The interim bureau manager will have a broad range of responsibilities, focusing on ensuring the safe and effective operation of the Nairobi bureau by providing essential administrative, logistical, and financial support, often under challenging or time-sensitive circumstances.
Responsibilities
- Overseeing daily office operations, ensuring efficient workflow and adherence to company policies and procedures.
- Managing office budget, tracking expenses, and ensuring cost-effectiveness.
- Maintaining office equipment and supplies, coordinating repairs and replacements as needed.
- Maintaining employee records and confidential information.
- Filing expenses and paying freelancers.
- Obtaining and managing newsroom equipment and tools, including office supplies, safety equipment, and communication tools like internet, cell phones, SIM cards, and satellite phones.
- Arranging safe travel for correspondents, obtaining flights, drivers, lodging, and local currency, often at the last minute, and to difficult-to-reach places.
- Assisting correspondents in obtaining visas and travel permits, often at the last minute, often in challenging circumstances.
- Requesting and obtaining access in difficult-to-reach locations.
- Keeping the bureau operating safely and effectively.
- Providing translation to correspondents and editors as needed.
- Performing other journalistic duties as determined by supervisors.
- Demonstrating support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
Candidate Profile and Requirements
Our ideal candidate possesses the following attributes and qualifications:
- Fluency: Fluent in English and Swahili, both written and spoken.
- Financial Experience: Experience with accounting and maintaining budgets.
- Organizational Skills: Meticulous organizational skills; ability to prioritize with strong attention to detail.
- Communication: Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
- Journalism Passion: A strong, demonstrable passion for journalism.
- Initiative: Shows initiative and independence; identifies and tackles tasks that need completion, without instruction.
- Collaboration: A good collaborator and receptive to feedback.
- Professionalism: Ability to deal with all levels of management, staff, and sources in a highly professional manner.
- Judgment: Professional judgment with respect to confidentiality is a must.
- Cultural Appreciation: An appreciation of The Times culture, writing style, and commitment to journalistic standards and ethics.
- Tech Skills: Good general computer and tech skills are a must, including experience with Google Docs and spreadsheet, Excel, email, and video chat programs.
- Troubleshooting: Excellent troubleshooting skills.
- Availability: Must be able to work on a scheduled basis, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
- Start Date: Must be able to start from mid-February.
- Education: BA/BSc/HND qualification.
