather and share grant management information with those who need it including maintenance of a global workplan
• Design multi-media presentations that communicate ideas, progress and impact; particularly in advance of bi-annual review meetings.
• In collaboration with the Senior Projects Manager, Global, generate creative and compelling ways to communicate the programme’s results to the donor, other teams within BBC Media Action and the BBC and (in conjunction with Communications staff) publicly. This will include production of written material about the Global Grant for use by programme development and regional teams.
• Produce detailed, analytical, high quality donor reports which adhere to house style.
• Take on some administrative support for the wider team including arranging contracts, travel and external meetings as required
• Support programme and country teams to maintain realistic and detailed timelines that contribute to global objectives of the grant through close monitoring of sub-projects
• Deputise for the Senior Projects Manager, Global where necessary in their absence; and at internal and external meetings.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and policy development across the organisation.

Essential skills and experience

• Experience and interest in either media or development
• A strong understanding of and interest in the development sector, and good technical understanding of the communications for development field including media development and communications for behaviour and social change
• Ability to design compelling multi-media presentations that communicate ideas, progress and impact
• Ability to interpret financial data
• Extremely strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Attention to detail, particularly in the reporting of data and financial matters
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong working relationships across a range of department
• Ability and willingness to travel 

Desirable skills and experience

• Knowledge of Asia, Africa and/or the Middle East & Europe, and experience of working there       

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.

• Analytical Thinking: Able to simplify complex problems, process projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships and construct frameworks, for problem solving and/or development.
• 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.
• Planning and Organising: Is able to think ahead in order to establish an effective 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.
• 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.
• Managing Relationships: Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Team working.
• 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.
• Problem Solving: 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 decision making and problem-solving. Transforms proposals/ideas into practical reality.
• Flexibility: Adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Is able to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisation or job requirements.
• Editorial Judgment: demonstrates balanced and objective judgement based on thorough understanding of BBC editorial guidelines, target audience, programme and departmental objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.