Country Lead Consultants – ENCD

The role: Country Leads (Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine – 3 positions available)

Thomson Reuters Foundation is looking for 3 “Country Leads” to coordinate work in each country. Country Leads will lead on TRF’s activity in each country: providing technical advice and expertise to shape the delivery of the programme; managing relationships with partners in universities, professional bodies and media outlets; and ensuring the delivery of high-quality support relevant to the country context. 

The project:

Thomson Reuters Foundation has secured funding to deliver a joint programme with BBC Media Action, which will provide capacity-building support and expertise to selected media outlets, professional journalism bodies and academic institutions in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The objective of the programme is to deliver sustainable improvement to the media ecosystem in these countries and improve access to high-quality, objective and trusted journalism at a national scale. BBC Media Action and Thomson Reuters Foundation have formed a consortium to manage the delivery of this project, with BBC Media Action acting as the lead partner.

TRF will lead the project’s work to strengthen journalism education and routes to employment in these countries through work with media outlets, Universities and media associations to strengthen skills-based and practical training, and ensure new journalists possess the skills demanded by industry. The programme also includes the development of an e-learning programme; direct support to media outlets; a sub-granting element; and extensive work with journalism associations in those countries.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Oversee project activities and manage key stakeholder relationships in the respective country.
• Identify and engage project partners to assess their needs and develop solutions collaboratively with them and TRF.
• Design and mobilise training initiatives for journalists and journalism students in line with the project objectives, delivering this directly where appropriate.
• Identify suitable trainers and consultants for specific mentorship and training activities in collaboration with TRF.
• Support the development of TRFs project strategy and workplans in each country.
• Support partners to complete relevant due diligence processes and partner onboarding, with support from consortium colleagues.
• Contribute to quarterly narrative reports and support the TRF team in communicating with the project donor
• Contribute to the development of TRF’s project strategy and work plans in the country.
  Work closely with BBC Media Action’s in-country teams and TRF’s London-based Project Team.
• Identify where additional, more specialised mentorship is required and inform the Project Management Team.
• Support TRFs monitoring, evaluation and learning approach, including by providing recommendations around project change or adaptation as needed.
• Continue to provide broader programme recommendations relevant to the university and media sectors.
• Identify and escalate any key risks or issues.

Essential skillset and expertise: 

• Substantial experience working in the media sector; ideally also in designing and shaping media development programmes or providing consultancy support, training and/or expertise to partner organisations.
• Strong, existing networks in the relevant country, including with media outlets, journalists, professional bodies and academic institutions.
• An understanding of academic institutions in the relevant country, including their role in training future journalists
• Strong relationships with key stakeholders across media outlets, CSOs, professional bodies and academic institutions, and the ability to leverage connections and relationships for the project.
• Fluency in English and one of Georgian, Ukrainian or Romanian (as relevant in each country). Russian language skills will likely to be required to work with some partners in Moldova and Georgia.
• Working experience in international media outlets and/or international organisations is desirable.
• An understanding of international journalism standards and ethics for independent media.
• Good communication skills and ability to effectively work with remote teams.
• Ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds collaboratively, supportively, and respectfully with others.
• Flexibility to adapt to new and sometimes unplanned situations.

Location: Flexible but with a preference for candidates based in-country. Candidates based outside of the country must travel regularly to the country, as TRF will be unable to meet travel expenses between their home country and the project country.

​​Time commitment: Between 7-10 days per month in a hybrid working model, which will consist of online meetings as well as occasional face-to-face events and travel.

Please submit your application no later than the 10th of September, 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

See more here to learn and apply.