Editor - Tigrinya at BBC News

Role Responsibility

Africa’s media landscape is changing. It is one of the fastest developing news markets in the world with mobile technology transforming lives, internet connectivity increasing, the radio market remaining relatively strong and Television migrating from analogue to digital.

Your main responsibility will be to provide a strong editorial leadership for the BBC Tigrinya team in our Nairobi, Ethiopia, and Eritrea within digital content and radio. To help disseminate material and expertise to the wider BBC. This could involve leading hub editorial meetings, being on standby at weekends and over public holidays.

The successful candidate will be managing a team of up to 14 members of staff including off site reporters in Ethiopia; you will be effective at maximising opportunities for collaboration, multilingual working and have a commitment to digital production and social media.

Additionally you will ensure all Risk Assessment forms are adequately completed for deployments to potentially high risk environments and fully liaising with High Risk and Regional Editor for sign off. Business development and budget planning would fall within the remit of this role.

The Ideal Candidate

Sound editorial and political judgement.

• Excellent team management and personal leadership skills, including the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses within the team and build on this constructively.
• A full command and up to date knowledge of Tigrinya.
• Fluent in English, both in written and spoken form, to a fully broadcastable level and the ability to communicate effectively on all platforms.
• A track record of original current affairs journalism on multimedia platforms with an extensive knowledge of the Ethiopian and Eritrean media landscape and its needs at a time of fast changing consumption habits by our audiences. 
• In depth understanding of international, regional and local news.
• Significant recent experience as a broadcast or print journalist for the target area, both in originating ideas and material and in editing the work of others.
• Wide, thorough and up to date familiarity with the areas in Africa to which the Service broadcasts and an in-depth understanding of the areas history, politics, social issues and culture as well as the changing needs of the audience.
   
  A thorough knowledge and understanding of news and current affairs in the target areas and a working knowledge of regions of Africa outside your target area. A thorough knowledge of, and interest in, international and British current affairs, as they affect the target areas.
• An extensive knowledge of the media situation in the target area and how it is developing.  Ability to anticipate changes in the market and to plan and guide the Service’s output accordingly.
• Deep understanding of digital technology and social media is essential.
• In depth knowledge of the BBC’s distinctive news agenda and a wider interest in the strategy of the BBC as a whole.
• Ability to contribute to BBC World Service regional strategy and to function as an effective member of the BBC Africa Direction team.
   
  Experience managing a remote team is preferable.
   
  Ability to adapt and work effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups.
   
  Experience of and confidence in managing budgets/resources effectively.
• Has the personal characteristics to advocate the BBC Values and behaviours and provide the inspiration for staff commitment around these values.