Communications Specialist at Action Africa Help

Salary Scale: AH5
Reports to: Partnership and Busniess Development Adviser
Liaises with: Partnership and Business Development team; Country Offices; HR

Job Purpose:

• To strategically use media and communications to improve the health and wellbeing of lively-hood challenged communities in Africa.

Job summary:

• Under the direction of the Partnership and Business Development Adviser, manage the planning, coordination and completion of regional plans, processes and projects in the execution of AAH-I’s Communications Strategy.
• Work in close liaison with others to identify, develop and communicate the impact of AAH-I’s work.

Communication Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Work with country teams, programme staff and partners to ensure high quality communications products – such as stories, photos, annual reports, newsletters, blogs, website, video and exploring new ways to get messages across using social media, online platforms and mobile technology – for a wide range of audiences at various levels.
• Support AAH-I’s internal communications by working closely with IT; HR to increase staff understanding of AAH-I’s vision and mission and capture and share learning through a variety of channels such as newsletters, videos, talks, calendars and so on
• Build media and communications capacity by delivering training and advice to AAH-I’s staff, partners and communities on media, documentation and communications skills.
• Manage the organisation’s knowledge management system to support documentation and sharing of best practices and success stories and ensure accessibility through various tools – intranet, portals etc.
• Manage organizational events and launches for publications, projects, PR activities and donor visits.
• Provide communications advice including crafting of relevant messages, use of the right media channels by critically developing strategic solutions to given communications challenges.
• Update and maintenance of social media channels within the regional office (Twitter, Facebook, You tube).
• Support in corporate branding through
• Train and advise (as needed) Country communicators in providing and managing content for these sites.

Expected Outcomes

• AAH-I’s work at country, regional and global levels is furthered through effective execution of the Communications strategy and budget
• AAH-I’s audiences and supporters are effectively influenced to support our core development and humanitarian issues through the creative and strategic use of both traditional and new media
• AAH-I is effectively represented in the media and other external audiences and delivery of messages and reputational risks and opportunities is enhanced
• Staff and partners are empowered through enhanced capacity in communications
• Innovation and finding creative new ways to communicate messages to new audiences

Professional qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in communications or its equivalent
  Over 5 years’ experience working with media, delivering communications strategies, managing internal communications, knowledge of digital media, and building capacity and creating networks.

Skills and competences for Communication Job

• Minimum requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, public relations or related field.
• Good understanding of East Africa region.
• At least five years’ experience in communications in the development sector.
• Advanced understanding of internet and latest communication trends/ technologies.
• Extensive background in communications, journalism and web-based information management.
• Extensive background in coordinating; producing written content for donor/ sponsor engagement, public advocacy and media relations purposes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate complicated and technical issues in a concise and clear way, to a wide range of target audiences.
• Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work in multi-national, multi-cultural teams
• Contacts with media and other key external relationships in the region and AAH-I’s countries of operations
• Knowledge of professional and ethical issues relating to the Profession.
• Commitment and knowledge of AAH-I’s vision and values