Program Manager, Next Creata job at Next Media

Role Purpose

The Program Manager is responsible for the day-to-day coordination, communication, documentation, visibility, partner engagement, and storytelling for the Uganda Creatives Program under Next Creata. The role ensures seamless operations across training cohorts, partner hubs, trainers, mentors, and program participants — while also leading program-wide messaging, brand alignment, and media amplification across Next Media TV, radio, digital, social, and AfroMobile platforms.

This is a hybrid operational + communication leadership role that sits at the center of program execution.

Key Responsibilities

A. Program Coordination & Implementation Management

• Oversee the development and maintenance of cohort schedules, training timetables, venue usage calendars, and session plans.
• Coordinate onboarding of participants, orientation sessions, and training delivery flow.
• Ensure training spaces, equipment, and support materials are prepared and functional.
• Maintain strong communication links across trainers, mentors, downstream partners, and industry collaborators.
• Track attendance, completion, and learner progression in coordination with MEL staff.

B. Stakeholder & Partner Coordination

• Liaise regularly with:
• Downstream Partner Manager to support training delivery.
• Work Placement Coordinator to link graduates to job opportunities.
• Next Media units to support program amplification and talent integration.
• Support partner check-ins, review meetings, and implementation planning cycles.

C. Communications, Branding & Public Visibility

• Lead the campaign narrative, messaging and voice for “See Her, Be Her”, the inspiration and visibility campaign showcasing women creatives.
• Oversee the planning and execution of strategic communication outputs:
• Digital stories, reels, photo essays, blog features, radio mentions, talk show segments.
• Cohort showcases, screenings, community masterclasses, alumni testimonies.
• Ensure brand compliance and unified messaging across:
• Social media
• Website updates
• Press releases
• Program brochures/visuals
• Community posters and radio mentions

D. Documentation & Media Production Coordination

• Oversee regular documentation of:
• Training sessions
• Production projects
• Success stories & alumni journeys
• Coordinate videographers, photographers, editors, and graphic designers (internal & external).
• Maintain organized media archives for reporting, evaluation, and storytelling.

E. Reporting Support

• Provide input into:
• Monthly narrative reports
• Social media analytics summaries
• Event activity reports
• MEL dashboards (in partnership with MEL team)
• Support donor presentation materials and stakeholder briefing packs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in program coordination, communications, broadcast media, digital content, or campaign storytelling.
• Experience managing logistics for training, events, or multi-site projects.
• Strong writing and communication skills in English; use of Luganda or regional languages is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Uganda’s creative arts/media ecosystem is highly desirable.

Required Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Strong project understanding, coordination & workflow management skills.
• Experience in communications, storytelling, public relations, or digital media.
• Understanding of media production, studio workflow, and creative ecosystem operations.
• Ability to develop compelling narratives and engage youth audiences.

Behavioural Competencies

• Highly organized and responsive; strong ability to problem-solve in real time.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable working with creative personalities, young people, and diverse communities.
• Self-driven with strong initiative and ability to manage multiple streams of work.

Performance Indicators

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Smooth running of training cycles and timely delivery of program activities.
• Quality and consistency of program visibility across media platforms.
• Strength and responsiveness of communication with downstream partners.
• Evidenced increase in participant engagement and public awareness.
• Timely delivery of documentation and communication assets.

• Oversee the development and maintenance of cohort schedules, training timetables, venue usage calendars, and session plans.
• Coordinate onboarding of participants, orientation sessions, and training delivery flow.
• Ensure training spaces, equipment, and support materials are prepared and functional.
• Maintain strong communication links across trainers, mentors, downstream partners, and industry collaborators.
• Track attendance, completion, and learner progression in coordination with MEL staff.
• Liaise regularly with Downstream Partner Manager to support training delivery.
• Liaise regularly with Work Placement Coordinator to link graduates to job opportunities.
• Liaise regularly with Next Media units to support program amplification and talent integration.
• Support partner check-ins, review meetings, and implementation planning cycles.
• Lead the campaign narrative, messaging and voice for “See Her, Be Her”, the inspiration and visibility campaign showcasing women creatives.
• Oversee the planning and execution of strategic communication outputs: Digital stories, reels, photo essays, blog features, radio mentions, talk show segments.
• Oversee the planning and execution of strategic communication outputs: Cohort showcases, screenings, community masterclasses, alumni testimonies.
• Ensure brand compliance and unified messaging across: Social media, Website updates, Press releases, Program brochures/visuals, Community posters and radio mentions.
• Oversee regular documentation of: Training sessions, Production projects, Success stories & alumni journeys.
• Coordinate videographers, photographers, editors, and graphic designers (internal & external).
• Maintain organized media archives for reporting, evaluation, and storytelling.
• Provide input into: Monthly narrative reports, Social media analytics summaries, Event activity reports, MEL dashboards (in partnership with MEL team).
• Support donor presentation materials and stakeholder briefing packs.

• Strong project understanding, coordination & workflow management skills
• Experience in communications, storytelling, public relations, or digital media
• Understanding of media production, studio workflow, and creative ecosystem operations
• Ability to develop compelling narratives and engage youth audiences
• Highly organized and responsive; strong ability to problem-solve in real time
• Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills
• Comfortable working with creative personalities, young people, and diverse communities
• Self-driven with strong initiative and ability to manage multiple streams of work
• Strong writing and communication skills in English
• Use of Luganda or regional languages is an advantage

• Minimum 5 years of experience in program coordination, communications, broadcast media, digital content, or campaign storytelling
• Experience managing logistics for training, events, or multi-site projects
• Strong writing and communication skills in English; use of Luganda or regional languages is an advantage
• Familiarity with Uganda's creative arts/media ecosystem is highly desirable