Country Director of Radio Ndarason International in Niger and Cameroon

Okapi Consulting is seeking two Country Directors, one to manage its operations in Niger and the other in Cameroon. This is a senior position with a high level of responsibility, suited to someone with extensive experience in project management, team coordination, and with a high level of competence in financial monitoring and reporting. It should be clear that the demands of radio production may often demand flexibility and working outside normal office hours in order to meet deadlines or to deal with evolving situations. In return, Okapi supports its staff members with a competitive benefits package for the sector, including base salary, and housing allowance.

The role, which is suitable for experienced Senior managers from the NGO, private, or media production sectors, will assume overall responsibility for managing Nigerian operations in the Lake Chad region. This includes oversight of personnel, media production and output, financial monitoring and reporting. The ideal candidate will be comfortable interacting with senior government officials, policymakers, humanitarian actors and diplomats. They will be able to lead a team of culturally diverse journalists and staff members from Borno State and the North East region as a whole, and be willing to travel frequently. The candidate will be a self-starter who can work independently as well as in a team.

The successful candidate will be based in Diffa, Niger and Mora, Cameroon respectively with frequent travel in the region. Our Country Directors are the key link between our in-country teams and our head office (OKAPI Consulting, South Africa). To be successful, you will need to effectively manage the priorities and demands of the specific country.

More specifically, the Country Director’s role includes the following responsibilities:

1. Oversee all organizational activities in Niger or Cameroon to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, timely hiring and payment of staff and freelancers, production and broadcast of high-quality radio programs on budget, and timely and accurate reporting to donors and stakeholders.
2. Provide dynamic and inspirational leadership to all Okapi staff in Niger or Cameroon.
3. Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government departments, other radio stations, and key stakeholders to ensure their support for Okapi and its mission.
4. Ensure that all financial, administrative, and human resources tasks are carried out in accordance with Okapi policies, donor requirements, and local and national regulations.
5. Make day-to-day decisions regarding Okapi activities in Niger or Cameroon, and communicate clearly and effectively with Okapi directors to resolve issues with significant operational or strategic implications.
6. Engage in the monitoring and evaluation of the program, and ensure on a monthly basis that relevant indicators are being pursued at every stage of the project and for each radio program.
7. Liaise on a daily basis with RNI Chad and Nigeria, and work with Okapi Consulting to identify, mitigate, and avoid risks to reputation, financial resilience, and/or ability to deliver the project in Niger or Cameroon through foresight, strategic judgment, and risk analysis.
8. Take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of all staff, freelancers, consultants, and others, and immediately report to Okapi directors and act on any and all threats to the safety of those linked in any way with Okapi, RNI, or related projects.
9. Conduct fundraising, networking, and business development activities for Okapi in Niger or Cameroon.

Person specification

Required knowledge, skills and experience

1. Oversee all organizational activities in Niger or Cameroon to ensure compliance with policies Fluency in French and English (written and spoken), with the ability to communicate complex technical and non-technical information in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner.
2. Experience working in media production, global health, and/or mass media environments.
3. Strong intellectual ability and problem-solving skills, as evidenced by a good degree or similar qualifications in a relevant field and performance at interview.
4. Proven experience managing and inspiring a media team.
5. Experience delivering complex projects or programs on time and on budget, ideally with direct experience in conflict environments.
6. Experience managing project or program budgets.
7. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including those with differing priorities.
8. Self-motivated and able to take the initiative, with resilience and good humor under pressure.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience

1. Experience working in conflict-affected environments.
2. Experience working with donors and other funding agencies.
3. Experience managing and developing staff.
4. Experience with research and evaluation.
5. Experience with strategic planning and management.
6. Knowledge of the local culture and context.
7. Language skills in addition to Kanuri, Hausa, Boudouma, Kanembu, French and English.
8. Experience with using technology to support media production and outreach.
9. Experience with social media and digital marketing.

Radio Ndarason Internationale: Giving a Voice to the Lake Chad Region

Radio Ndarason Internationale (RNI) is a regional radio network that serves the Lake Chad region, a vast and diverse area that spans four countries: Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger. RNI is a vital source of news and information for people in this region, many of whom live in remote areas with limited access to other media sources.

RNI broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the principal languages of the Lake Chad region: Kanuri, Kanembu, and Buduma. There is also a summary of major news items in French, twice a day. RNI’s programming is produced at studios in N’Djamena, Chad, and Maiduguri, Nigeria, and gathered from a network of correspondents across the four Lake Chad basin countries.

RNI is more than just a radio station; it is a voice for the Lake Chad region. It is a platform for people from different communities to share their stories and to learn about each other. RNI plays an important role in promoting peace and reconciliation in a region that has been affected by conflict and violence for many years.

Listen to RNI on FM, shortwave, online, or on the Ndarason app.

What distinguishes this regional radio network from other radios in the Lake Chad area?

RNI is a unique radio network that serves the Lake Chad region, a vast and diverse area that spans four countries: Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger. RNI is both a regional radio station and four national stations, allowing it to reach a wide audience and provide news and information in the languages that people speak. RNI’s programming is produced at studios in N’Djamena, Chad, and Maiduguri, Nigeria, and gathered from a network of correspondents across the four Lake Chad basin countries. This ensures that RNI’s coverage is comprehensive and reflects the unique perspectives of the people who live in the region. RNI broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the principal languages of the Lake Chad region: Kanuri, Kanembu, and Buduma. There is also a summary of major news items in French, twice a day. RNI’s broadcasts can be heard on FM in Chad, and on shortwave throughout the Lake Chad region and beyond. As is the case with other international stations, such as RFI, BBC and DW, the shortwave signal can be picked up well beyond the immediate target area.