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Job reference: 24601
Band: D
Reports to: Head of Global Partnerships
Contract type: Fixed term contract for 24 months – with potential extension
Location: The role will be based in BBC Media Action’s office in either London or Nairobi. Applications are welcome from anyone with the existing right to work in the UK or Kenya.
Salary: The salary will be set according to BBC Media Action’s local pay scale in the country where the successful applicant is based.
Please note this role will be mapped to the CPF role title: Senior Project Manager.
Flexible working: We’re happy to discuss flexible working. You can indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
Safeguarding: This role may involve working with groups of vulnerable children, youth, and adults. For the successful candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct. BBC Media Action operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. A police background check may form part of the recruitment process.
Closing date: 15/07/2025
ABOUT BBC MEDIA ACTION
We are the BBC’s international charity. We use media and communication to help deliver stronger democracies; a safer, more habitable planet; and inclusive societies. We bring together a unique blend of journalistic, creative, research and international development expertise; deep local knowledge of our audiences in the places we work; our strong networks of local partners; and our invaluable link to the BBC and everything it stands for.
We support the BBC’s determination to pursue truth with no agenda, and to bring people together. We champion impartiality, creativity, and diverse representation in some of the most vulnerable international media and information landscapes. While we benefit from strong partnerships with the BBC, we rely on the generous support of donors to continue our vital work.
With our partners, we reach more than 100 million people in need around the world, in more than 30 countries and 50 languages!
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Partnerships Manager. This role sits within the Central Business Development Team. The post holder will report to the Head of Global Partnerships and be part of a small team focused on large-scale and/or strategically important new business opportunities across the organisation.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Central Business Development Team drives the business development efforts at BBC Media Action. It cultivates and nurtures central relationships with key institutional funders and partners; leads multi-regional and global funding bids including frameworks and strategic opportunities; and provides targeted support, intelligence, and resources for country-specific business development efforts.
This purpose of the role is to grow our portfolio of partnerships with donors and develop and secure high quality restricted projects as well as flexible funds. The post holder will lead and manage key donor relationships as well as building relationships with other partners and stakeholders, representing BBC Media Action externally to raise our profile and bolster our reputation. The post holder will work closely with Regional Directors and Country Directors, who remain responsible for the delivery of individual projects within their region as well as other internal teams. The post holder will be expected to drive innovation, including the adaptation and introduction of successful media formats and platforms in new territories, to reach new audiences.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM?
Join a dynamic, mission-driven team at the heart of BBC Media Action’s global growth. As Senior Partnerships Manager, you’ll lead high-impact donor relationships, shape strategy, and drive innovation to expand our portfolio of transformative media and development projects. Collaborating across regions and disciplines, you’ll help secure major funding, build strategic alliances, and raise the organisation’s global profile. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change at scale while working with passionate, expert colleagues across the world.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:
• Cultivate and nurture relationships with institutional funders - bilateral government donors, multilateral agencies, trusts and foundations - and other development partners and stakeholders. Lead particular priority funder/partner relationships with an account management approach.
• Proactively identify and contribute ideas to develop new business development opportunities, partnerships and offers across BBC Media Action’s focus impact areas of stronger democracies; a safer, more habitable planet; and more inclusive societies.
• Work with colleagues in the Central Business Development Team and wider teams (e.g. programmes, advisory, digital, research and finance) to pursue and win global, regional and country specific opportunities, including frameworks and consortium bids. This includes leading the development of grant proposals and contract bids that are well designed, realistically budgeted, creative, editorially compelling, in line with BBC Media Action methodologies and approaches and cognisant of donor compliance requirements.
• Provide targeted support to country-specific business development, including bid development, as necessary across a range of contexts and regions including Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA); Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia.
• Support regional and country teams by providing information on, and analysis of, donor shifts and new business opportunities, along with tools for colleagues to use in business development.
• Contribute to business development-related systems, processes, and resources, knowledge sharing and policy development across the organisation.
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams (including advisory) to raise the profile and visibility of BBC Media Action with external actors.
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Proven ability to raise funds from institutional donors, including bilateral government donors, multilateral agencies and large foundations.
• Proven track record of building and managing external relationships with international development donors and partners. Experience initiating and cultivating philanthropic partnerships with a range of trusts and foundations is highly desirable.
• Strong technical understanding of the communications for development sector, including media development and social and behaviour change communications (SBCC) - across our impact areas of stronger democracies; a safer, more habitable planet (include climate mitigation and adaptation); and inclusive societies.
• Proven track record in designing and successfully winning effective media development and SBCC programmes including through a meaningful partnership approach with a range of local and technical partners.
• Excellent and well-practiced communication (spoken, written, listening), interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to bridge business and cultural differences
• Significant experience coordinating colleagues to shared goals, operating remotely, under tight timescales and managing competing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to represent BBC Media Action in external forums and to travel.
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Find out more about the BBC
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:
• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
Candidate pack
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.
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