Introduction
The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) seeks a highly motivated and results-oriented Programme Officer to spearhead the Media Support for Public Accountability and Civic Engagement in Uganda (M-SPACE) project. This individual will be a strategic leader, fostering an environment where Ugandan media thrives and citizens are empowered to actively participate in shaping their democracy.

Project overview
ACME is leading the M-SPACE project, a collaborative initiative with Uganda Editors’ Guild, Uganda Radio Network and Uganda Media Women’s Association as Consortium Partners. This project focuses on strengthening media in Northern Uganda, West Nile and Karamoja regions, and includes a national dimension. The goal of the project is to foster a more resilient, accountable and inclusive media that expands civic participation in governance processes.

Key responsibilities
• Strategic leadership and planning: Develop a comprehensive work plan for M-SPACE, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with ACME and the Consortium Partners’ overarching goals and the project’s specific objectives. This leadership role encompasses managing budgets effectively, allocating resources strategically, and overseeing the timely and cost-effective delivery of all project activities.
• Stakeholder management: Build and nurture strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including consortium members, project partners (government agencies, media organisations, civil society groups), journalists and the public. The Programme Officer will act as a bridge between these groups, facilitating open communication, collaboration, and a spirit of shared purpose to achieve project goals.
• Project implementation and oversight: Provide day-to-day leadership for the M-SPACE project, ensuring all activities are implemented effectively according to the work plan. This involves close monitoring of progress, proactive identification and mitigation of potential risks, and adapting strategies as needed to ensure smooth project execution.
• Content creation and knowledge management: Contribute to the development and production of high-quality project outputs such as training materials, research reports and knowledge products.
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL): Oversee the creation and maintenance of a robust MEL framework. This framework will track progress towards project objectives, measure impact, and ensure lessons learned are documented, applied and shared with stakeholders.

Ideal candidate profile
Minimum qualifications:
• At least 5 years of experience working in media development, journalism, or a related field, with a proven track record of achieving impactful results.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, media, or a related field such as communication and development studies, humanities, and social sciences.

Experience:
• Proven experience in successfully managing and delivering projects on time, within budget, and to a high standard. Experience in leading and motivating teams is a plus.
• In-depth understanding of the Ugandan media ecosystem, its current state, and its evolution, with a keen eye for emerging trends and challenges. The ability to articulate the media landscape’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth is crucial.
• Strong grasp of key issues facing Uganda today (politics, governance, development, etc.) relevant to M-SPACE’s goals. The ability to articulate their impact on civic engagement and media’s role in addressing them is essential.

Skills:
• Impeccable written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to tailor communication styles to diverse audiences.
• Experience in training journalists or media practitioners and developing media-related knowledge products (training manuals, reports) is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills to build rapport and trust with stakeholders, navigate complex relationships, and facilitate a collaborative environment.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage multiple deadlines, and work independently.
• Some basic multimedia production skills for content creation.

Commitment:
• A genuine passion for journalism, media development, freedom of expression, access to information, and citizen participation in a democratic society. The Programme Officer should be a strong advocate for these principles, as well as ACME’s mission and values, and actively embody them in her/his work.

Additional considerations:
• The Programme Officer will be expected to travel extensively across Uganda as needed for project activities.
• The successful candidate will also be required to support and participate in M-SPACE project activities and ACME’s programmes generally.