Closing date: 30 Oct 2009
Location: Kenya - Nairobi
The Senior Communications Officer (SCO), will be responsible for developing and implementing communications initiatives and activities to enhance the Foundation’s visibility in major country, regional and international media, and for assisting Africa country programs with development and implementation of both Foundation and program-specific communications and media strategies.
The SCO will serve as the main conduit of information by coordinating and managing our priorities and messages from our country offices in Africa to the Communications, Public Policy, and Advocacy Department in Washington, DC, and vice versa.
Communications activities will include ensuring consistent Foundation messaging and presentations, management of events, media outreach, preparation of press releases and advisories, development of talking points and speeches, and preparation of editorial products such as op-eds and brochures.
The SCO will also be responsible for ensuring the consistency of quality, branding and messaging in all Foundation-produced materials.
He or she will help administer regular comprehensive audits of existing communications activities and materials, and will recommend areas of focus, both generally for the region and specifically for individual country programs.
He or she will also help develop a plan to integrate in-country activities more fully with programmatic and communications activities occurring in the U.S.
The Senior Communications Officer will report to Director of Media Relations based in Washington, D.C. (with dotted line to VP Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
General
Location: Kenya - Nairobi
The Senior Communications Officer (SCO), will be responsible for developing and implementing communications initiatives and activities to enhance the Foundation’s visibility in major country, regional and international media, and for assisting Africa country programs with development and implementation of both Foundation and program-specific communications and media strategies.
The SCO will serve as the main conduit of information by coordinating and managing our priorities and messages from our country offices in Africa to the Communications, Public Policy, and Advocacy Department in Washington, DC, and vice versa.
Communications activities will include ensuring consistent Foundation messaging and presentations, management of events, media outreach, preparation of press releases and advisories, development of talking points and speeches, and preparation of editorial products such as op-eds and brochures.
The SCO will also be responsible for ensuring the consistency of quality, branding and messaging in all Foundation-produced materials.
He or she will help administer regular comprehensive audits of existing communications activities and materials, and will recommend areas of focus, both generally for the region and specifically for individual country programs.
He or she will also help develop a plan to integrate in-country activities more fully with programmatic and communications activities occurring in the U.S.
The Senior Communications Officer will report to Director of Media Relations based in Washington, D.C. (with dotted line to VP Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
General
- Support the communications needs and strategic priorities of each of our country offices in Africa in close coordination with Communications colleagues in Washington, DC.
- Work in close partnership with the Regional Policy and Advocacy Officer, Africa, (RPAO) to develop and implement comprehensive joint media and advocacy strategies that raise awareness of key program issues within country strategic plans.
- Help to identify needs of country offices without communications officers; support hiring and staff development of such where possible.
- Assist in the development of a regional communications and media work plan and budget.
- Assist in media outreach and coordination of high-level visits to the region by senior Foundation staff, Foundation ambassadors, donors and partners, and support the preparation of briefing materials, as required.
Media Relations
- Provide on-going strategic media counsel and support to the country offices and Country Directors, while working closely with the Director of Media Relations and Communications and Advocacy staff in D.C.
- Support the development of communications messaging, materials, and campaigns for use in-country, in coordination with country offices and Communications and Advocacy staff in Washington, DC.
- Responsible for strategic planning, message and story development, media training, long-term relationship building with key policy and health/scientific press, as well as working with Communications and Advocacy Officers/Country Directors on day-to-day media relations and management of crisis communications.
- Support the generation of meaningful press coverage with key country, regional and international media that highlights the Foundation's programs and advocacy work.
- In coordination with D.C. colleagues, respond to media requests in a timely manner; use these opportunities to insert the Foundation’s messages, shape proposed story ideas and suggest appropriate sources that advance a story or concept.
- Work with country teams to develop and disseminate press materials that integrate key messages, to include the development of press releases, backgrounders, FAQs and Q&As.
- Prepare staff (and partners/sub-grantees as necessary) in the field for media interviews, speaking engagements, etc., as appropriate.
- Keep Communications and Advocacy officers, Country Directors and senior-level staff informed of significant shifts in programmatic field procedures, media mentions, or potential coverage.
Editorial
- Identify editorial products – including printed and multi-media – that would augment advocacy, operational, fundraising, educational, and programmatic efforts of Foundation’s in-country programs; manage editorial calendar, budgets, and coordination with DC Communications and Advocacy teams.
- Identify, recruit and supervise technical resources and consultants (photographers, freelance writers, etc.) as necessary to enhance visibility on Foundation work, programs, and initiatives specifically, as well as pediatric/women/families AIDS issues in countries across the continent where EGPAF has a presence.
- Work with country offices on development and writing of country-specific editorial materials, including advocacy documents, donor pieces, brochures, and fact sheets.
- Vet all materials for appropriate Foundation messaging and share with country communications officers.
- Act as lead writer and editor for in-country remarks and speaking opportunities.
- Liaise with Country Directors and/or Communications Officers to secure appropriate feedback and approvals of materials from in-country donors and partners as necessary, and ensure proper sign-off procedures.
- Obtain relevant programmatic and statistical information from U.S. and in-country offices as needed to incorporate into editorial products; share this information on a regular basis with country DC Communications teams.
- Ensure that Foundation branding and messaging is consistent in all Foundation documents and collateral; monitor adherence to donor branding policies.
- Edit materials prepared by other writers or in-country personnel, and serve as final in-house editor and proofreader of all materials developed by country offices.
- Apprise Communications and Programs leadership of all editorial products, written or video, proposed by country offices; receive approvals for proceeding as necessary, to include clearance through Foundation Publications Steering Committee, if warranted.
- Train Communication Officers and country-level staff on the use and adaptation of Foundation boilerplate materials, including core messages and standard speeches.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience in journalism, communications or public relations.
- Experience with print and/or electronic and broadcast media and developing strategic communications initiatives.
- Willing to live in Africa (Nairobi) and regularly travel within Africa (up to 30-40%).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Interest in HIV/AIDS and health issues.
- NGO and international donor/grantee compliance experience a plus.
- Familiarity with major Africa press.
- Ability to synthesize feedback quickly and efficiently.
- Attention to detail.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communications and organizational skills, with demonstrated success working in a team environment. Pleasant, flexible, and efficient communicator by phone and e-mail.
- French or Portuguese fluency/proficiency desirable.
LOCAL APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
How to apply
Visit our Careers website at: www.pedaids.org
