Production Officer job at Media Challenge Initiative

Background

The Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) is a youth-driven, African-led non-profit organization and social enterprise based in Kampala, Uganda. Founded in 2012 by Abaas Mpindi, MCI focuses on building the next generation of journalists, storytellers, and media innovators in East Africa. It bridges the gap between theoretical classroom learning and the practical skills required in modern newsrooms

The Production Officer will support the planning, production, and delivery of high-quality media content for the Promoting Youth Inclusion in Governance and Decision-making in Uganda (YIGA) Project, with a specific focus on activities implemented through the West Nile Regional Youth Information Hub.

The role will produce and document stories that amplify youth voices and promote civic participation, governance, accountability, media and information literacy, and community engagement. This will include documentaries, short films, civic films, podcasts, digital content, photography, and multimedia documentation of key project activities. The Production Officer will work closely with the Programs Officer, Communications, youth filmmakers, content creators, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure production assignments are well planned, professionally executed, properly reviewed, and delivered on time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Production Planning and Coordination

Plan and coordinate assigned media productions under YIGA and the Westnile Regional Youth Information Hub, from pre-production through to delivery on project production outcomes.

Develop production schedules, shooting plans, budgets, and other materials required for efficient production.

Coordinate locations, permissions, transport, accommodation, equipment, crew, talent, interviewees, and other production requirements.

Work with the Programs Officer to align production plans with field activities and identify documentation and storytelling opportunities in advance.

Track production timelines and deliverables, identify challenges early, and take appropriate action or escalate issues where necessary.

2.2 YIGA Content Production and Storytelling

Lead or support the production of documentaries, civic short films, highlight videos, podcasts, reels, photos, interviews, social media content, and other multimedia outputs under the YIGA project and Westnile regional development hub.

Develop stories around youth participation, governance, accountability, public services, climate change, community development, media and information literacy, and youth-led solutions.

Work with youth filmmakers, content creators, journalists, and other creatives to turn civic and community issues into engaging and accessible media content.

Support the production of content for YIGA campaigns, including Obijja Wa?, film screenings, digital platforms, community outreach, and film festivals.

Work with the Newsroom and Communications teams to identify strong stories from programme activities and develop them for appropriate audiences and platforms.

2.3 Field and Event Documentation

Provide professional production support during Youth Parliament engagements, youth summits, community conversations, dialogues, accountability engagements, trainings, film screenings, activations, festivals, and other West Nile regional Hub activities.

Capture high-quality video, photography, audio, interviews, testimonies, performances, discussions, and other material that reflects the purpose, voices, outcomes, and impact of activities.

Work with the Programs Officer to understand activity objectives, key participants, schedules, and specific documentation requirements.

Identify strong interview opportunities and human-interest stories before, during, and after field activities.

Ensure that all raw footage, photographs, audio, and related production assets are correctly labelled, backed up, organized, and transferred for editing, publication, and archiving.

2.4 Creative Development and Post-Production

Develop or contribute to production briefs, story concepts, scripts, storyboards, shot lists, interview guides, and other creative materials.

Review captured material and work with editors and creative teams to develop content that is accurate, engaging, technically sound, and appropriate for its intended audience and platform.

Conduct initial quality checks on completed productions and ensure feedback; branding, captions, credits, and other required elements are addressed before final submission.

Support appropriate formatting and preparation of final content for digital platforms, broadcasts, community screenings, festivals, reports, and partner use.

Provide practical guidance to youth filmmakers and emerging content creators on storytelling, production processes, and quality standards.

2.5 Equipment and Production Resources

Maintain and manage production equipment assigned to the Arua Hub, ensuring it is properly prepared, safely handled, stored, and available when required.

Conduct routine equipment checks before and after assignments and promptly report faults, damage, loss, or other technical concerns.

Support equipment servicing, repair, replacement, and procurement processes where necessary.

Maintain appropriate records of equipment use and ensure production resources are used responsibly.

2.6 Production Administration, Quality and Compliance

Maintain production records, including schedules, equipment checklists, production reports, expenses, vendor information, and completed deliverables.

Support preparation and management of production budgets and ensure expenditure is properly documented and aligned with MCI procedures.

Ensure all productions comply with MCI editorial, branding, safeguarding, consent, ethical media, and health and safety requirements.

Apply responsible and respectful approaches when filming and interviewing communities, young people, and vulnerable participants.

Identify and promptly communicate production, safeguarding, security, reputational, or operational risks affecting assignments.

2.7 Collaboration and Organizational Support

Work closely with the Programs Officer to ensure production work supports programme priorities.

Collaborate with MCI’s Newsroom, Communications team and other stakeholders to strengthen the use of media and storytelling across the project.

Coordinate professionally with youth creatives, production crews, partners, community representatives, service providers, and other stakeholders involved in assigned productions.

Participate in relevant planning, editorial, production, and review meetings and contribute to improvements in MCI’s production processes.

Undertake other production-related responsibilities assigned by the supervisor in line with MCI’s priorities.

Qualifications & Experience Required

Bachelor's degree in film production, Mass Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, Digital Media, or a related field.

Minimum of 1–2 years’ experience supporting media production, content creation, broadcasting, or related creative projects.

Basic understanding of production workflows, equipment handling, and content development processes.

Experience working with cameras, audio equipment, lighting, and production tools is an added advantage.

Familiarity with video editing software and digital content platforms is desirable.

Experience working in a fast-paced media, creative, or nonprofit environment is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

Strong production planning and coordination skills.

Excellent organizational and time management abilities.

Attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to collaborate effectively with creative and technical teams.

Problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Professionalism, adaptability, and willingness to support field-based production activities.

• Plan and coordinate assigned media productions under YIGA and the Westnile Regional Youth Information Hub, from pre-production through to delivery on project production outcomes.
• Develop production schedules, shooting plans, budgets, and other materials required for efficient production.
• Coordinate locations, permissions, transport, accommodation, equipment, crew, talent, interviewees, and other production requirements.
• Work with the Programs Officer to align production plans with field activities and identify documentation and storytelling opportunities in advance.
• Track production timelines and deliverables, identify challenges early, and take appropriate action or escalate issues where necessary.
• Lead or support the production of documentaries, civic short films, highlight videos, podcasts, reels, photos, interviews, social media content, and other multimedia outputs under the YIGA project and Westnile regional development hub.
• Develop stories around youth participation, governance, accountability, public services, climate change, community development, media and information literacy, and youth-led solutions.
• Work with youth filmmakers, content creators, journalists, and other creatives to turn civic and community issues into engaging and accessible media content.
• Support the production of content for YIGA campaigns, including Obijja Wa?, film screenings, digital platforms, community outreach, and film festivals.
• Work with the Newsroom and Communications teams to identify strong stories from programme activities and develop them for appropriate audiences and platforms.
• Provide professional production support during Youth Parliament engagements, youth summits, community conversations, dialogues, accountability engagements, trainings, film screenings, activations, festivals, and other West Nile regional Hub activities.
• Capture high-quality video, photography, audio, interviews, testimonies, performances, discussions, and other material that reflects the purpose, voices, outcomes, and impact of activities.
• Work with the Programs Officer to understand activity objectives, key participants, schedules, and specific documentation requirements.
• Identify strong interview opportunities and human-interest stories before, during, and after field activities.
• Ensure that all raw footage, photographs, audio, and related production assets are correctly labelled, backed up, organized, and transferred for editing, publication, and archiving.
• Develop or contribute to production briefs, story concepts, scripts, storyboards, shot lists, interview guides, and other creative materials.
• Review captured material and work with editors and creative teams to develop content that is accurate, engaging, technically sound, and appropriate for its intended audience and platform.
• Conduct initial quality checks on completed productions and ensure feedback; branding, captions, credits, and other required elements are addressed before final submission.
• Support appropriate formatting and preparation of final content for digital platforms, broadcasts, community screenings, festivals, reports, and partner use.
• Provide practical guidance to youth filmmakers and emerging content creators on storytelling, production processes, and quality standards.
• Maintain and manage production equipment assigned to the Arua Hub, ensuring it is properly prepared, safely handled, stored, and available when required.
• Conduct routine equipment checks before and after assignments and promptly report faults, damage, loss, or other technical concerns.
• Support equipment servicing, repair, replacement, and procurement processes where necessary.
• Maintain appropriate records of equipment use and ensure production resources are used responsibly.
• Maintain production records, including schedules, equipment checklists, production reports, expenses, vendor information, and completed deliverables.
• Support preparation and management of production budgets and ensure expenditure is properly documented and aligned with MCI procedures.
• Ensure all productions comply with MCI editorial, branding, safeguarding, consent, ethical media, and health and safety requirements.
• Apply responsible and respectful approaches when filming and interviewing communities, young people, and vulnerable participants.
• Identify and promptly communicate production, safeguarding, security, reputational, or operational risks affecting assignments.
• Work closely with the Programs Officer to ensure production work supports programme priorities.
• Collaborate with MCI’s Newsroom, Communications team and other stakeholders to strengthen the use of media and storytelling across the project.
• Coordinate professionally with youth creatives, production crews, partners, community representatives, service providers, and other stakeholders involved in assigned productions.
• Participate in relevant planning, editorial, production, and review meetings and contribute to improvements in MCI’s production processes.
• Undertake other production-related responsibilities assigned by the supervisor in line with MCI’s priorities.

• Strong production planning and coordination skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with creative and technical teams.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Professionalism, adaptability, and willingness to support field-based production activities.

• Bachelor's degree in film production, Mass Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, Digital Media, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1–2 years’ experience supporting media production, content creation, broadcasting, or related creative projects.
• Basic understanding of production workflows, equipment handling, and content development processes.
• Experience working with cameras, audio equipment, lighting, and production tools is an added advantage.
• Familiarity with video editing software and digital content platforms is desirable.
• Experience working in a fast-paced media, creative, or nonprofit environment is an advantage.