Senior Communications Officer at Northern Rangelands Trust

Purpose of the position:

The Northern Rangelands Trust is looking for an experienced and passionate communications professional able to lead the development and implementation of a communication strategy in close collaboration with the community conservancies and NRT partners. 

The job holder will report to Chief Operations Officer and will be part of the NRT communications management team. The successful candidate will be based in NRT HQ within Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. S/he will be responsible for managing all external and internal communications within NRT, staying on top of communications needs and assisting in the development of materials to meet those needs; including fact sheets, donor reports/ proposals, social media content and presentations. 

S/he will be required to travel to the community conservancies regularly, liaising with county coordinators, programme leads and community conservancy managers to conduct field reporting, or provide event support. S/he will work with the Chief Operations Officer to manage NRT social media accounts and other communications platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy

• Assist in implementing the NRT communications strategy
• Oversee and proactively improve internal communications channels within NRT, and between NRT and member community conservancies
• Oversee and evolve the NRT brand identity
• Assist in developing and implementing social media strategy

Management

• Work with NRT Conservancy Managers to develop effective publicity for all programmes
• Support the production of publicity materials, technical publications
• Assist the grants office/philanthropy department with ensuring the communications needs of NRT’s principal donors (new and existing) are met
• Take the lead on conservancy-level communications development by working with conservancy managers to identify and develop any communications material that they require.
• Work closely with conservancy communication officers to ensure that deadlines and quality thresholds are met
• Manage the development and production of content for the website, social media and print publications
• Develop effective internal communications mechanisms to ensure that news and events are known internally and publicised externally as appropriate
• Support project management of film makers, photographers and high profile international print media opportunities
• Manage the monitoring of media and current affairs in wildlife conservation and community conservation in Kenya and beyond
• Manage certain aspects of the day-to-day internal and external communications activities of NRT by working to an agreed work-plan with clear and time dated deliverables
• Ensure that NRT’s communication outputs are of the highest standard in regard to accuracy and quality.

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and a minimum 4 years’ related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience writing, editing, and proofreading printed or online content for diverse audiences
• Experience using social media as a professional communications tool
• Experience working in Africa and communicating with African audiences
• Fluency in English and Swahili required, both verbal and written