CEO, BBC Media Action

Job purpose

Overall responsibility for BBC Media Action achieved through shaping and implementing the strategic direction with appropriate engagement from staff and trustees. This includes setting and managing the budgetary, strategic, human resources, business development and other priorities.

Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the post holder heads up BBC Media Action’s Management Team and, with the support of this team, leads the organisation to ensure that its activities meet the strategic and business objectives set out in its strategy.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Ensure that the Management Team develop and co-ordinate operational plans.
• Ensure that activities meet the needs of populations in target countries as agreed with donors and comply with BBC Media Action’s objectives.
• Ensure the financial integrity of BBC Media Action.
• Ensure the development and delivery of work outside the UK where BBC Media Action has established offices and in countries where activities are delivered through partners. Ensuring that there is appropriate compliance with legal, editorial, charity commission, safety and donor requirements; that work is rigorously evaluated and that it is delivered with due attention to value for money.
• Ensure the development and delivery of policy work to demonstrate the place of media and communication in international development.
• Secure funding to support the delivery of BBC Media Action’s work.
• Ensure that staff in London and across country programmes are managed and developed effectively.
• Support the Board of Trustees in the governance of the charity, report to them appropriately and work closely with the BBC to ensure that Media Action does not bring the BBC into disrepute and that opportunities for close working are maximised.
• Represent BBC Media Action in the UK and on international platforms; speak publicly when required, undertaking press interviews, receptions, press conferences, exhibitions and seminars; provide support in lobbying major potential funding organisations and actively build and maintain a network of publicity and support for BBC Media Action.
• Work with the Director of Programmes, Director of Policy & Research and the Director of Strategy & Partnerships to lead the organisation’s development of external international donor and other business development relationships at head office level.

Knowledge, skills, training and experience

Essential

• Effective leadership skills and a demonstrable record at senior management level, with experience of leading an international team.
• A strong awareness of the world of international development.
• Extensive experience of working with outside agencies, partners and international funding organisations, and a proven record in raising funds.
• An understanding of international development policy making and an awareness of the impact which media can play on international development goals.
• A good understanding of accounting and legal issues and experience of both financial and project management of activities of comparable scale and complexity in the charitable sector.
• Ability to promote BBC Media Action at a senior level among opinion formers and decision makers in many countries.
• Thorough understanding of theories of change in the humanitarian sector.
• An effective communicator and influencer with the confidence and ability to present effectively to a wide audience.
• Ability to turn strategy into effective delivery.
• Politically astute with strong judgement and organisational skills.
• An energetic, positive attitude; determined and ambitious to succeed
• High level of integrity and commitment to delivery of the highest quality.

Desirable:

• An understanding of the changing nature of technology, world affairs and an appreciation of how these affect the work of the BBC Media Action.
• An awareness of the world of broadcasting and specifically an appreciation of the BBC ethos, and the need to maintain the highest editorial standards.
• A visionary approach to the use of communications and especially media for the achievement of international development goals.

Job impact

Decision making

• Develop, adapt and execute departmental plans in line with strategic plans and direction from Senior Leaders.
• Undertakes a wide range of activities factoring in multiple, diverse considerations, requiring complex analytics and decision making, interpretative thinking and a solutions-focussed approach.

Scope

• Leading a sub-function of Media action i.e. international country programmes.
• Ability to apply external sector knowledge, contextualising challenges and changes in the sector, to understand the relative positioning and strength of the BBC’s services/practices.
• In-depth knowledge of how own function integrates within the BBC, including deep understanding of the collective integration and operations of numerous sub-functions/sub-divisional areas.

Strategic impact/Influence

• Provides significant and highly influential input to functional strategy of BBC Media Action.

Reporting structure

• Direct line management of: three Regional Directors; Director of BBC Media Action USA; Head of Editorial Development
• Engage directly with the Trustees of BBC Media Action as appropriate.