Director of Communication at The African Development Bank

Duties for the Communication Job

• Leading and having oversight responsibility for the communication team and establishing clear reporting lines for the two Division Managers.
• Being a member of the Executive Team, contributing to the Senior Management Coordination Committee.
• Leading the department’s team to ensure constant review of the Bank’s communication and branding strategies and ensuring that they are effective in promoting the Bank’s policies, programs and interventions as one of the leading financial development institutions in Africa.
• Advising the President and Senior Management on public relations and communication issues within and outside the Bank.
• Supervising the implementation of the Bank’s communication strategy, especially in key areas of: localised communications; ‘results-based’ communications; support for the Bank as a knowledge institution; and strong and consistent branding.
• Enhancing knowledge and communications to key public and specific groups in regional and non-regional member countries (government services, business circles, NGOs, international organizations, the general public, etc.) and planning, preparing and implementing information programmes to keep them informed of the Bank’s programmes and achievements.
• Preparing and implementing communication programmes to mobilize public opinion to support the economic and social development of Africa, and the Bank’s activities in this area, through the publication of articles and speeches, dissemination of films, organization of exhibitions, visits, debates, etc.
• Ensuring the production and distribution of high quality and informative brochures, publications, press reviews, audio-visual as well as electronic documents for the media and public to enhance the Bank’s image, and maintaining good and close working relations with all key media companies.
• Preparing and disseminating press releases, as well as organizing and conducting press conferences and seminars to present the Bank’s views on major economic, political, social and financial issues and problems in Africa.
• Producing bulletins, information circulars, as well as other publications on Bank activities for regular circulation to all staff, so as to enhance understanding of Management’s objectives and initiatives.
• Providing advice and assistance required for formulating Bank policies and plans on the design, implementation and dissemination of the Bank’s information products and coordinating the publishing and distribution services for printed and electronic publications of the Bank; and
• Implementing the Bank’s information disclosure policy and ensuring that information about the Bank reaches its various audiences through the appropriate channels.

Communication Job Requirements

• At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Communications or any related field.
• Preferably a minimum of 10 years of relevant and progressive experience (4 years of which has been in a managerial position) in senior mass communications fields (corporate, non-profit and/or foundation) including public relations, journalism, marketing or related areas, with demonstrated stability and sustained commitment in previous position(s).
• Knowledge of the media and ability to work well with representatives from different sectors of the media.
• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to implement and monitor mass communication programmes and campaigns.
• Media relations training and experience, with the ability to detect and monitor emerging media interest in a matter and manage issues of media interest that affect the Bank and its diverse audiences.
• Exceptional writing, editing, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, with a portfolio demonstrating published works and high-level creative, thoughtful and polished printed communications collateral.
• Understanding of and experience with various media software tools.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft software (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in French and/or English, with a strong command of the other language.