Head Mobile Vas and Internet at BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is the charitable arm of the World Service established by the BBC. BBC Media Action uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries. To achieve this. BBC Media Action partners with civil society, local media and governments to:

• Produce creative programmes based on robust research in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences around key development issues,
• Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure.

At present, BBC Media Action in Nigeria has several multi-year projects addressing issues of health and governance through different outputs including factual and drama. We will be looking to develop new projects in 2013-14.
BBC Media Action is looking for interested/motivated candidates to join the Team as: Head of Mobile VAS and Internet(1 year with possibility of renewal). The position is based in Abuja but may involve travelling to the focal states in Nigeria. The position has a projected start date of September 2013 and a probation period of 3 months.

Job Position: Head Mobile Vas and Internet

Location: Abuja

Job Purpose

• This position will lead on the mobile elements of a new research and design study, which is the office's first mobile-focused project, and the post holder will also contribute to project strategy development and implementation.
• Reporting initially to the Project Director, the post holder will also play an active role in contributing to the shaping of the overall country strategy, including any new business development that stems from this research and design study.
• S/he will also be expected to contribute to the organization's international mHealth strategy.
• The role requires a strategic thinker who understands the commercial mobile industry in countries such as Nigeria, and ideally the media and development field.
• S/he needs experience working at a high level where diplomacy and good interpersonal skills are essential.
• The role also requires experience working with relevant government agencies, partners and subcontractors, as well as the ability to multi-task and handle complex and competing priorities.
• She will be responsible for a potential team of four people, with the possibility of additional consultants.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage research that develops BBC Media Action's understanding of the mobile sector in Nigeria and will help to developing the functional and technical specifications of any mobile interventions.
• Recruit and lead the Mobile and Internet Team which will include positions such as a Senior Mobile Producer, as well as consultants, to help undertake mobile industry research and develop business models and business cases for work with mobile operators.
• Develop and maintain contractual relationships with the telecommunications industry, including identifying potential platforms, approaches, and partnerships for multi-media outputs that meet the office's agreed objectives, time lines and budgets and comply with BBC Editorial Policy.
• Establish, maintain and build strategic relationships with trade associations and other organisations for the mobile industry including the GSMA, the ITU, the mHealth Alliance etc.
• Contribute to user-testing efforts to understand how existing BBC Media Action mHealth services can be adapted to the Nigerian context.
• Contract and manage relationships with all external suppliers, including content producers and aggregators, mobile network operators, web design and development agencies, web hosting services, new media marketing and research agencies, technical suppliers and email marketing agencies.
• Keep abreast of technical and editorial developments in the field and within the BBC, feeding into and making best use of research; in conjunction with the senior project team, adopting new strategies and developing new outputs as technology develops.
• Represent the ICT elements of the project at conferences and to the wider BBC (when required), contributing to journals as appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of BBC Media Action's strategy for Nigeria in particular and for Africa more widely.
• Establish, maintain and build strategic relationship with the Nigerian government - particularly with the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of ICT - to obtain approvals for aspects of services when necessary.
• Develop corporate partnerships to ensure financial sustainability and scale up of any potential services.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience Requirements

Essential:

• The knowledge and experience of designing and managing mobile services necessary to help design BBC Media Action's mobile and web services so they reach the largest audiences and achieve maximum impact.
• A deep understanding of working with mobile aggregators and content providers in developing countries to design and develop Value Added Services using technologies including IVR,SMS and USSD.
• Ability to manage the design and development of IVR services in developing countries in a Product Management role.
• Strong background in user-centred product design with experience of designing and implementing market research, user testing and impact assessments to inform the development and further refinement of mobile services.
• In-depth understanding of the infrastructure, technologies and approval processes required to launch IVR services in developing countries.
• In-depth understanding of market dynamics and competition in the mobile/Telecom industries
• The skills and ability to build local teams overseas by training and engaging with projects at country level.

Desirable:

• Considerable experience of working in the mobile industry in developing countries in a VAS management role.
• Experience of designing and developing VAS for illiterate base of the pyramid subscribers.
• Experience of building relationships with senior management across the mobile industry and government regulators.
• Experience of negotiating contracts with mobile operators and aggregators for Value Added Services.
• Proven ability to design business cases and business models for new mobile services.
• Proven ability to manage procurement processes.
• Knowledge of BBC Editorial Guidelines.
• Knowledge of the media development and media for development fields.
• Knowledge of the health sector, particularly familiarity with maternal and childhood health initiatives.

Key Competencies

• Business management - is able to understand commercial imperatives and trading relationships, appropriately applies business principles in terms of costs, the market and added value and to develop business cases and business models for mobile services.
• Creative Thinking - able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.
• 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.
• Planning and Organisation - able to think ahead in order to establish and 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.
• Communication - able 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. Highly-developed written and verbal skills. Listens, encourages discussions and two-way communication.
• Influencing and persuading - able to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range
• of strategies to persuade people in away that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Managing relationships and team working - able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
• Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.
• Resilience - manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Flexibility - adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. 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.
• Mentoring - 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.

Application Closing Date
15th August, 2013

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their application/cover letter with an introduction and capability statement stating capability for the job, as well as a detailed curriculum vitae(word document please) with names and addresses of at least 2 professional referees (including their telephone, fax and email addresses) to: [email protected] with the position applied for clearly stated on the application letter.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.