Deputy Chief of Party 59 views1 applications

JOB TITLE: Deputy Chief of Party (D-COP), Libya

REPORTS TO: Chief of Party (COP)

BASE: Initially Tunisia, then Libya

START DATE: 1st of November 2024

DURATION: 2 years, with possible extension

About BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity. We use media and communications to help reduce poverty, address development goals, and support people to understand their rights. We do this through partnering with media, civil society, and others to produce creative programmes and other outputs which inform and engage audiences on key development issues. We also strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure of local media organisations in the countries in which we work.

Our North Africa operations are currently based in Tunis. From here we deliver a portfolio of media projects, and work to ensure they are delivered on time, to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with BBC editorial values and BBC Media Action best practice. El Kul is our flagship public interest media brand that is now one of the largest current affairs social media sites in Libya with over 1.3 million followers (about a quarter of Libyan social media users). Over the coming years El Kul plans to expand and to become an independent entity registered and based in Libya.

Overall Purpose of Job

The Deputy Chief of Party (D-CoP) will work closely with, and report to, the Chief of Party. Based in the local offices in Tunis and then in Libya, they will take a leadership role in the implementation of the USAID funded ‘MIRSAL’ (Media Integrity and Resilience, Supporting Audiences in Libya) project which will strengthen the foundations of a more stable, inclusive, and self-reliant Libya by supporting the emergence of sustainable public-interest media in the country.

The D-CoP will take responsibility primarily for leading El Kul to substantially increase its reach and positive impact and to achieve viable independence over the lifetime of the project while maintaining its integrity and consistent commitment to social cohesion and countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech (MDH) in Libya. The role will also lead in coordinating content production on El Kul with Libyan civil society and other USAID implementers and their local partners, ensuring that stories from such work are told nationwide while maintaining El Kul’s strict editorial independence, impartiality, and intellectual property rights including ensuring the brand could not reasonably be perceived as being a marketing tool for international interests. The D-CoP will also assist El Kul to benefit from MIRSAL’s Media Incubator and Evidence Unit which will both support Libyan media to fulfil public interest mandates.

Main duties and accountabilities:

1. Support the CoP to provide technical oversight for the MIRSAL activity and to oversee the program’s day to day operations.
2. Assume technical direction and financial and project management oversight of the El Kul components of the activity, keeping the COP regularly informed on all the El Kul components of the MIRSAL project and following their overall strategic direction.
3. Over the lifetime of the project, lead the transition of El Kul from being a project within BBC Media Action towards full institutional legal and financial independence in Libya.
4. Lead El Kul so that it consistently maintains the strict impartiality, accuracy, and inclusivity of its content and delivers creative and engaging media that is consistently aligned with the objectives of the activity including expanding and enhancing PIM content on El Kul that promotes social cohesion and builds Digital & Media Literacy (DML).
5. Arrange for the El Kul team (including operational roles) the necessary support and training to enhance their performance and to deliver effective media content efficiently and economically following best practices in contemporary professional media production workflow processes.
6. Lead staff recruitment and freelance procurement per project needs following HR and procurement processes and local laws with the support of the Operations Team.
7. Interact regularly with project and Mission staff, other USAID implementing partners, as well as with government and civil society partners and other significant stakeholders to the program.
8. Ensure the El Kul components of the MIRSAL program are delivered according to the contractual requirements of USAID, and the relevant developmental and other stabilisation goals of the government of Libya, in collaboration with the CoP.
9. Ensure all the activities and deliverables of the El Kul components of the MIRSAL are completed within the agreed timetable and budget, including that the El Kul components of clear and accurate formal narrative and financial reports are submitted per agreed schedules, and any other formal requirements or criteria are fulfilled.
10. Coordinate closely with the BBC Media Action Operations Team and SMT in management, financial, administrative, HR and other operational matters, especially regarding the planned move of El Kul to Libya.
11. Work closely with BBC Media Action North Africa SMT to ensure the MIRSAL project consistently employs the values of BBC Media Action; ensures the highest ethical standards; emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork; promotes collaboration with other donor-funded projects and activities; adheres to USAID and BBC/BBCMA regulations and procedures; and directly contributes to the attainment of the Activity’s contractual deliverables.
12. Report to and serve as back up to the CoP when needed including in external representation of the MIRSAL project and BBC Media Action North Africa.
13. Other duties as assigned.

Required skills, knowledge and experience:

1. At least a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, community development, media and communications, business, international development, and/or related fields.
2. At least eight years of experience working in civil society and/or independent media at least three of which in a leadership role.
3. Demonstrated experience in the production of innovative mass media content to international production standards.
4. Proven experience of strong media editorial judgement even under pressure, including knowledge of the BBC or equivalent editorial guidelines.
5. Proven commitment to public interest media and significant understanding of development issues such as media literacy, gender equality, social cohesion, government accountability, and youth participation.
6. Demonstrated experience in leadership roles in commercially and legally viable, and efficient and effective, independent for-profit and/or non-profit business, ideally in the media sector.
7. Significant experience of directly managing budgets, complex workplans, and other elements of operations such as logistics, HR, and procurement.
8. Experience directly line-managing diverse teams, preferably within a Libyan context, and developing and improving internal management systems and processes and workflows.
9. Excellent decision-making skills including the ability to adapt, react, and respond to crises, and to evaluate risks including in high-risk settings.
10. Excellent coordination and communication skills with a variety of stakeholders including national, international, government, non-government, international organizations, and development donors.
11. Willingness to be based initially in Tunisia and then in Libya.
12. Must demonstrate professional capacity in written English and experience presenting to a variety of audiences (national and international).
13. Fluency in written and spoken Arabic.
14. Provable expertise in the Libyan context and Libyan dialect

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

1. Master’s degree in social sciences, community development, media and communications, business, international development, and/or other related fields.
2. Knowledge of the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
3. Previous experience working on USAID programs and knowledge of USAID regulations, requirements, policies, and procedures.
4. Demonstrable personal experience in developing successful new business propositions in the commercial and/or development sectors.
5. Libyan nationality.

Key Competencies

1. Managing relationships and teamwork: 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, competitively or micromanaging. Values individuals’ differences and demonstrates a commitment to knowledge sharing and informal learning, for the benefit of the team.
2. Strategic thinking: Able to identify a vision and create plans for implementation of that vision to meet the end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, and issues in the short, medium and long-term.
3. Leadership: Ability to inspire others to realize an identified vision.
4. 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.
5. Change Management: Able to understand and anticipate the need for change and to build frameworks for planning and managing the continuous process of change.
6. Planning and Organization: Able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others; planning of activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
7. Resilience: Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation and energy.
8. Decision Making: Able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.
9. Deep and Respectful Listening: Ability to create a safe environment for feedback, constructive criticism and ideas to ensure inclusion of different voices into the program aims.

BBC Media Action has zero tolerance of all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. All staff are required to undergo safeguarding training and maintain behaviour that is consistent with BBC Media Action’s code of conduct. The role may involve managing staff who have direct contact with children and adults at risk of harm. Informal contact with children and vulnerable adults is possible, including when not at work.

BBC Media Action is committed to maintaining diversity within its employees and ensuring that all recruitment practices and procedures do not discriminate, either directly or indirectly, on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, colour, national origin, age, sex, citizenship, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or family situation. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

The successful candidate will need to undergo enhanced DBS and/or related background checks. References for the last five years of work experience are required and will be verified.