Grant Partnership & Hr Manager – Jakenn Publishing
Human Resource and Recruitment, Communications, PR and Journalism
Jakenn Publishing
Jakenn Publishing is the media company of the present and the future of Ethiopia. We bring our passion for reporting and independent journalism to tell the stories which matter in the Ethiopia today and the Ethiopia being shaped for tomorrow.
JaKenn is widely known for its flagship publication and web portal Addis Standard. Started as a magazine in 2011, Addis Standard has evolved into the digital platform of choice for breaking news, analysis, and spell-binding commentary about Ethiopia that establishes understanding of happenings beyond your eyes and ears. One of the most followed media brands in Ethiopia on twitter and a solid web presence that has a firm grip on Ethiopia’s rapid political, economic, and social transformation, Addis Standard provides consumers content worthy of their time and attention.
As a young and dynamic company, JaKenn embodies an emerging multicultural Ethiopia where people are valued for their contribution to the development of a democratic and prosperous country. We understand that this means listening to our consumers, employees, and stakeholders in all processes from product development to execution. We value diversity and make an honest effort at providing an inclusive work environment that supports growth, nurtures innovation, and embraces risk taking.
Who we are
JAKENN Publishing PLC, the publisher of Addis Standard tri-lingual publications, is the media company of the present and the future of Ethiopia. We bring our passion for reporting and independent journalism to tell the stories that matter in today’s Ethiopia and Ethiopia being shaped for tomorrow.
JAKENN is widely known for its flagship publications on the Addis Standard tri-lingual web portal. Started as a monthly magazine in 2011, today JAKENN’s Addis Standard website (www.addisstandard.com) provides content in English, Afaan Oromoo, and Amharac languages as well as a digital production for breaking news, analyses, and spell-binding commentaries about Ethiopia that establishes an understanding of these events beyond their headlines.
The Addis Standard publications have become the most followed media brands in Ethiopia on X (formerly Twitter), and a rapidly growing audience on Facebook and Telegram, among others, with a solid website presence that provides thorough and timely content on Ethiopia’s political, economic, and social changes.
Our values
As a young and dynamic company, JAKENN Publishing PLC, through its flagship publication the Addis Standard tri-lingual publications, is the only independent media in Ethiopia that officially embodies the constitutional values of a multinational Ethiopia where the aspirations of Ethiopia’s nations and nationalities are respected and their contribution to the betterment of a democratic, just, and prosperous Ethiopia is recognized.
We understand that this means valuing diversity in our newsroom and beyond, and making an honest effort to provide an inclusive work environment that supports growth, nurtures innovation, and embraces risk-taking by our diverse staff members.
Job Description
This position holds a combined (50/50%) job responsibility of Grant Partnership and HR manager. As Grant Partnership Manager at JAKENN Publishing PLC, you will spend 50% of your full time work for managing grant application processes for media-related projects and initiatives. You will work closely with media organizations and other stakeholders to identify funding opportunities and follow media grant awards to support the development of innovative and impactful projects at the newsroom. This role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for supporting independent media and excellence in journalism. As JAKENN’s HR main focal person you will spend 50% of your full time work in supporting its goals by effectively managing its most valuable asset – its employees. As such you are expected to possess strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and a thorough understanding of employment laws and best practices in human resource management.
Key Responsibilities:
Grant Management:
- Manage the full grant lifecycle, including soliciting media grants, preparing applications, and applying for grants
- Develop and maintain grant application guidelines and criteria.
- Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to ensure gaps for media grant requirements and deadlines.
Proposal Preparation:
- Write grant applications for JAKENN and review their alignment with funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and budget requirements.
- Conduct thorough due diligence on grant applications for JAKENN including reviewing newsroom project plans
- Provide feedback and guidance to grant implementations, strengthen their evaluations and maximize their chances of success.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Cultivate relationships with media organizations and other stakeholders to spot grant opportunities and encourage collaboration.
- Attend industry events, conferences, and networking meetings to stay informed about emerging trends and grant opportunities in the media sector.
- Collaborate with partner organizations and funding agencies to leverage available resources
Grant Monitoring and Reporting:
- Monitor grantee performance and compliance with grant agreements.
- Collect and analyze data on grant outcomes, impact metrics, and lessons learned.
- Prepare regular reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
Capacity Building:
- Provide training, workshops, and technical assistance on grant applications to senior members of the newsroom to enhance their project management, storytelling, and fundraising skills.
- Identify opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration between senior members of the newsroom and media grant stakeholder.
HR focal person
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business objectives of JAKENN.
- Manage the full recruitment cycle, including sourcing candidates and conducting interviews together with concerned product editors
- Oversee the onboarding and orientation process for new employees to ensure a smooth transition into the organization in coordination with finance and administration.
- Handle employee relations issues and provide guidance and support to the chief editor and product editors and employees on HR-related matters.
- Lead performance management processes, including goal setting, performance reviews, and development planning.
- Design and administer competitive compensation and benefits programs to attract and retain top talent.
- Develop and maintain HR policies and procedures in compliance with Ethiopian labor law requirements and best practices including leave of absence, annual leaves,sick leaves etc
- Identify training and development needs and coordinate learning initiatives to enhance employee skills and knowledge.
- Monitor HR metrics and analytics to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Stay informed about changes in employment laws and regulations and ensure compliance across JAKENN’s products.
Number: One
Product Language: English and Amharic (Afaan Oromoo highly desirable)
Reference Number: JKP/MGP/RP/24
Reporting to: CEO
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, media studies, journalism, Human Resource or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in grant management, media funding solicitation, or related fields in securing grants.
- Strong understanding of media landscape, including digital media, journalism, and multimedia storytelling.
- Strong understanding of Ethiopian media laws and regulations on grant opportunities for independent media
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to diverse stakeholder
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and grant management software.
- Experience working with diverse grant stakeholders and promoting equity and inclusion in media.
Experience and skillset:
- Knowledge of fundraising principles and techniques.
- Familiarity with media law, ethics, and industry standards.
- Experience in program evaluation and impact assessment.
- Fluency in multiple languages is a plus.
Negotiable/Attractive
