Senior Journalist Team Manager BBC Hausa

BBC World Service is evolving its editorial team in Abuja while future-proofing its journalism to meet changing media consumption habits across sub-Saharan Africa.

Job Requisition ID: 48979

Job Closing Date: 31 July 2026

Abuja, NGA, 904101

JOB DETAILS

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time

DEPARTMENT: BBC World Service

LOCATION: Abuja, Nigeria

Local terms and conditions. Any offer of employment with the BBC is conditional upon the candidate having the legal right to work in Nigeria and having successfully completed the mandatory National Youth Service programme (NYSC) or holding a valid certificate of exemption.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. If you’d like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there’s no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

BBC World Service is evolving its editorial team in Abuja while future-proofing its journalism to meet changing media consumption habits across sub-Saharan Africa. This role is pivotal to BBC Hausa’s transition into a digital-first, video-led news operation, helping to shape how audiences across West Africa and the global Hausa diaspora consume trusted news and current affairs content.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Joining BBC Hausa means being part of an ambitious, forward-looking team that is redefining how journalism reaches audiences across West Africa and the global diaspora. You’ll have the chance to shape innovative digital and video storytelling, work with talented colleagues across the BBC’s international network, and make a meaningful impact by delivering trusted, high-quality journalism to millions of people.

This role is ideal for a creative and strategic digital journalism leader who is passionate about video-first storytelling, audience engagement and innovation.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

Build and lead BBC Hausa’s production hub from inception, establishing workflows, production standards, operational processes and team capability to deliver high-quality multi-platform content.
Lead the production of impactful video journalism, including investigations, documentaries, live streams, data-driven content and social-first formats, ensuring strong editorial quality and audience relevance.
Act as the principal production advisor to editorial leadership, providing expert guidance on video, digital strategy, audience growth
Use audience insights, analytics and performance data to shape commissioning, optimise distribution strategies and maximise the reach and effectiveness of BBC Hausa content

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Proven experience of managing a journalism or production team, with the ability to set direction, develop people, manage performance and build a culture of creative excellence and collaborative working.
Deep understanding of digital audience growth and distribution, with proven experience optimising content across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and other digital platforms using analytics, SEO and performance insights.
Strong expertise in end-end video production, including filming, editing, motion graphics, studio production, mobile journalism and managing large-scale digital workflows.
Demonstrable Experience delivering major production initiatives, such as launching formats, driving digital transformation or building operations from scratch.
A genuine commitment to reaching young female audiences, with practical experience of designing content strategies, commissioning approaches or storytelling formats specifically aimed at this group.
Fluency in written and spoken Hausa and English.

If you can bring some of these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

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.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

For any general queries, please contact: [email protected]

We are unable to accept applications via CV and only applications made online will be considered. Please click on the APPLY NOW button to proceed with your application.

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.

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:
• Fair pay and flexible benefits specific to your location and contract type.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

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.