Program Manager - BBC Media Action (Apply by: 31 March 2014)

BBC Media Action, India

Job Description

Job Title: Program Manager, Bihar

Reports to: Associate Program Director, Bihar

Project: Shaping Demand and Practices

Location: Patna, Bihar

Term: Till 31st Dec, 2015

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

BBC Media Action, formerly known as the BBC World Service Trust, is the independent international charity of the BBC, which uses media to advance development worldwide. As part of one of the world's leading media organisations, BBC Media Action is committed to improving the quality of people's lives in developing and transitional countries, through the innovative use of media. The organization is focused on raising awareness among mass and opinion-forming audiences, affecting behaviour change, influencing policy and transferring skills and knowledge.

BBC Media Action is implementing a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded project titled “Shaping Demand and Practices for improving Family Health in Bihar” (SDP). This innovative project combines mass media, information communication technology, community mobilization and interpersonal communication, to engage families and communities to initiate and sustain adoption of behaviours that would lead to improved maternal and child health. The project works closely with private sector organizations and government health system officials at multiple levels.

For more information about BBC Media Action’s work in India, please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/where_we_work/asia/india


JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overview 

The Program Manager will be part of the project’s management team and will deputize, on a need basis, for the Associate Program Director, Patna. S/he will be responsible for managing on ground implementation related to community mobilization activities, frontline worker training and concurrent mentoring support to FLWs. S/he will ensure deliverables against agreed objectives, timelines and budgets. This will include line management of project staff in close coordination with the other Program Manager. Apart from this, s/he will be responsible for interacting with government officials under the guidance of line manager. The Program Manager will ensure that all activities are organised to a high standard on the ground and carefully recorded for reporting purposes.

The role requires a strategic thinker with strong project and administrative support skills and meticulous attention to detail, who understands the media and development field. S/he needs experience working at a level where communication and good interpersonal skills are essential. The ability to multi-task and work well both with direction and using personal initiative are also required.

Detailed Responsibilities

The Program Manager will be responsible for:

A. Strategy
1. Providing inputs to scale up plans and revised program strategies
2. Providing inputs to monitoring, learning and evaluation related activities
3. Providing strategic support to collaboration and scale up with other projects/ partners
4. Providing inputs to other formats of communication as and when required
5. Providing inputs to community mobilization related collaborations

B. Project Management
1. Supporting state level government interactions under the guidance of line manager
2. Supporting district level government interactions as needed
3. Working with coworkers and multi-disciplinary teams within BBC and managing partners to ensure smooth operation and timely completion of deliverables
4. Managing effective relationships with stakeholders and partners
5. Ensuring high quality and timely deliverables, in line with the proposed strategy and targets, throughout the life of the project, including but not limited to:
a. Effectively supporting the community mobilization activities and training operations in close coordination with partner agencies and district/ state level staff
b. Delivering effective monitoring and compliance checks with respect to training protocols
c. Supporting on-ground implementation of research activities like pretest, user test and quantitative data collection
d. Collaborative implementation of community mobilization formats including activity planning and implementation
e. Developing and implementing initiatives related to mentoring support for trainers and in field support for trainees
6. Documenting activities at the state and district level to be shared with broader internal and external audiences
7. Line managing program staff, including Regional Coordinators, MIS staff, Community Mobilisation Officers and others as relevant, in close coordination with other Program Manager
8. Providing administrative support to the Patna office
9. Ensuring smooth data flow for MIS related to training and on ground support.
10. Ensuring that BBC Health and Safety guidelines are observed.

The post shall be based in Patna, with frequent travel to districts (both urban and rural), as well as occasional travel within India to attend or facilitate meetings and conferences.

The Program Manager shall be expected to sign BBC’s Conflict of Interest declaration and keep it up-to-date. S/he may also be asked to take on additional responsibilities by the Director Family Health Programs or SDP Project Director, from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• Advanced graduate degree in social sciences or public health or related subject.
• At least 7 years’ work experience with local and/or international organizations, preferably related to maternal and child health in India, or similar settings
• Demonstrated skills in project support, planning and team management
• Proven ability in collaborating closely with multi-level stakeholders and partners including interactions with government officials
• Experience in organizing dissemination and consultation events like workshops and group presentations
• Proven coordination skills with the ability to bring together multiple programme requirements
• Strong analytical skills and excellent oral and written communication skills in English, competency in Hindi highly desirable
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload


LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply with a cover letter that highlights their motivation to apply and suitability for the position, their updated resume and three references, to priyanka@talentbridge.net.in, by or before 31st March 2014.