Senior Journalist Team Manager

SENIOR JOURNALIST TEAM MANAGER COMPANY: BBC JOB BAND: D CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time DEPARTMENT: BBC World Service LOCATION: Nairobi, Kenya ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY The BBC World Service is establishing a groundbreaking Horn of Africa Language Services Unit in Nairobi, uniting BBC Somali, BBC Afaan Oromo, BBC Tigrinya and BBC Amharic under integrated editorial leadership for the first time. As Senior Journalist Team Manager, you will lead the Horn of Africa On-Demand Production Hub, a dedicated production facility designed to deliver high-calibre, video-driven journalism to audiences across Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and diaspora communities. This is a pivotal role at the centre of the BBC's East Africa language services restructuring. You will be the driving force behind a new production operation, establishing its infrastructure, standards and creative approach from the ground up. WHAT YOU'LL DO You will manage a small, multidisciplinary team of video journalists and reporters, working closely with four Assistant Editors and reporting directly to the News Editor for the Horn of Africa. Your responsibilities will include: Building and operating the Production Hub, defining its workflows, capacity, quality benchmarks and operational practices to serve all four language services effectively. Developing a comprehensive production strategy that outlines content priorities, service-wide delivery models and pathways for evolution as the unit's digital ambitions expand. Serving as the BBC's primary production strategist for the Horn of Africa region, advising senior editorial leadership on video production approaches, digital platform strategy and audience growth opportunities. Driving the shift from audio-focused to video-first production across the unit, embedding video thinking into editorial planning at every service level. Conceiving, developing and producing impactful video journalism including investigations, documentaries, long-form explainers, data-driven visual narratives and social-first short-form content. Creating innovative video formats specifically designed to reach young women across the Horn of Africa and in diaspora communities, working with Assistant Editors to develop editorial concepts, storytelling methods and distribution approaches. Managing team staffing, scheduling and resource allocation to maintain consistent, high-quality output. WHAT YOU BRING You will have a sophisticated, clearly articulated understanding of outstanding digital video journalism, supported by a portfolio demonstrating video content that has achieved substantial reach and audience engagement. You bring extensive experience in video production and post-production for journalism, with strong capabilities in filming, editing, motion graphics and the production processes required for high-volume, high-quality digital delivery. You have a proven track record managing journalism or production teams, with demonstrated ability to set strategic direction, develop staff, manage performance and foster cultures of creative excellence and collaborative practice. You possess deep knowledge of digital platform distribution across YouTube, social media algorithms, WhatsApp, TikTok and BBC digital products, with evidence of using this knowledge to expand audience bases. You have led significant production initiatives such as launching new formats, adapting linear programming for digital audiences or establishing production operations from inception. You are genuinely committed to serving young female audiences, with practical experience designing content strategies, commissioning frameworks or storytelling approaches specifically targeting this demographic. You are fluent in written and spoken English and at least one Horn of Africa language. WORKING WITH US The BBC welcomes conversations about flexible working arrangements. You may indicate your preference during application, though there is no requirement to do so at this stage. Flexible working will form part of discussions should you receive an offer. IMPORTANT INFORMATION The BBC will conduct employment screening checks for any applicant receiving an offer. These checks include reference verification, work eligibility confirmation, safeguarding assessment and media or social media screening where applicable to the role. All offers are conditional on satisfactory completion of these checks. Before commencing employment, you may be required to disclose any unspent convictions or outstanding police charges in accordance with BBC recruitment policy. This disclosure allows the BBC to discuss necessary support and assess potential risks. Failure to disclose may result in offer withdrawal. Please submit applications online only. Curriculum vitae submissions cannot be accepted. For general enquiries, contact bbchr@bbc.co.uk