Country Expansion Lead - Nigeria

Job Summary:

Explore and expand opportunities to distribute Ubongo content in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa through multiple channels including Broadcast (TV and Radio), and alternative distribution channels (last mile) through pursuit of strategic partnerships. Support in product diversification through language adaptation by being the in country link to dubbing and translation partners. Collaboratively work with the Marketing and Comms team to increase brand awareness and uptake in Nigeria and anglophone West Africa. Contribute to product development by working with the Education team to carry out research. Overall spearhead strategic partnerships in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa across Broadcasters, Schools, Governments and other tactical partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Business development

• Contribute to achieving long term organizational strategy by, creating and implementing the Nigeria (and Anglophone West Africa) sub-strategy to increase viewership in the region
• Identify, propose and implement marketing activities designed to improve
• product uptake and brand recognition in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa
• Feed into product development by supporting the pre-production team with in-country insights and research.

Distribution

• Build relationships with partners and expand the distribution of Ubongo content in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa. Reach out to potential broadcasters, VOD partners, schools and other distributors who would like to license Ubongo content for various platforms.
• Manage stations/relationships with broadcast and other distribution partners.

Build and maintain partnerships

• Develop and implement a partnership strategy, and network in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa with multiple stakeholders to galvanize funding and support for Ubongo.
• Identify exceptional individuals and organizations in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa with whom Ubongo can work and collaborate.
• Communicate Ubongo’s vision, mission, and goals, and serve as ‘lead ambassador’ to the organization’s partners and supporters in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa
• Identify and build relationships with other potential partners from corporates and content distributors, to influencers, media and research/academic institutions in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa.
• Organize events in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa to create awareness and interest around Ubongo’s work and impact to drive lead generation.
• Represent Ubongo Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa in meetings, seminars and conferences and make presentations on behalf of the organization.

Education sector partners and government

• Building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.
• Representing Ubongo to education sector partners and government.
• Support education resource to organise and oversee on the ground efforts for the Ubongo in-school pilot projects.
• Support education resource in coordinating and leading work with said partners as needed, including Ubongo’s in-classroom pilot projects of their content.

New market penetration – Grow into West Africa

• Aggressively grow Ubongo’s reach in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa.
• Build the Ubongo image and brand in-country and on various platforms in the region (work with digital functional experts on campaign roll-out e.g Pan-African campaigns)
• Seek local partners/vendors and link to them to internal teams.
• Manage vendors, when asked.

Adaptation

• Identify need for and setting up trainings and workshops as required to understand Ubongo’s adaptation process and core content for priority languages in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa.
• Working with the Ubongo Adaptation Manager to ensure quality translations to local languages.
• Updating Ubongo on progress with the dubbing studios, broadcasters, and other partners.
• Managing partnerships with adaptations partners.
• Helping to improve the Ubongo adaptation process for Nigerian Languages.

General administration

• Liaise with Head of Operations, SA and Remote on operational matters.
• Participate in function Budgeting by identifying key resources required to realize Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa strategy.
• Procurement and expenditure.
• Expense reconciliation.
• Financial reporting.

Company wide responsibilities

• Exemplify Ubongoers principles and norms

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Significant travel in-country. Need to be flexible and prepared to be ‘uncomfortable’ as some of the areas to be reached are remote with minimal amenities.
• Degree holder however, minimum qualification requirement may be waived to accommodate an exceptional candidate that possesses the required skills and competencies.
• At least 5 years’ related experience i.e. business development, project management, media and broadcasting, marketing and communications. Ubongo is more interested in the ability to get job done than qualifications.
• Technical knowledge – a fair understanding of the media and education ecosystem in the country (the role holder will be expected to be able to tell the team what the situation on the ground in a particular country is)
• Effective communication – Written and oral proficiency in English and major language(s) of the country. Good interpersonal and persuasive communication ability to be able to engage with internal and external stakeholders (role entails engaging with external stakeholders to sell the organisation and content at various levels including the community level when doing eco-system interventions).
• Initiative – self-starter, get-up-and go, knock on doors and keep on going even if doors don’t open right away.
• Work independently – engage with frameworks and procedures to be able to engage with stakeholders.
• Proactive and solution oriented – very good at problem solving and decision making. There will be many circumstances that will require one to think on the spot to address issues and report back challenges faced and solutions applied (if any), to the center i.e. Ubongo afterwards.
• Planning and organisation – there are a lot of ‘moving parts’ as the role entails working with a lot of internal and external stakeholders. Having and delivering on clear plans, coupled with clear communication, will prevent wrong assumptions and expectations.
• Adaptability and flexibility – the role is constantly evolving.
• Have a passion for children as all Ubongo does is about the children.
• Effective relationships and networking – the role requires the ability to build, nurture and leverage relationships is an added advantage.
• Budgeting and financial reporting.
• Trustworthy and ethical.
• Remote working - a lot of interaction takes place over the internet (SLACK, ASANA, Google).
• IT knowledge – Computer literate with basic understanding of the Google Suite and any
• other cloud storage software.
• Teamwork and collaboration – ability to work in a team environment.
• Leadership – versatile leader capable of managing sideways and vertically as at the collaborative work culture at Ubongo entails dealing with almost everyone within the organization, from top to bottom.
• Cultural diversity and adaptability – ability to interact with people from different countries, cultural backgrounds and status e.g. Cabinet Minister to student.
• Emotional intelligence – ability to control one’s own reactions and respond to events and others in a calm and rational manner.
• Speak up - speaking up in a persuasive manner to build support is very important for a country representative and is one of the values of Ubongo.
• Conflict management – ability to resolve conflict pro-actively and build consensus around issues/projects to avoid/minimize conflict. As country representative have to work across the board to support different teams and strategies that may occasionally conflict.

Please apply using the link above (click on the easy apply button and submit your resume).

Alternatively, you can mail us your CV or write to us if you have any queries:

Alisha Coelho

Talent Consultant

alisha@shortlist.net

Ashbira Singh

Associate Partner

ashbira@shortlist.net